SKU: 97505242908

Success Through Failure: The Paradox of Design

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Description

Success Through Failure: The Paradox of DesignDesign pervades our lives. Everything from drafting a PowerPoint presentation to planning a state of the art bridge embodies this universal human activity. But what makes a great design? In this compelling and wide ranging look at the essence of invention, distinguished engineer and author Henry Petroski argues that, time and again, we have built success on the back of failure not through easy imitation of success. Success through Failure shows us

Design pervades our lives. Everything from drafting a PowerPoint presentation to planning a state-of-the-art bridge embodies this universal human activity. But what makes a great design? In this compelling and wide-ranging look at the essence of invention, distinguished engineer and author Henry Petroski argues that, time and again, we have built success on the back of failure--not through easy imitation of success.

Success through Failure shows us that making something better--by carefully anticipating and thus averting failure--is what invention and design are all about. Petroski explores the nature of invention and the character of the inventor through an unprecedented range of both everyday and extraordinary examples--illustrated lectures, child-resistant packaging for drugs, national constitutions, medical devices, the world's tallest skyscrapers, long-span bridges, and more. Stressing throughout that there is no surer road to eventual failure than modeling designs solely on past successes, he sheds new light on spectacular failures, from the destruction of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940 and the space shuttle disasters of recent decades, to the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001.


Petroski also looks at the prehistoric and ancient roots of many modern designs. The historical record, especially as embodied in failures, reveals patterns of human social behavior that have implications for large structures like bridges and vast organizations like NASA. Success through Failure--which will fascinate anyone intrigued by design, including engineers, architects, and designers themselves--concludes by speculating on when we can expect the next major bridge failure to occur, and the kind of bridge most likely to be involved.

-- "Architectural Science Review"

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 05/29/2018
ISBN: 9780691180991
Pages: 256
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.50w x 0.90d
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SKU: 97505242908

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Keith
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Great socks
Number of Items: 6, Color: Black (6-pairs), Size: Medium
I love these socks
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Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2026
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ok
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
Good socks
Number of Items: 6, Color: White (6-pairs), Size: X-Large
I have size 13 feet and these are great maybe they’ll stretch and be a bit big but I m fine with that
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Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2026
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Wendy H.
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Well made socks
Number of Items: 6, Color: Black (6-pairs), Size: X-Large
Made well. Bought for my Son. He only likes Under Armour brand of socks. Only socks he buys.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2026
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LC
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
LOVE THEM!!
Size: Small, Color: (001) Black / Black / Castlerock
LOVE! These socks are so comfortable! I wear a 5 in women's and a 3 in big kid shoes. The small fit me perfectly. I see where some say they run small but I can't say that was an issue for me. They are "snug" but thats what you want with a no show sock. I feel they have support vs the ones i used to buy at Walmart. They are very soft! I am actually buying more today and throwing my other ones in the trash!
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Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2026
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Lucy Mejia
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
So will not write down your foot
Size: Medium, Color: (001) Black / Black / Castlerock
I love these socks. They have a little bit of gel on the top of the heel for support in your tennis shoes and so your socks don’t write down. Very good quality.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2026

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