The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Pa

Description: The Evolution of Useful Things by Henry Petroski A look at the origin of everyday household items examines the Phillips-head screwdriver, paper clips, Post-its, fast-food "clamshell" containers, and other items. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description 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. Author Biography Henry Petroski is the Aleksandar S. Vesic Professor of Civil Engineering and a professor of history at Duke University. The author of more than a dozen previous books, he lives in Durham, North Carolina, and Arrowsic, Maine. Review "A celebration of inventiveness...By cataloging the clutter of our desks, closets, and workbenches, and giving them a human history, Petroski makes us feel more at home in our homes."- Newsweek"Petroski is a valuable resource—an engineer who examines the simplest, most ubiquitous tools in our live with an appraising eye."- Washington Post Book World"Mr. Petroskis case histories delightfully illustrate his thesis... You never know when you will turn a page and find some tiny corner of your mind enlightened."- The New York Times"Petroski has an eye for the mundane that distracts and delights... [His] wealth of literary and cultural references runs from Aristotle... to Russell Baker... The book has substance."- Newsday Review Quote "A celebration of inventiveness...By cataloging the clutter of our desks, closets, and workbenches, and giving them a human history, Petroski makes us feel more at home in our homes."- Newsweek "Petroski is a valuable resource-an engineer who examines the simplest, most ubiquitous tools in our live with an appraising eye."- Washington Post Book World "Mr. Petroskis case histories delightfully illustrate his thesis... You never know when you will turn a page and find some tiny corner of your mind enlightened."- The New York Times "Petroski has an eye for the mundane that distracts and delights... [His] wealth of literary and cultural references runs from Aristotle... to Russell Baker... The book has substance."- Newsday Details ISBN0679740392 Author Henry Petroski Short Title EVOLUTION OF USEFUL THINGS Pages 304 Language English ISBN-10 0679740392 ISBN-13 9780679740391 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY 609 Illustrations Yes Year 1994 Imprint Vintage Books Place of Publication New York Country of Publication United States Residence Durham, NC, US Affiliation Duke University, North Carolina Duke University Duke University Duke U Series Vintage DOI 10.1604/9780679740391 AU Release Date 1994-02-01 NZ Release Date 1994-02-01 US Release Date 1994-02-01 UK Release Date 1994-02-01 Subtitle How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are. Publisher Random House USA Inc Publication Date 1994-02-01 Audience General We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:2626246;

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