SKU: 97505242908

Success Through Failure: The Paradox of Design

Sale price$15.26 Regular price$16.96
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $4.24 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Aug 7 - Aug 12

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

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
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 97505242908

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.8 ★★★★★
Based on 10 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
D
Verified Purchase
dksofct
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Cute Book. Baby Favorite
Format: Board book
My Grandsons favorite book. ( he’s 8 months old)
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
Mike
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
Wonderful for all the senses!
Format: Board book
Pretty book with something for little fingers to touch on each page. As you touch it, a realistic animal sound is made! (Just be sure to remove the tag from the battery box on back.).
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2025
L
Verified Purchase
Lisa A Lucht
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 5
Fun sound book.
Format: Board book
I bought this for my house for my grandkids when they come over and this is their go to book. The sounds are very true to the animal sounds. And very minimal pushing as needed to make the noises.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2025
W
Verified Purchase
wise shopper
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
This one year old loved this book
Format: Board book
delights toddlers!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2026
L
Verified Purchase
Louise Giardelli
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Adorable and educational
Format: Board book
Such cute book! I ordered other from same company with different animals. Very educational for babies! My grandson loves them and he’s 8 months old. I buy him a different book on diff animals each month for his monthly birthdays. I have the Little Hedgehog for this month.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2020

recommand products