Help me find this book on low-tech inventions?

June 26, 2009 5:45 PM

Looking for the author name and title of a book my high school teacher stole from me in 1981. The subject matter was lots of low-tech inventions and designs with instructions, with the idea that they'd help underdeveloped communities. One I remember was a radio receiver made out of cow dung, a tin and some wire. I also remember thinking at the time that the author's name was like that of Boris Pasternak but it wasn't him. My google-fu is failing me. Can you help?
posted by Kerasia to technology (5 comments total)

Don't know which book specifically but the author is probably Victor Papanek. Amazon link to his books.
posted by iconomy at 6:01 PM on June 26 [1 favorite has favorites]

I hope someone finds it. That sounds amazingly interesting.
posted by DMan at 6:04 PM on June 26

Yes, following iconomy's lead, it looks like it's Papanek's Design for the Real World. There's a review and a picture of the radio here.
posted by gubo at 6:12 PM on June 26

Thanks so much!
posted by Kerasia at 7:09 PM on June 26

A similar title is What the World Needs Now: A Resource Book for Daydreamers, Frustrated Inventors, Cranks, Efficiency Experts, Utopians, Gadgeteers, Tinkerers and Just about Everybody Else (Paperback)
posted by mearls at 5:14 AM on June 27