Author : Henry Petroski
Release : 2010-12-01
Genre : Technology & Engineering
Kind : eBook
Book Rating : 051/5 ( reviews)
Book Synopsis The Evolution of Useful Things by : Henry Petroski
Download or read book The Evolution of Useful Things written by Henry Petroski. This book was released on 2010-12-01. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.