Small Things Considered
Henry Petroski
Reading Time
at 250 WPM5h 4m
The average reader, reading at a speed of 250 WPM, would take 5h 4m to read Small Things Considered.
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11
days at 30 min/day
304
total minutes
Small Things Considered
Published
September 14, 2004
Publisher
Vintage
Pages
304
ISBN-13
9781400032938
ISBN-10
1400032938
Description
The ultimate context of design is, of course, the human user. Many designed things are "one size fits all," and so if they fit anyone perfectly, it is a statistical coincidence. This being so, all the rest of us must make do. Sometimes we can shop around and try a different brand or model of a designed object, hoping to find the one that seems to have been made for us. Most likely, we never find such a thing, and so we compromise in our choice, selecting a less attractive chair because it is more comfortable or picking an uncomfortable chair because it looks more striking in our living room. We learn to live in a world of imperfect things, just as we do in a world of imperfect fellow human beings. If we cannot find a pair of shoes that is a perfect fit for us, and if we cannot or do not wish to spend the money to have our shoes custom-made, then we choose a pair whose looks and fit are as close to what we want as we can find. We think, therefore we design. Indeed, there is barely anything that we do, much less use, that does not have a design component to it. - p. 15.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages are in Small Things Considered?
This edition of Small Things Considered has approximately 304 pages. Please note, this is an estimate and the exact page count can vary between hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions.
How long does it take to read Small Things Considered?
For most readers, Small Things Considered typically takes between 6h 20m and 4h 13m to complete. This is based on the book's length of approximately 76,000 words and common reading speeds.
Here's a detailed breakdown: • Continuous reading at 250 WPM: approximately 5h 4m of focused reading • Casual reading (30 minutes/day): you could finish in roughly 11 days • Estimated word count: 76,000 words
Your individual reading time will vary based on your personal reading pace, the amount of daily reading time, and your familiarity with the subject matter.
What is the word count of Small Things Considered?
The estimated word count for Small Things Considered is approximately 76,000 words. This figure is calculated using industry-standard methods that consider genre-specific word density patterns, typical formatting and layout characteristics, and standard words-per-page ratios for published books.
This is an approximation — actual word count may vary based on font size, formatting, edition, and the presence of illustrations or charts.
Who is the author of Small Things Considered?
Small Things Considered was written by Henry Petroski.
When was Small Things Considered published?
The publication date for this specific edition is September 14, 2004. The original work may have been published on a different date.