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News

'Engines' host explains his show's success

Speaking invitations, fund-raising, writing keep Lienhard occupied

By Jennifer Jackson
The Daily Cougar

History, engineering and a daily radio program that marries the two subjects takes a truly inventive mind. But, as John Lienhard would say, that's what we're interested in at UH. 

Lienhard, professor emeritus of mechanical engineering, has been writing and reading the scripts for his nationally syndicated radio program, The Engines of Our Ingenuity, since 1988. His educational qualifications are impressive, but his own history and the obstacles he overcame to stand where he is make his story truly incredible. 

Lienhard is apt to downplay his own intelligence because, he said, as a child he always regarded people as smarter than he was. A struggle with dyslexia prevented him from really learning how to read. During hours of standing in line while he was in the military, Lienhard would pull a small book from the breast pocket of his uniform and force himself to read each page from top to bottom.

Today, with a doctorate in engineering, a compelling interest in history and an open and friendly manner, Lienhard's voice reaches millions of listeners every day with a three-and-a-half-minute program highlighting "the way inventive minds work."

Lienhard said he does not intend to imitate the controversial, offensive style of many radio hosts.

"I don't want to gin up trouble," Lienhard told a communication class Thursday. "I just want people to keep their heads screwed on."

Lienhard said he has dodged any truly hateful mail because he has steered clear of insulting people when it comes to potentially controversial issues.

"I pretend that I'm talking to a friend who disagrees with me," he said. "You have to indicate your own willingness to change your mind. Don't portray yourself as an expert; portray yourself as a seeker with incomplete knowledge."

Lienhard may portray his knowledge as incomplete, but the huge variety of topics covered in his broadcasts indicates an immense sum of information. Besides spending an enormous amount of time in the library, Lienhard said he frequently draws from his own large book collection for his script ideas, which range from the invention of the guillotine to the day he (almost) met Albert Einstein to one of his favorite topics, airplanes.

Lienhard seems far from exhausting his store of script ideas, but faithful listeners will notice that he has recently begun to frequently invite guest essayists to his program.

"I'll be observing my 75th birthday in August," he said. "I'm going to have to pursue different strategies if I want the program to survive, so I've begun tuning the public's ear to other voices."

But between about 50 speaking invitations every year, another book in the works, fund raising for his scholarship program and writing new Engines scripts, Lienhard doesn't seem close to retirement. 
 

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