ENGLISH

The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts--From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers--Came to Be as They Are

By Henry Petroski

Book information

Publisher
Vintage
Year
1994
ISBN
0679740392, 9780679740391
LCC
T212 .P465 1994
Open Library ID
OL1398731M
Language
english
Format
PDF
Filesize
14 MB (14964155 bytes)
Edition
1ST
Pages
295\295
Scanned
yes
Time added
2011-08-31 04:54:40

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.

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