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Title details for The Evolution of Useful Things by Henry Petroski - Available

The Evolution of Useful Things

by Henry Petroski
ebook
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   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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Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group

Kindle Book

  • Release date: December 1, 2010

OverDrive Read

  • ISBN: 9780307773050
  • Release date: December 1, 2010

EPUB ebook

  • ISBN: 9780307773050
  • File size: 5043 KB
  • Release date: December 1, 2010

Formats

Kindle Book
OverDrive Read
EPUB ebook

subjects

Antiques History Technology Nonfiction

Languages

English

   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.

Expand title description text
Antiques History Technology Nonfiction