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The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts -- From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers -- Came to be as They Are
The Evolution of Useful Things How Everyday Artifacts From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers Came to be as They Are
Author: Henry Petroski
Only Henry Petroski, author of The Pencil, could make one never pick up a paper clip again without being overcome with feelings of awe and reverence.  In this book the author examines a host of techno-trivia questions -- how the fork got its tines, why Scotch tape is called that, how the paper clip evolved, how the Post-it note came to be, ...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780679740391
ISBN-10: 0679740392
Publication Date: 2/1/1994
Pages: 304
Rating:
  • Currently 3.4/5 Stars.
 38

3.4 stars, based on 38 ratings
Publisher: Vintage Books
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

reviewed The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts -- From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers -- Came to be as They Are on + 15 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 6
Interesting insights into the development of everyday objects - I really enjoyed it.
reviewed The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts -- From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers -- Came to be as They Are on + 3352 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
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.
reviewed The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts -- From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers -- Came to be as They Are on + 296 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
"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...
reviewed The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts -- From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers -- Came to be as They Are on + 354 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
INTERESTING FACTS.
reviewed The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts -- From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers -- Came to be as They Are on + 5 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
a microscopic look at the artifacts that most of us count on but rarely contemplate.......written by an engineer
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hardtack avatar reviewed The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts -- From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers -- Came to be as They Are on + 2540 more book reviews
Way too much time spent on the discussion of forks, but I loved the chapter on metal food cans and the evolution of glass and metal drink cans.

While I've used many forms of paperclips I never knew that there were so many forms over their evolution.


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