The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts--From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers--Came to Be as They Are
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- Synopsis
- How did the table fork acquire a fourth tine? What advantage does the Phillips-head screw have over its single-grooved predecessor? Why does the paper clip look the way it does? What makes Scotch tape Scotch? In this delightful book Henry, Petroski takes a microscopic look at artifacts that most of us count on but rarely contemplate, including such icons of the everyday as pins, Post-its, and fast-food "clamshell" containers. At the same time, he offers a convincing new theory of technological innovation as a response to the perceived failures of existing products--suggesting that irritation, and not necessity, is the mother of invention.From the Trade Paperback edition.
- Copyright:
- 1992
Book Details
- Book Quality:
- Publisher Quality
- ISBN-13:
- 9780307773050
- Related ISBNs:
- 9780679740391
- Publisher:
- Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
- Date of Addition:
- 05/06/11
- Copyrighted By:
- Henry Petroski
- Adult content:
- No
- Language:
- English
- Has Image Descriptions:
- No
- Categories:
- Nonfiction, Science, Technology
- Submitted By:
- Bookshare Staff
- Usage Restrictions:
- This is a copyrighted book.