The Perfection of the Paper Clip: Curious Tales of Invention, Accidental Genius, and Stationery Obsession

Change the way you look at office supplies forever with this wonderfully enlightening and quirky exploration of the fascinating of everyday objects, such as the humble and perfectly designed paper clip and the utilitarian, irreplaceable pencil.

How many of humanity’s brightest ideas started out on a scrap of paper or in the margins of a notebook? In a delightfully witty and fresh voice, James Ward - cofounder of the Boring Conference and collector of the arcane - explores the secret histories of deskbound supplies, from pencils to fluorescent ink, and the gleaming reams of white paper we all take for granted, encouraging a deeper appreciation and fascination for the things that surround us each day.

Filled with lively stories of invention - unintended and brilliant - and plenty of catastrophes, Ward's book also asks the difficult questions: What happened to the Trapper Keeper? What does "shatterproof resistant" mean? How many pens is it okay to take from the bank? And what do design evolutions in desk organizers mean for society?

The Perfection of the Paper Clip is a wildly entertaining history and satisfying tour of the objects that are strewn across our desks, clumped at the bottoms of our book bags, and lodged in the corners of our cabinets.