This book provides a fresh approach to learning how solid bodies respond to loads, emphasizing clear derivations of the basic concepts from first principles. A consistent problem-solving framework fosters understanding by building and reinforcing the mathematical tools best suited to the task. Theoretical developments are augmented by an extensive set of MATLAB codes that not only show how to organize computations but also yield powerful tools for exploration and discovery. The book is aimed at engineering students at the sophomore level who have a background in calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations.