{"product_id":"the-evolution-of-useful-things-how-everyday-artifacts-from-forks-and-pins-to-paper-clips-and-zippers-came-to-be-as-they-are-9780679740391","title":"The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to Be as They Are.","description":"\u003cp\u003e 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? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHenry Petroski is the Aleksandar S. Vesic Professor of Civil Engineering and a professor of history at Duke University. The author of more than a dozen previous books, he lives in Durham, North Carolina, and Arrowsic, Maine.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50914082160914,"sku":"9780679740391","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_368d1b84-8f3a-498f-a400-434bc135a5a1.jpg?v=1738804467","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-evolution-of-useful-things-how-everyday-artifacts-from-forks-and-pins-to-paper-clips-and-zippers-came-to-be-as-they-are-9780679740391","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}