{"product_id":"henry-petroski-the-evolution-of-useful-things-9780679740391","title":"The Evolution of Useful Things","description":"   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?    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.","brand":"Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Used - acceptable","offer_id":53376988774742,"sku":"9780679740391-B","price":5.79,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0925\/5829\/5382\/files\/product_image_9780679740391_1.jpg?v=1778120470","url":"https:\/\/www.momoxbooks.com\/products\/henry-petroski-the-evolution-of-useful-things-9780679740391","provider":"momoxbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}