TofuFlyout DIY in July Shop Men's Classics Shop Men's Classics Shop Men's Learn more nav_sap_plcc_6M_fly_beacon $5 Albums See All Deals Storm Free Fire TV Stick with Purchase of Ooma Telo Luxury Beauty Home Improvement Shop all gdwf gdwf gdwf  Amazon Echo  Amazon Echo All-New Kindle Paperwhite GNO Shop Now Deal of the Day
Buy Used
$1.50
Used: Good | Details
Sold by bookbazaars
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: Good having possibility of underlined, highlighted sentences. Textbooks may not include their supplements like CD, access code, info track, etc. Fast shipping.

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

Wish List unavailable.
Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon
Flip to back Flip to front
Listen Playing... Paused   You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more
See all 5 images

Humble Masterpieces: Everyday Marvels of Design Paperback – Bargain Price, November 29, 2005

12 customer reviews

See all 6 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions
Amazon Price New from Used from
Paperback, Bargain Price, November 29, 2005
$7.82 $1.48

This is a bargain book and quantities are limited. Bargain books are new but could include a small mark from the publisher and an Amazon.com price sticker identifying them as such. Details

Best Books of the Year So Far
Best Books of the Year So Far
Looking for something great to read? Browse our editors' picks for 2015's Best Books of the Year So Far in fiction, nonfiction, mysteries, children's books, and much more.

Special Offers and Product Promotions


NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE
Best Books of the Month
Best Books of the Month
Want to know our Editors' picks for the best books of the month? Browse Best Books of the Month, featuring our favorite new books in more than a dozen categories.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 216 pages
  • Publisher: Harper Collins Design; 1st edition (November 29, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0060838310
  • ASIN: B001JJBP6Y
  • Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.5 x 7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,244,131 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  •  Would you like to update product info, give feedback on images, or tell us about a lower price?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful By J. Kimbrough on February 3, 2012
Format: Paperback
My curiosity was piqued by the title of this book. When I opened it up on the left page was a wonderful photo and on the right the "story" behind this object. And too my surprise the first item was a Swiss Army Knife, the same one I having been carrying in my pocket for most of my life. As you go from page to page, you start to realize how many of these items you have used or owned in your life time and begin to appreciate the "wonder" of the design behind them, usefulness and in some cases the "breakthrough" concept someone made to develop it.

As the author states, "If they work well, chances are we won't pay them much attention. However, in spite of modest prices, some of these things are true masterpieces of art & design and deserve our unconditional attention."

This "little" book is well worth the price. I never had the chance to the see this exhibition at the Museum, but I have it in this book.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback. If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful By bronx book nerd VINE VOICE on March 21, 2011
Format: Paperback
I couldn't make it past page 71 of this 203 page book. I was attracted to the book based on the author's comments about the need to have designers get involved in policy making. Her claim that designers always keep the human component in mind was convincing. So I started this book thinking that I would get more details on this insight from Antonelli's description of these "humble masterpieces". The first score or so items are actually very attractively designed, although they have become commonplace and maybe have lost their luster or appeal as a result - the Swiss Army Knife, the ice cream cone, for example. And the stories of how some of these creations came about can be as attractive as their physical design. Unfortunately, the number of common items to which you can apply this criterion should be limited, and this becomes obvious as Antonelli tries to talk up other common items, like Q-tips, coffee cup lids and post-its. I'm sorry, but to some degree we need ugly and mundane things to appreciate the beautiful and the sublime - there is no Beauty without the Beast. By elevating such dull items like the bobby pin and the Chinese food take out container to design masterpiece status, Antonelli levels the playing field to the point of incoherence. Perhaps life is just more interesting to her because of her ability to do so, but for the rest of us, I think the vast majority of the items she portrays will continue to be humdrum and uninspiring.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback. If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
By Ashley's B. on February 5, 2015
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Wonderful collection of inventions!
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback. If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
By Helle Abild Ulstrup on March 10, 2013
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Very nice book with loads of pictures and lovely illustrations. Truly a great book for design lovers and book worms
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback. If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
0 of 3 people found the following review helpful By A. Lucas on September 25, 2007
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This book didn't stay on our coffee table for long. Some of the photographs are amazing, but the layout and paper quality of the book do not contribute well at all. This was a gift for my husband when he was just beginning his journey in photography, but I was disappointed at the lack of masterpieces I found.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback. If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
By D. Segermark on March 12, 2009
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This book is a compact little gem, tucked into a cool plastic sleeve. The close-up photography is stunning. Each picture is juxtaposed with a well-researched and well-written page, adding to the aesthetic appreciation of the 'everday marvels of design'.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback. If this review is inappropriate, please let us know.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again