Really Useful /anglais - Tapa blanda

A really useful book for spicing up your cocktail chatter. Addictive ... it's heartening to know the human side of products that have taken on a mundane ubiquity. Who knew a hair dryer could look so darn sexy? -- John Marshall "Seattle Post-Intelligencer" (11/25/2002) Those with even a passing interest in the historical roots of such familiar objects will find Levy's book delightfully informative. Who knew a hair dryer could look so darn sexy? Considerable research expanded in good prose ... zany intelligentsia flotsam. -- Barbara Jacobs "Booklist" (01/15/2003) A breezy style and a knack for clear explanations ... illustrated with witty color photographs and beautifully designed. -- Karen Reeds "Kliatt" (07/15/2003) Guaranteed to trigger conversation ... a lovely mix of archival photos, scientific visuals and beautifully lighted contemporary photography. -- Kathryn Greenaway "Montreal Gazette" (12/07/2002) Lavishly illustrated ... concise, well-written essay on each [object], offer facts on its origin, purpose, inner secrets, history and utility. -- Michael Pakenham "Los Angeles Times News Service" (02/02/2003)

Almost every aspect of our lives has been improved over the last century by really useful devices that have changed the way we groom, cook, move and work. These items were revolutionary when created, yet we soon found it hard to imagine life without them. Do you know the fascinating story of the great paperclip race? Or how the lightbulb, the microwave, the aerosol can, or the Thermos flask came to be? Can you imagine home life without a refrigerator? Or how we managed before liquid paper correction fluid was invented? This work takes readers on a tour of the objects in their lives, from the origins of Tupperware to the construction and engineering principles behind the bra. Gadgets, tools, implements, appliances and odds and ends are investigated in an accessible and entertaining style that will excite your interest in even the most ordinary object. Uncover the secrets of everyday, but indispensable items such as razors, pens, toothbrushes, zips, umbrellas. Discover the origins of technical objects from the personal stereo to the personal computer.