The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zip...
How did the table fork acquire a fourth tine? What advantage does the Phillips-head screw have over its single-grooved p... read full description
reviews
Aug 10, 2010
Heyrebekah
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This book is far more interesting than one might expect from reading the back cover. The author argues that form does not follow function and necessity is not the mother of invention. Instead, the major inspiration for invention is correcting the failure of previous inventions. Makes sense to me, although I always thought "form follows function" was more a rule for good design--as in form SHOULD follow function--rather than a truth about design. All of that theory gets a little bor
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Apr 05, 2010
Alan
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The title and the physical design of this book echo—and intentionally, I'm sure—those chosen for paperback editions of Donald Norman's The Design of Everyday Things (née The Psychology of Everyday Things), at least in the edition I read. Norman's landmark work receives its due in the Index and Bibliography of Petroski's, and these two works do scratch very similar itches, but I'm convinced that the physical similarity of design is here neither Norman's nor Petroski's, but rather that of some mar
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Jan 20, 2012
Todd
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The Evolution of Useful Things is a book about design, and argues that rather than form following function, form follows failure (or more accurately, it follows from successive attempts to fix things that we don’t like about an object). Topics range from paper clips, silverware, post-it notes, aluminum cans, zippers and other common place objects.
While some of the material is quite interesting, Petroski (an engineering professor at Duke University) writes with a style that would not More...
While some of the material is quite interesting, Petroski (an engineering professor at Duke University) writes with a style that would not More...
Jun 29, 2010
Aerin
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There is a very long chapter in this book about the evolution of the fork, from prehistoric hand-made skewer to our friendly four-tined flatware of today, that is immensely more interesting than any treatise on eating utensils has any right being. Similar chapters on post-it notes and paperclips never quite achieved the same pinnacle of fascination (for me at least; maybe some stickynote aficionado out there would feel differently*), but were still pretty badass in their own right.
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Dec 01, 2011
Mellen
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#2 2012 -- I love to buy books related to engineering and design, but I have a hard time finishing them. This book was no exception. Petroski discusses the evolution of common office/household objects with special emphasis on forks, paper clips, and zippers. His primary thesis is that it is not true that 'form follows function' but rather that 'form follows failure' meaning that inventors (or designers) change the function of an object in response to a failure. He also touches on other factors
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Dec 17, 2009
Carmen
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His later text is much better edited. I'm not saying that Engineers can't write or edit, I'm just saying that the 65 pages spent on knives, spoons, and forks was--oh, dare I?--bland.
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Dec 16, 2009
Beth
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The subject matter is definitely interesting, but the author's writing style is dry and not suitably engaging. I had to force myself to continue at times to get through boring sections.
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Jan 02, 2010
Peter
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I like the material, and the first chapter held my attention alright, but a few pages into the second I realized I wasn't enjoying it anymore. Petroski can be dry at times and confusing at others, like when he cites multiple different authors (none of whom were familiar to me) and considers their theses simultaneously. He also makes "form follows function" the central point of the book (albeit to refute it, not to endorse it), but I think the phrase meant something different to him tha
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Feb 07, 2009
Mike
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His basic thesis is logical -- we develop things through testing and improvement, not through some sudden brainstorm by which we realize the perfect form. The fork, for example, looks as it does because we had earlier, inferior versions of the fork that didn't do the job well. It makes sense and it probably (generally) correct, although I think the book underestimates the role of fashion and culture and tries to fit them in within this broader framework. But the text becomes repetitive, continua
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May 13, 2008
John
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Given that the men in my family have been machinists and engineers for at least 200 years, it's no surprise I love this book.
It is *not* an academic work. The writing style is casual and engaging - certainly not dry or dull - which is key to making it accessible and interesting to a wide audience.
The book does, however, have a thesis. The author argues throughout that the history of invention is driven by the desire either to improve existing objects or to provide bette More...
It is *not* an academic work. The writing style is casual and engaging - certainly not dry or dull - which is key to making it accessible and interesting to a wide audience.
The book does, however, have a thesis. The author argues throughout that the history of invention is driven by the desire either to improve existing objects or to provide bette More...
Jan 13, 2010
Aimee (Onyx)
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Petroski refutes the idea that form follows function, instead showing how form actually follows the failures (real or perceived) of previous technology. Although he is sometimes repetitive in making his point, his case studies of paperclips, forks, zippers, etc. are fascinating. Petroski writes with dry humor and a sly turn of phrase that made me smile frequently while reading this otherwise fairly scholarly work.
I also learned that Dayton is famous for something other than the Wri More...
I also learned that Dayton is famous for something other than the Wri More...
Jan 24, 2008
Jacqueline
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In this book-length essay, Petroski, a professor of engineering and history at Duke University, states his case that the maxim "form follows function" is inherently false. He opens his argument with the observation that if form, indeed, followed function, there would be no difference in utensils between East and West. Only one solution would have formed to transport food to mouth. The fact that both chopsticks and knives and fork have equally evolved to solve this problem proves, to Pe
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Aug 10, 2011
Ben
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I really wish I could say that I have read a more boring book about technology, design, and evolution of technical "things", but I have not. Yes there are MANY books on the market on these and related topics, and it is obvious that the author not only knows the topic, but also the literature on this, but still to dwell as he does on what appears tro be mundane and non-relevant aspects of technical design...
Jan 01, 2012
Uri
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I would have expected this book to contain exciting and unexpected anecdotes regarding stuff we never give a second thought about.
Instead I found it to be just a long essay whose bottom line (as far as I could read - I stopped in the middle of the third chapter) seems to be mundane stuff's history is, well, mundane... Why a fork has four tines? Because two was not enough, and six are too much (zzzzz...)
Instead I found it to be just a long essay whose bottom line (as far as I could read - I stopped in the middle of the third chapter) seems to be mundane stuff's history is, well, mundane... Why a fork has four tines? Because two was not enough, and six are too much (zzzzz...)
Sep 04, 2009
Jen
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I found this book most interesting in the parts where the author used concrete examples of the evolution of objects to illustrate his points about invention/design. It was interesting to read about and see images of how things like forks, paper clips and zippers changed over time (and that's the kind of thing I was looking for when I picked up this book).
The parts I found less interesting were the extended theoretical parts about the evolution of objects. I absolutely agree with the More...
The parts I found less interesting were the extended theoretical parts about the evolution of objects. I absolutely agree with the More...
Jan 02, 2009
Kristy
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Petroski asserts that form does not follow function, but instead follows the failure of objects to work the way we think they should. This book is at its best when detailing the evolution of everyday objects and profiling the men and women who designed them, and at its worst when Petroski gets weirdly curmudgeonly about certain design faults (forks? plastic garbage bags?) and becomes a bit repetitive about his thesis. Worth reading if you are interested in engineering, design, or ever wondered w
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Jan 01, 2012
Frederick
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This book talks about such everyday items as forks and paper clips. It discusses their history and the evolution of their function to their present form.The premise of this book is promising, but the write is obviously an academic and uses long words like "artifactual". I just skimmed it.
Aug 03, 2011
If Isaac Asimov had been more inclined to aesthetics, he might have beaten Petroski to this and the other kinds of books Petroski has written. I mean this a compliment, for books like these do need to be written and Petroski has done a great job here.
Jan 30, 2012
Gregg
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Read this book as part of some research tool into the evolution of the fork. The author has a unique view of the concept of the relationship between Form and Function. This taps into the same bit of my brain that The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker did.
Jan 28, 2010
William
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Fascinating snippets of the evolution of useful things (see especially the development of the Big Mac wrapper as well as the soft drink can). For the most part, however, the narrative can sometimes drag a bit too slowly.
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Sep 16, 2009
Mike
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If you ever wonder about those little things we use everyday and wonder how did they come about this is a cool read. Maybe you don't ponder such things perhaps you will after you read this.
Feb 13, 2011
John
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Disappointly dull - occasional oases of interest in the desert-like trek to the end. Also, rather dated, I hadn't realized the book is nearly 20 years old until, near the end, the author laments the end of his work phone setup, with its "row of lighted buttons" for outside lines, and mentions his rotary dial phone at home!
Not particularly recommended.
Not particularly recommended.
Feb 25, 2009
Mykle
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Parts of this book are interesting, but it fails to prove its central thesis. "Form follows failure?" Whatever.
Apr 15, 2011
Richard
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There were some interesting ideas in this book, and the chapter on paper clips was pretty fascinating, but it just left me wanting something better.
Jan 07, 2009
Ben
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It provides a nice historical perspective on the development of common items but the thesis is repeated unnecessarily often.
Oct 10, 2011
Jonathan
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This is not a book of random trivia as the title would imply, but rather a review of design from an engineering perspective. It covers design evolution, voicing changes due to function and aethstetic confines. I really enjoy looking at thing differently than I have, and this book has changed the way I look at design.
Aug 17, 2009
Mark
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[Book:] Didn't finish this, but feel I gained the gist of it. Petroski gives many examples of how common devices came into being and gives background on the engineering/creative process behind these developments. Simple objects such as the fork, paperclip, can opener, and others are described. His underlying concept is the "Perceived failure is the mother of all invention"--as people use an object, those folks in society that have the capabilities recognize weaknesses or failures in th
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Dec 22, 2007
Nick
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While reading this very interesting examination of what principles and factors guide the evolution of tools and other man-made artifacts, I kept wondering what the author might have to say about the iPod, iPhone and so forth. Petroski uses examples as varied as the paper clip, the hammer, bridges and streamlined automobiles to illustrate and argue that the primary motive for innovation is perceived failure to adequately perform a task. An excellent book for anyone interested in technology, inn
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