Stirring or shaking water can raise its temperature due to internal friction, but achieving boiling through manual stirring is impractical. Historical experiments, like those by James Joule, demonstrated that mechanical work can increase water temperature, albeit not to boiling without significant force. Engineering discussions highlighted alternative methods of heating water, such as using mechanical systems driven by wind power. The conversation also touched on the efficiency of different mechanical designs for energy transfer and the challenges of maintaining windmill orientation under torque. Overall, while stirring does generate heat, the amount is generally insufficient to boil water without substantial energy input.