What circuitous chain of improvements led to such innovations as the automobile cup holder and the swiveling vegetable peeler. To engineer is human by henry petroski, 1992, vintage books edition, in english 1st vintage books ed. The author of more than a dozen previous books, he lives in durham, north carolina, and arrowsic, maine. Henry petroski is a professor of civil engineering and history at duke university and author of invention by. In this book, petroski delves deeper into the mystery of invention. Noted engineer and writer petroski civil engineeringduke univ to forgive design. However, by erring on the side of caution, one can claim petroski s book applies to all engineering as well as other professions, particularly medicine. I would recommend petroski s book foremost to structural civil engineers, and next to all engineers and others interested in the engineering design process. 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.
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 is a prolific author and major contributor to engineering design philosophy and in setting out the nature of mechanical and structural engineering. A professor both of civil engineering and history at duke university, he is also a prolific author. A tiny book, not much bigger than a pamphlet, with huge potential impact. 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. This book explains how familiar items such as paper clips, aluminum cans, zippers, mechanical pencils, bridges, buildings, and more were constructed. To engineer is human by henry petroski penguin books.
Petroski once again goes where many have gone before, this time with mixed results. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Henry petroskis new book explores homes history and design. How everyday artifactsfrom forks and pins to paper clips and zipperscame to be as they are, and more on. Petroski is the author of 15 books, including to engineer is human. Invention by design henry petroski harvard university press. Henry petroskis most popular book is seeing further.
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. It explains how items used by people daily were thought of and created. Understanding failure, engineer henry petroski chronicles disasters from the sinking of the titanic to the. 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. 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. 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 petroski has 25 books on goodreads with 35474 ratings. Most advanced yet acceptable written by steven heller published on march 8, 2005. Henry petroskis previous bestsellers have delighted readers wi. How engineers get from thought to thing invention by design was a great informational book and i felt. Why science alone will not solve our global problems henry petroski, author. Read an engineers alphabet gleanings from the softer side of a profession by henry petroski available from rakuten kobo.
Not his best effort, but pleasant, readable, and persuasive, nonetheless. This is the central theme in his study to engineer is human. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Read the evolution of useful things how everyday artifactsfrom forks and pins to paper clips and zipperscame to be as they are. Good speed bump design requires systems engineering that takes more into account than the simple bump.
The librarys collections management division, cosponsor of mr. 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. The role of failure in successful design, and the evolution of useful things. 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. 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. Augustine, president and ceo, lockheed martin corporationwhales and parrots host large, rapidly evolving vocal traditions. How engineers get from thought to thing 0674463684. Henry petroski books list of books by author henry petroski.
The evolution of useful things ebook by henry petroski. Henry petroski to discuss the book on the bookshelf on. Petroski was born in brooklyn, new york, and in 1963, he received his bachelors degree from manhattan college. If in invention by design henry petroski doesnt quite endow engineers with all. 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. At least if petroskis account is to be taken as fair. Petroski is, essentially, a cheerleader for civil engineers, who are at their most successful when their designs blend so completely into our. 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.
How engineers get from thought to thing new ed by henry petroski isbn. May 05, 2014 henry petroskis newest book, the house with sixteen handmade doors. The role of failure in successful design and success through failure. 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. Invention by design how engineers get fr petroski, henry on. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.
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. In his first book petroski, 1985, he notes that engineering is a human endeavor and as such is subject to the same. The r in suc henr uman le of failure essful design petroski. The moral of this book is that behind every great engineering success is a trail of often ignored but frequently spectacular engineering failures. Books by henry petroski author of to engineer is human.
The author of more than a dozen books, he lives in durham, north carolina, and arrowsic, maine. Invention by design by henry petroski, 9780674463684, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. How engineers get from thought to thing by henry petroski. A tale of architectural choice and craftsmanship, was published on may 5, 2014. Invention by design henry petroski harvard university. Henry petroski february 6, 1942 is an american engineer specializing in failure analysis. Written by americas most famous engineering storyteller and educator, this abecedarium is one engineers selection of t. Henry petroski, invention by design acm digital library. On the fax machine, however, and particularly on the development of the boeing 777, petroski flies to his customary heights. Apr, 2012 engineering for success by building on failure in a new book, to forgive design. See all books authored by henry petroski, including to engineer is human.
What advantage does the phillipshead screw have over its singlegrooved p. Henry petroski is a civil engineering professor at duke university where he specializes in failure analysis. 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. Failures that happened 2,000 years ago can still be instructive today, he said. A history of design and circumstance 1990, which relates the history of the pencil to broader sociocultural themes. How engineers get from thought to thing new ed by petroski, henry isbn. The role of failure in successful design, which is accessible to both engineers and general readers. 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. This theme is also incorporated into petroski s the pencil.
He has also written histories of the design of the pencil, the toothpick and the bookshelf. Petroski calls these speed bumps, noting that speed bumps themselves illustrate the problem. Weve been comparing ourselves to a platonic ideal, not to actual engineering. This book offers an insiders look at the political and cultural dimensions of design, development, and production, and reaffirms petroski as the.
Vesic professor of civil engineering and a professor of history at duke university. About as good as it gets when it comes to trying to understand invention by design. Vesic professor of civil engineering at duke university, where he has taught for more than three decades. Henry petroskis previous bestsellers have delighted readers with intriguing. 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. The paradox of design princeton science library book 92 kindle edition by petroski, henry, petroski, henry. In this book, petroski delves deeper into the mystery of invention, to explore.