- ISBN13: 9780679740391
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
Petroski tells fascinating stories about the arduous processes that resulted in paper clips, Post-its, Phillips-head screwdrivers, Scotch tape, and fast-food “clamshell” containers. “Petroski . . . an examines the simplest . . . tools in our lives with an appraising eye.”–Washington Post Book World. 45 illus.Amazon.com Review
This surprising book may appear to be about the simple things of life–forks, paper clips, zippers–but in fact it is a far-flung … More >>
Tags: Amazon, ArtifactsFrom, clamshell, Clips, containers, Everyday, everyday artifacts, evolution, fast food, Forks, illus, paper, phillips head, pins, remainder mark, scotch tape, They, Things, Useful, washington post, zippers, ZippersCame
#1 by Anonymous on January 30, 2010 - 7:26 am
If you’re interested in the history of modern technology, George Basalla’s book “The Evolution of Technology” is also very good. However, it is more academic and is not structured around such familiar examples, but nevertheless it is still easily accessible to the educated layperson.
I haven’t read Petroski, but I did see his very interesting invited keynote talk at OOPSLA 2001. We read Basalla’s book in one of the graduate seminars I took on the history of technology.
Rating: 4 / 5
#2 by skirmont@net.com on January 30, 2010 - 9:53 am
This book contains snipets of information about the development of everyday items. Is generaly easy to read and informative, but it could have been better.
Rating: 3 / 5
#3 by Frederick E. Engle on January 30, 2010 - 10:54 am
This book draged on and on on the history of the fork. Poorly written and hard to follow.
Rating: 1 / 5
#4 by Anonymous on January 30, 2010 - 1:03 pm
There is a lot of interesting information and many good insights buried in this book. But I only recommend it to speed readers or the truly determined.
Rating: 2 / 5
#5 by ricardo@comp.nus.edu.sg on January 30, 2010 - 2:58 pm
Ok, although it’s true this book has very few illustrations, I strongly recommend it to industrial designers. Even if Petroski can’t forget his engineer point of view, he has written good material here. After reading Donald Norman, you should give this book a try. (Ok, and after Giedion, Munari, Alexander, etc)… but do read it!
Rating: 4 / 5