{"product_id":"the-evolution-of-useful-things-9780679740391","title":"The Evolution of Useful Things","description":"\u003cp\u003e   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?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e   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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"STANDARD","offer_id":62342473810307,"sku":"9780679740391","price":17.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0907\/8456\/3587\/files\/9780679740391.jpg?v=1786180948","url":"https:\/\/shopcomics.eu\/products\/the-evolution-of-useful-things-9780679740391","provider":"Shop Comics EU","version":"1.0","type":"link"}