Manufacturing Books

I am a long-time Petroski fan, owning all of his books and having read with great joy almost all of them. He has a knack for taking an ordinary, everyday object (pencil, paper clip, bookshelf, ....) and finding the stories that make for a fascinating socio-technical history. This book is no exception. He even expresses his own surprise, in that his original plan was to write a chapter on the toothpick for another book, but then discovering that he had so much material that he would have to set that chapter aside and eventually do an entire book.

Interestingly, the toothpick story is a quintessential story of American ingenuity and inventiveness, business practices (both good and bad), regional advantages (Maine is the centerpiece of this story), and evolution in a changing world. There is early crisis during the first decades of the twentieth century, there is flowering and enormous diversification mid-century as woodcraft is turned to a variety of other products (Popsicles is one nice story), and ultimately, late twentieth century uprooting due to globalization (most toothpicks now come from China).

What is so fun about Petroski's books is that he looks at a simple thing like a toothpick from so many perspectives. The toothpick as a cause of death (swallowing them, or putting them in orifices where they don't belong). Toothpick as goat of the dental profession. The toothpick industry in its environmental niches. The rise and fall and rise and fall of the toothpick as a social phenomenon (is it OK to use one in public? this is a constant theme in the book). Toothpick as a source of literature (often pretty bad, but entertaining).

Petroski shows that much of the available history of the toothpick (on the web, in the Congressional Record, ...) is just plain wrong. Through amazingly interesting scholarship he tracks down what happened, who did what, and why. It may be that some subsequent scholar will find fault with Petroski's rendition of the history, but at this point in time, this has to be the best resource on this story.

I hoist a martini to this tour de force; but with a twist of lemon rather than an olive on a toothpick, so I can avoid "the fatal martini."

The toothpick would seem to be just about the last word in minimalism of both design and material, but Duke University engineering professor Henry Petroski has counted about 500 patents designed to complexify it.
There is, of course, more to this than meets the eye. Petroski practically invented the popular book designed to explain not only how objects are engineered but why. Toothpicks, in their apparent simplicity, did not just appear unbidden, any more than the lead pencil, to which Petroski gave the 400-page treatment earlier.
"The close study of anything as both an object and an idea is potentially intellectually rewarding and revealing about the technology and culture in which it is embedded," he writes.
It is recorded, for example, that a century ago a country girl in Maine -- home of the machine-made toothpick -- who packed the boxes of picks slipped a note into at least one of them inviting a gentleman to write her, and that a gentleman did, and that he traveled from St. Louis to Maine to see her.
What came of that, history does not record, but Petroski supposes, no doubt correctly, that more than one girl did the same. Boys and girls will be boys and girls, whether they have access to MySpace and Facebook or only toothpick boxes.
Though I have for a long time been a fan of Petroski's writing, it has to be admitted that "The Toothpick" does not have the romance of "The Pencil" or the heartstopping drama of his best book, "To Engineer is Human," which is about falling bridges and similar disasters.
Still, as always with Petroski, there are scores and hundreds of factoids that make you think.
All during the 150 years of the rise and fall of the Maine-made toothpick -- they come from China now, of course -- the market challenge to the machined toothpick of birch has been the hand-made orangewood toothpick.
These came and still come from Portugal. Around 1900, country girls in Portugal earned two cents a day making them.
Orangewood toothpicks are now a luxury item, but still, Portugal is part of the wealthy European Economic Community. How toothpicks still figure into that economy is a puzzle; one which, uncharacteristically, Petroski does not investigate.
Portuguese toothpicks have always, he says, been of the best quality. For a while, the Forster machine-made Worlds Fair pick was their equal. Today, Chinese-made toothpicks that bear the Forster label and look similar to a Worlds Fair are junk. No surprise there.
But the éclat of the toothpick has declined. The decline preceded and was not caused by shoddy Chinese practices. By a kind of Gresham's Law of Toothpicks, after nearly two centuries of effort (recall those 500 patents), the globalized market supplies only worse toothpicks than when
the improvement started.
The University of Chicago School of Economics and the Cato Institute assured us it would turn out differently.
True, there are late 20th century Swedish picks that owe little to the line of engineering that peaked with the Worlds Fair, but they are many times more expensive and only doubtfully better on the job.

"Surely I cannot have read a 400 page book about the toothpick!" was my feeling when I set down Henry Petroski's _The Toothpick: Technology and Culture_ (Knopf). But the pages slipped by, each with its details about "History's Splendid Splinter". Actually, that is the title of a fictitious journal of supposedly scholarly essays on all aspects of the toothpick, and it is funny to think of scholarship expended on such a teensy tool. Petroski's book is no joke, though he is a amusing writer. He is a professor of civil engineering and of history, and likes to write about small manufactured things to reveal larger themes, as he did in a previous book, _The Pencil_. It is hard to imagine that he has left anything out, including toothpicks in history and pre-history, toothpicks in fiction, toothpick etiquette through the ages, toothpicks and global trade, and plenty more. Why has he lit upon the toothpick? Petroski says it is a common wooden object, the simplest of manufactured things, has no moving parts, needs no maintenance, is universally available, and it performs a function humans really need. He writes, "Nothing can be more annoying than having a piece of food stuck between our teeth." Sucking on the object will often do little, the tongue can't grab, and fingers are too blunt to get leverage; the toothpick is the specific tool for the specific job. It can, of course, probe into other small spaces if you are, say, cleaning a tiny figurine, and it does a splendid job of holding sandwiches together or giving a handle to an olive (Petroski's witty author photo shows him in a tux, holding an toothpick so accessorized). Generally, though, this is a history of picks for teeth.

They weren't always wood. When humans could make tools, toothpicks were among the first; a gold Mesopotamian toilet set of 3500 BCE has a tweezers, an earspoon, and a toothpick on chains as if on a key ring. Greeks and Romans used wood splinters as well as metal needle-type picks. Bones from chicken and fish have been used, as have walrus whiskers (packets of which were supplied to airline passengers by an Alaskan airline just forty years ago). The premier non-wood toothpick had to be the goose quill, which was one of the first mass marketed toothpicks, made as a cottage industry all over Europe. Charles became the world's premier toothpick manufacturer, starting around 1870, getting the machines that made shoe pegs (look them up) retooled to make sharper, longer pieces. He not only made toothpicks but made a market for them, and there was a turn-of-the-century toothpick boom. This did not mean that everyone approved. In 1883, an author was disgusted by the craze. "These toothpick fiends you may observe anywhere and at all times. They pick their teeth at the table, in the parlor, on the street, in the horse-cars, in the hotel office, on the rotundas, and in fact everywhere you meet them; the mania is prevalent, and is increasing rapidly." Using the toothpick after dinner has usually been seen as something to be done in private, and this is the general rule over the long term, although some etiquette advisors have authorized public use if shielded by a hand, a newspaper, or a napkin. Their opponents have felt such camouflage hides nothing and thus makes the crime of picking worse by adding to it an attempt at deception.

It is interesting that Petroski, acknowledging the world-wide array of libraries he has visited to compile this work, also has much to say about the use of the internet. It will surprise no one to know that there is a great deal of misinformation on the web about details of the toothpick's history, and Petroski quotes battling websites on different issues. More interesting is his appreciation of eBay as a research tool; he has been able to find pictures and descriptions of toothpicks and toothpick holders of all sorts. All his research has produced an amusing book full of toothpick miscellany. Here you will find reference to the people who build huge models of the Eiffel Tower or the Titanic out of toothpicks, or the role of the toothpick in the invention of Q-Tips, or the history of the Arkansas Toothpick (the Bowie knife), or the range of the National Toothpick Holder Collectors Society, or the death by toothpick of author Sherwood Anderson. I guarantee that you will not find a more entertaining book on this subject.

I ordered this for my husband and he was thrilled! Best book out there!

Originally published in 1979, the "Universal Fly Tying Guide" by fly fishing expert Dick Stewart is aptly considered an essential reference for novice anglers wanting to improve their fly fishing performance. Now reprinted for a new generation of fly fishing anglers, the "Universal Fly Tying Guide" once again showcases more than 150 choice, make-them-yourself, fly patterns presented with full color illustration and step-by-step instruction. Very highly recommended for the novice fly fisherman, the "Universal Fly Tying Guide" continues to have much to offer even the more experienced fly fisherman and is a welcome addition to both personal and community library specialized reference collections on fishing.

this book has great illustrations and photos that are very usefull for first time fly tyers, it also discribes fly tying materials and when you should use them

This is a super book, intelligent and attractive as well. As a child, I loved Vernor's Ginger Ale, and I enjoyed reading this book tremendously! The history of the company is well written and interesting, and the numerous illustrations are varied and delightful. I especially appreciated the chronology and bibliography that balance the cool graphics with authoritative research. Well done!!

This unique and eye opening saga into the history of Vernor's, reveals a facinating evolution from a doctor prescribed tummy soother, to "Detroit's Drink". Lawerence L. Rouch is an increadible writer who brings to life the colorful and amazing history of more than just a soft drink, but of the city of Detroit itself. From "The Original Ginger Ale's" post civil war beginings to its current position in the highly competive soft drink market of today, the Vernor story truly is one of a kind.

Wow! This book takes me back to my childhood in MI. It's so richly illustrated & so fun to read! I love it. I am going to buy it for all my friends and family for XMAS. What a great Michigan read!

This book is perfect. It covers most every important point when collecting Zippos from the Vietnam War era. Topics like markings, identification and engraving style are covered in great detail. The pictures are colorful and detailed. Buy this book if you want to collect these little gems of history.

The most comprehensive work that I have seen to date on the subject of the ubiquitous war-time cigarette lighter. Mr. Fiorella concentrates on the most popular brand to be carried in Viet Nam, or any war for that matter, the Zippo. Who would think that a niche area of militaria collecting could be so broad with so many variations? From the slim Zippo to the cut-down variety, to Barcroft table models; those engraved in English, or in Vietnamese, carried by Americans, ARVN's, Cambodians, Koreans; Army, Navy varieties and Marines, this author breezes through all of these areas in clear-cut chapters with plenty of example photos and archival images. One of the most interesting chapters is to be found in the beginning of the book, about a subject that is best tackled first: how do you identify knockoffs? This book is worth it for the photos alone and is soon to be a collector's item. The only book you will ever have to own for this hobby.
NAC

i've read just about everything on Viet Nam, and this book really is fun! Sort of like Michael Herr's "Dispatches" (with photos). Written in realistic prose and accompanied by hundreds of photo's of Vietnam Zippos, and great in-country shots. Lots of non-boring Vietnam War reference material. i couldn't put it down.

This book is a must read for any one who is both a Yuengling drinker and who wants to learn the history of brewing beer in NE PA.

The Yuengling is both the oldest merican Brewery--est in 1829 and also it has been run by the Yuengling family since that time.

For anyone planning to visit Pottsville,PA the home of Yuengling,reading this book wil give abroader insight into both the brewery and the overall area.

Overall author Mark Noon has done an excellant "job" in his research of the history of both NE Pa and the Yuengling Brewery.

Unlike the other reviewer, I have read it and I like it better than the beer. It's obvious the author spent many a long night at the local Pottsville pubs interviewing the Yuengling employees and faithful, probably while sucking down a great many black and tan's in the process. Loved the book. So as I sit here sipping a Lord Chesterfield, here's to you Mr. Noon and to you Dick Yuengling; keep up the good work!

This is by far the best beer brewed in America. Yes, I know.. 'Yuengling, what kind of name is that.. it sounds Japanese' All I can tell you is this, growing up in PA, and actually graduating from the author's place of employment (GO HUSKIES), we grew up on this beer. (after we hit 21 of course)

The Lager is incredible, although I recommend you get it as cold as possible as it tastes even better as it approaches freezing temperatures..

In the fall, swing to their Black and Tan, a slightly more filling beer, but amazing taste. You don't need it quite as cold as the Lager.. The best part is this stuff comes in 16 oz cans...

Next for winter, break open a case of porter. This stuff is so good you can drink it right out of the case without it ever hitting the fridge.. especially if you live in PA and store it in your garage during the winter months.. After 2 or 3 of the porters, give your keys to your designated driver, and switch back to the Lager, as the Porter is quite filling..

For a special treat, may I also recommend the Chesterfield Ale.

When I lived in New Orleans and would travel back to PA, my neighbors would ask me to bring cases of this stuff down for them. The Black and Tan is better than Abita Turbo Dog..

The best part is you can get a case of this stuff for under $20. Try getting a case of Guiness for anything near that.

So have I read the book? NO, but I have cracked open quite a few Yuenglings in my time.. Maybe it's time to enjoy a few while reading up on the last 175 years.. Although I would have to sacrifice 2 cases of Yuengling to buy the book. HMMMMMMMMMM

The PID controller is the most common solution to practical control problems, especially in process industries. This fact makes extremely important for any individual involved in Process control to have an excellent understanding of its design, tuning and applications.

This book is the last part of a trilogy. The first book, Automatic Tuning of PID Controllers, 1988, which had 6 chapters, gave a short description of the authors early experiences with development of relay auto tuners.
The second book, PID Controllers: Theory, Design, and Tuning, 1995, which has 7 chapters, grew out of the need for a broader coverage of many aspects of PID control. In particular, it reviews many design methods for PID controllers that the authors investigated in connection with their work on auto tuners.
This book, the last of the trilogy, has 13 chapters that deals with essential topics like: Process Models, Controller Design, Controller Tuning, Loop Performance Assessment, Interactions, Predictive Control, Control Paradigms, and implementation.

I am an Industrial Practitioner of Process Control. I have been working for more than 16 years as an Instrumentation, Automation, and Process Safety and Control Engineer for the Oil & Gas Industry. I have found this book to be a useful reference in my day to day activities.

PID (proportional-Integral-Derivative) controllers have become the technology of choice in a large percentage of control circuits. The basic concept of a PID controller is that they compare a measured value from a process with a reference setpoint value. The difference is then processed to change the various inputs when can then bring the measured value to desired value.

PID controllers are not new, their development began at least 250 years ago with purely mechanical controllers such as the centrifugal governors on steam engines. Now, of course the new controllers are primarily electronic.

This book covers nearly every aspect of using PID controllers. It combines a mathematical approach to control analysis along with discussion on PID devices and real world examples of problems and their solutions.

The authors are in the Department of Automatic Control at Lund University in Sweden. The book is published by the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society. It is suitable for either classroom or individual use.

"Advanced Wood Adhesives Technology" is a bible for some people who are engaged in wood adhesive and wood based panel. The book involves most kinds of resins that are used in wood industry. A. Pizzi's book is divided into eight sections and Urea Formaldehyde, Melamine Formaldehyde, Phenol Resin, Resorcinol Adhesive, Diisocyanate adhesive, Tannin and Lignin Based Wood adhesives are described respectively. Some of contents of the book are from author's researching results and experimental experience. It is very worth while reading Professor A. Pazzi's book. The book introduces and explains some methods how to test some adhesives' composition and vary specific parameters to obtain particular effects. Professor A. Pazzi's book also supplies some sets of formulas for the production of useful industrial adhesives. The book is a beneficial and indispensable reference for Forest Products Researchers and Scientists, Wood Adhesive Technologists, Graduate Students. The book has two chapters introducing the Renewable Adhesives, Lignin Based Wood Adhesives and Tannin Based Wood Adhesives, they may be friendly to environment. The author does not describe another popular renewable source adhesive, Protein Based Wood Adhesive.

"Advanced Wood Adhesives Technology" is a bible for some people who are engaged in wood adhesive and wood based panel. The book involves most kinds of resins that are used in wood industry. A. Pizzi's book is divided into eight sections and Urea Formaldehyde, Melamine Formaldehyde, Phenol Resin, Resorcinol Adhesive, Diisocyanate adhesive, Tannin and Lignin Based Wood adhesives are described respectively. Some of contents of the book are from author's researching results and experimental experience. It is very worth while reading Professor A. Pazzi's book. The book introduces and explains some methods how to test some adhesives' composition and vary specific parameters to obtain particular effects. Professor A. Pazzi's book also supplies some sets of formulas for the production of useful industrial adhesives. The book is a beneficial and indispensable reference for Forest Products Researchers and Scientists, Wood Adhesive Technologists, Graduate Students. The book has two chapters introducing the Renewable Adhesives, Lignin Based Wood Adhesives and Tannin Based Wood Adhesives, they may be friendly to environment. The author does not describe another popular renewable source adhesive, Protein Based Wood Adhesive.

This is one of the best books written on the subject in years! It is very detailed and full of color photos of these great old toy soldiers. If you have this book and Richard O'Briens...thats all you need as a resource on the subject!

This is one of the best books written on the subject in years! It is very detailed and full of color photos of these great old toy soldiers. If you have this book and Richard O'Briens...thats all you need as a resource on the subject!

This book was a great way for me to share with my kids the story of an amazing woman whom the world will sorely miss! Highly recommended for anyone who wants to start teaching their kids about the importance of social responsibility in the business world.

This is a great book for anyone.Wonderful tips on health and beauty.Great biography for anyone,and it's short too!!!! Kelly,Il.

I bought a signed and numbered edition and wish that I had bought a working copy. My book is showing the wear which results from consulting and re-consulting to I.D. anvils of fellow blacksmiths. I have read it cover to cover (are you supposed to do that with a reference work?).

If you are into blacksmithing, even just a little bit, you have to have this book! An absolutely thorough and professional work on the history and manufacturers of anvils in America. Pictures galore of that simple, but beautiful tool so important in our history. And practical information too. I can't think of any book that has given me as much pleasure in a long, long time! Worth every penny, and maybe more.