Petroski, in his usually straight-forward but interesting fashion, explains that there is no perfection in design because humans aren’t perfect. He talks about the compromises necessary in developing any sort of technology or design as he gives the backgrounds of many every-day items like duct tape (which was developed during WWII and was really called duck tape because duck cloth was used to give it strength), WD-40, car cup holders, paper bags, toll booths, toothbrushes, potato peelers and much more, including, oddly, restaurant menus.

Not over-the-top riveting, but interesting enough to make me glad I read it, as I’ve always been when finishing any of his books I’ve read.