Seriously?
I mean, I have a collection of very old engineering books, including one on Petroleum Refinery Engineering and a Reinforced Concrete Design Handbook printed when text books where $2. But I had no idea this was a "thing" among developers.
Apparently. I went into the Last Bookstore in Los Angeles, found that manual, and... had to have it. Didn't understand why. Mentioned that to the clerk, who said: "You're a software developer, aren't you? A lot of you have that reaction."
So, very very anecdotally: yep it's a thing.
Wait, can you link to that?
Finally remembered!
It's a copy of this: https://www.forgottenbooks.com/en/books/CompositionandHeatTr...
Mine is a dark red hardback, printed by McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1911.
(this comment to be replaced by a link or other information as soon as I remember to put the book in my hand when I'm next standing near it)
(mmmm 1910 manual on steel production.)