Henry Petroski looks at the pencil and cites it as a prime example of elegant design and engineering with much to say about the world of modern technology. He includes facts such as that a single pencil could draw a line 70 miles long, and that Hemingway and Steinbeck wrote novels in pencil.
Read More
Henry Petroski looks at the pencil and cites it as a prime example of elegant design and engineering with much to say about the world of modern technology. He includes facts such as that a single pencil could draw a line 70 miles long, and that Hemingway and Steinbeck wrote novels in pencil.
Read Less
Add this copy of The Pencil: a History of Design and Circumstance to cart. $14.31, good condition, Sold by Stephen White Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bradford, WEST YORKSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1990 by Faber & Faber.
Add this copy of The Pencil: a History of Design and Circumstance to cart. $11.32, good condition, Sold by Brit Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Milton Keynes, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1990 by Faber & Faber.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
Good. Simply Brit – welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there's something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality.
Add this copy of The Pencil to cart. $28.59, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Alfred A. Knopf.
If you have a smidgen of curiosity -- if you ask, 'Why would anyone write about such a boring subject?', or 'Why pick that title?' -- pick up this book. As long as you have any interest in history, technology, people, blind spots, or just excellent -- no, make that superb -- writing, you will enjoy this book. You may even, as I did, put Henry Petroski on your list of favorite authors (between Donald Norman and Geoffrey Parker, perhaps). Lenin, Thoreau, and others appear in the pages, almost the way Hamlet does in _Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead_; yet the motivating force behind the story remains exactly what the title promises, in understated, wry humor that the author shares with the reader. Even if you end up only tolerating the topic, the writing cannot be bettered; crates of editorial blue pencils could not improve upon Petroski's substance, style, and wit.
