Comments on: Help me find this book on low-tech inventions?

Question: Help me find this book on low-tech inventions?

Kerasia — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:45:02 -0800

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?

By: iconomy

iconomy — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:01:09 -0800

Don't know which book specifically but the author is probably Victor Papanek. Amazon link to his books.

By: DMan

DMan — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:04:13 -0800

I hope someone finds it. That sounds amazingly interesting.

By: gubo

gubo — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:12:14 -0800

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.

By: Kerasia

Kerasia — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:09:46 -0800

Thanks so much!

By: mearls

mearls — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:14:43 -0800