A Natural History of the Screwdriver and the Screw
by Witold Rybczynski
Scribner, 2000
Comments: This little book is another of my Rybczynski favorites. It's essentially an expanded version of a magazine article he wrote about technological advancements of the last millennium. He opined that the greatest technical impact to humanity during that period came about as a consequence of the humble screw and its companion, the screwdriver. This led him to gather an extensive amount of historical data on their origins -- far more than a magazine article would allow -- so he subsequently expanded the story into this book.
The screw is such a common object that almost everyone takes it for granted, but prior to its development the fabrication of even basic constructions was greatly limited by the physics of how objects could reliably be connected. When the screw and screwdriver emerged an extraordinary number of new and improved tools were quickly enabled, including military hardware, scientific and industrial apparatuses, clocks, architectural connections, machine tools, and numerous other devices. Many of these objects then led to a rapid advancement of technological development across a wide range of disciplines, all made possible by something as simple as the screw.
This is a wonderful little historical tale about an under appreciated development during a fascinating period of human industrial development. It's well worth finding and reading for anyone interested in history or technology.
Copy Notes: Hardback, first edition, illustrated with notes, sources and index
