---
product_id: 62020828
title: "The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are."
price: "SAR 172"
currency: SAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.com.sa/products/62020828-the-evolution-of-useful-things-how-everyday-artifacts-from-forks
store_origin: SA
region: Saudi Arabia
---

# The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are.

**Price:** SAR 172
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are.
- **How much does it cost?** SAR 172 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.sa](https://www.desertcart.com.sa/products/62020828-the-evolution-of-useful-things-how-everyday-artifacts-from-forks)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## 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.

Review: Five Stars - I loved it. It's delightfully interesting and thought provoking.
Review: Just a bit dull - The idea is good the execution is dull. I did manage to read this to the end (just) but it did literally send me to sleep several times. There is a lot of detail of the evolution of a few everyday objects and there are a few interesting points (which is why I persevered). The main theme of the book is that, people will find fault in an object and innovate to make it better.... Well, the fault with this book is the writing style, it's dull and unnecessarily wordy. The fix, read something else; unless you love Paperclips, Staples, Hammers, Pins, Zips, Cutlery or Wooden bed frames.

## Features

- Vintage

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | 658,774 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 464 in Engineering Skills & Design 650 in Experiments, Instruments & Measurements 14,289 in World History (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.2 out of 5 stars 154 Reviews |

## Images

![The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are. - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81Ae8PH1gbL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars
*by C***T on 26 April 2015*

I loved it. It's delightfully interesting and thought provoking.

### ⭐⭐ Just a bit dull
*by F***R on 2 December 2011*

The idea is good the execution is dull. I did manage to read this to the end (just) but it did literally send me to sleep several times. There is a lot of detail of the evolution of a few everyday objects and there are a few interesting points (which is why I persevered). The main theme of the book is that, people will find fault in an object and innovate to make it better.... Well, the fault with this book is the writing style, it's dull and unnecessarily wordy. The fix, read something else; unless you love Paperclips, Staples, Hammers, Pins, Zips, Cutlery or Wooden bed frames.

### ⭐⭐ Detailed evolutionary history of several everyday objects
*by P***9 on 13 November 2000*

Emphasis is on historical development of objects which is very detailed. I suggest that Donald Norman's "The design of everyday things" is a better read and gives more ideas for the designer today.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Evolution of Useful Things: How Everyday Artifacts-From Forks and Pins to Paper Clips and Zippers-Came to be as They are
- To Engineer Is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design
- The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance

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*Product available on Desertcart Saudi Arabia*
*Store origin: SA*
*Last updated: 2026-06-10*