Object Lessons

Henry Petroski generally writes interesting pieces, some of which I've read in American Scientist. The Evolution of Useful Things is no exception, it's an entertaining and well written account of how a few everyday items came to be. Reading the book is sort of like wandering through a museum of artifacts, stopping to peruse all the little sign cards. Petroski basis his discussions on the premises that each new version of something is invented in order to correct faults of the previous design. Eventually reaching a sort of optimum usefulness. The story of the paper clip and its derivation from the straight pin was a particularly well laid out demonstration of this idea. I found the chapters on silverware and tools to be particularly fascinating. I'm sure a whole book could be written on either subject. Victorian era silverware sets contained as many as 146 different utensils, each the perfect tool for eating its designated epicurious delight. It almost inspires me to study the subject more intensely and write a book about it. Imagine the intrigue in all those unique pieces of silver, all made to be the optimal way of conveying food to your mouth.

Petroski's book written in 1992 does seem a bit dated at the end. He spends a few paragraphs on the change from dial to pushbutton telephone. This probably should be accompanied by an illustration as I bet many of today's readers have never seen a dial telephone! It makes me wonder what he thinks of the evolution of today's technologies. So many things which are designed to make life easier end up sowing more confusion and wasted time. Perhaps the subject for another book?