The moral of this book is that behind every great engineering success is a trail of often ignored but frequently spectacular engineering failures. An imaginative, wellillustrated history of the storing of books, the book on the bookshelf includes a description of the design and invention of the library of congresss bookstacks by civil engineer bernard r. Henry petroskis new book explores homes history and design. On the fax machine, however, and particularly on the development of the boeing 777, petroski flies to his customary heights. A tale of architectural choice and craftsmanship, was published on may 5, 2014. Invention by design henry petroski harvard university press. Petroski once again goes where many have gone before, this time with mixed results. Henry petroskis previous bestsellers have delighted readers with intriguing. With the same relentless curiosity and lucid, witty prose he brought to his earlier books, henry petroski looks at some of our most familiar objects and reveals that they are, in fact, works in progress. 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.
Invention by design henry petroski harvard university. To engineer is human by henry petroski penguin books. The r in suc henr uman le of failure essful design petroski. In this book, petroski delves deeper into the mystery of invention, to explore. Henry petroski, invention by design acm digital library. Henry petroski, who combines a talent for fine writing with a deep knowledge of engineering and technological history, examines the story of the pencil, considering it not only as a thing in itself, but also as an exemplar of all things that are designed and manufactured. Henry petroskis previous bestsellers have delighted readers with intriguing stories about the engineering marvels around us, from the lowly pencil to the soaring. Henry petroski books list of books by author henry petroski. Not his best effort, but pleasant, readable, and persuasive, nonetheless. Henry petroski has 25 books on goodreads with 35474 ratings.
If in invention by design henry petroski doesnt quite endow engineers with all. Henry petroski is a professor of civil engineering and history at duke university and author of invention by. A professor both of civil engineering and history at duke university, he is also a prolific author. Petroski demonstrates that while it appears in principle that an engineer can design the perfect bridge, in actual fact the engineer faces a great deal of uncertainty. In his new book the author examines a host of technotrivia questions how the fork got its tines, why scotch tape is called that, how the paper clip evolved, how the postit note came to be, how the zipper was named, why aluminum cans have. Written with the flair that readers have come to expect from his books, invention by design reaffirms petroski as the master explicator of the principles and processes that turn thoughts into the many things that define our made world. What circuitous chain of improvements led to such innovations as the automobile cup holder and the swiveling vegetable peeler. This book offers an insiders look at the political and cultural dimensions of design, development, and production, and reaffirms petroski as the. The librarys collections management division, cosponsor of mr. Henry petroskis most popular book is seeing further. Petroski calls these speed bumps, noting that speed bumps themselves illustrate the problem. The role of failure in successful design, which is accessible to both engineers and general readers. Henry petroski to discuss the book on the bookshelf on. The role of failure in successful design and success through failure.
Invention by design offers an insiders look at these political and cultural dimensions of design and development, production and construction. Readers unfamiliar with engineering will find petroskis enthusiasm contagious, whether the topic is the genesis of the ziploc baggie or the averted collapse of manhattans sleekest skyscraper. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Most advanced yet acceptable written by steven heller published on march 8, 2005. How engineers get from thought to thing 0674463684. At least if petroskis account is to be taken as fair. The evolution of useful things ebook by henry petroski. Failures that happened 2,000 years ago can still be instructive today, he said. How engineers get from thought to thing new ed by henry petroski isbn. A tiny book, not much bigger than a pamphlet, with huge potential impact. May 05, 2014 henry petroskis newest book, the house with sixteen handmade doors. The preface suggests that the author has used at least parts of the book in teaching a course to engineering students on the nature of invention, design, and. This is the central theme in his study to engineer is human.
This is a delightful book and a must read for anyone who wants to know how the modern world got to be the way it is. At last, the always enlighteningand entertaininghenry petroski explains many of the more confounding technological riddles of modern life in invention by design. The role of failure in successful design, and the evolution of useful things. This theme is also incorporated into petroski s the pencil. Read the evolution of useful things how everyday artifactsfrom forks and pins to paper clips and zipperscame to be as they are. He has also written histories of the design of the pencil, the toothpick and the bookshelf. Henry petroski traces the origins of the pencil back to ancient greece and rome, writes factually and charmingly about its development over the centuries and around the world, and shows what the pencil can teach us about engineering and technology today. If in invention by design henry petroski doesnt quite endow engineers with all the nobility and cachet of the artist, he does make the products of their workthe beer cans from which we drink, the airplanes in which we flythe interesting things they truly are. The author of more than a dozen books, he lives in durham, north carolina, and arrowsic, maine. Each of thesealong with the paper clip, pencil, zipper, fax machine, watersupply system, bridge and skyscraperpetroski honors with a heavily illustrated chapter, each a glimpse into the workings of engineering design. How engineers get from thought to thing by henry petroski. Written by americas most famous engineering storyteller and educator, this abecedarium is one engineers selection of t.
I would recommend petroski s book foremost to structural civil engineers, and next to all engineers and others interested in the engineering design process. Readers unfamiliar with engineering will find petroski s enthusiasm contagious, whether the topic is the genesis of the ziploc baggie or the averted collapse of manhattans sleekest skyscraper. Petroski was born in brooklyn, new york, and in 1963, he received his bachelors degree from manhattan college. A history of design and circumstance 1990, which relates the history of the pencil to broader sociocultural themes. Invention by design, by henry petroski, is a very interesting book.
Henry petroski is a prolific author and major contributor to engineering design philosophy and in setting out the nature of mechanical and structural engineering. Apr, 2012 engineering for success by building on failure in a new book, to forgive design. Henry petroski february 6, 1942 is an american engineer specializing in failure analysis. Read an engineers alphabet gleanings from the softer side of a profession by henry petroski available from rakuten kobo. Invention by design by henry petroski, 9780674463684, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Vesic professor of civil engineering and a professor of history at duke university. Augustine, president and ceo, lockheed martin corporationwhales and parrots host large, rapidly evolving vocal traditions. Weve been comparing ourselves to a platonic ideal, not to actual engineering. How everyday artifactsfrom forks and pins to paper clips and zipperscame to be as they are, and more on.
To engineer is human by henry petroski, 1992, vintage books edition, in english 1st vintage books ed. Henry petroskis previous bestsellers have delighted readers wi. What advantage does the phillipshead screw have over its singlegrooved p. How engineers get from thought to thing invention by design was a great informational book and i felt. About as good as it gets when it comes to trying to understand invention by design.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The paradox of design princeton science library book 92 kindle edition by petroski, henry, petroski, henry. This book explains how familiar items such as paper clips, aluminum cans, zippers, mechanical pencils, bridges, buildings, and more were constructed. In his first book petroski, 1985, he notes that engineering is a human endeavor and as such is subject to the same. In this book, petroski delves deeper into the mystery of invention. Noted engineer and writer petroski civil engineeringduke univ to forgive design. How engineers get from thought to thing new ed by petroski, henry isbn.
Henry petroski is a civil engineering professor at duke university where he specializes in failure analysis. Written with the flair that readers have come to expect from his books, invention by design reaffirms petroski as the master explicator of the principles and processes that turn thoughts into the. The author of more than a dozen previous books, he lives in durham, north carolina, and arrowsic, maine. Petroski is the author of 15 books, including to engineer is human. Good speed bump design requires systems engineering that takes more into account than the simple bump. Understanding failure, engineer henry petroski chronicles disasters from the sinking of the titanic to the. Through fascinating case histories, henry petroski has vividly depicted the qualitative side of engineering and in doing so has shown me that my work especially in the area of product design is often akin to engineering, while what engineers do is often alsono question about itart. In this book, petroski delves deeper into the mystery of invention, to explore what everyday artifacts and sophisticated networks can reveal about the way engineers solve problems. Engineering henry petroskis previous bestsellers have delighted readers with intriguing stories about the engineering marvels around us, from the lowly pencil to the soaring suspension bridge.
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