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

C. M. reviewed 11/21/2006...
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5 member(s) found this review helpful.

Interesting insights into the development of everyday objects - I really enjoyed it.

Donna E. (impossible) reviewed 9/18/2006...
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5 member(s) found this review helpful.

The author has researched deeply and gives much info about inventors, history, and inventions such as nails and spikes, wheelbarrows, beds, can openers, puzzle jugs, and a lot more.

BARBARA D. (TINKER) reviewed 1/8/2007...
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2 member(s) found this review helpful.

INTERESTING FACTS.

Carol L. (vagabondiam) reviewed 10/8/2008...
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1 member(s) found this review helpful.

a microscopic look at the artifacts that most of us count on but rarely contemplate.......written by an engineer

H M. (anchovy) reviewed 8/18/2008...
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1 member(s) found this review helpful.

"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 paperclip look the way it does? What makes Scotch tape Scotch?" From the author of "The Pencil"; also includes information on how zippers, Post-it notes, the pop-top can and industrial design itself came into being.

Rather than taking a "form follows function" approach, Petroski proposes a theory where artifacts evolve because of annoyance - the most annoying shortcomings of a tool lead people to correct those particular problems, and the successive identification and elimination of faults found in any given thing will fashion and re-fashion its form...