Date: Wednesday, November 5
When: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Refreshments served at 5:00 p.m, program begins at 5:30)
Where: Franklin Humanities Institute Garage, Smith Warehouse Bay 4, (map)
Join the Duke University Libraries on November 5 for a book discussion with Henry Petroski, acclaimed author and Aleksandar S. Vesic Professor of Civil Engineering and Professor of History at Duke. Professor Petroski is the author seventeen popular books on engineering and design, including the classics To Engineer is Human: The Role of Failure in Successful Design (1985), The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance (1990), The Book on the Bookshelf (1999), and To Forgive Design: Understanding Failure (2012). Professor Petroski will discuss his most recent work, The House with Sixteen Handmade Doors: A Tale of Architectural Choice and Craftsmanship (2014). The book is an “architectural whodunit” that unlocks the secrets of Petroski’s handmade summer cottage in Maine. The author found himself fascinated by the origins of his 1950s home and set out to discover all the mysteries it contains–from dimly lit closets to a secret passageway. Readers follow along as Petroski slowly reveals the art and craftsmanship that went into the home’s construction, without ever removing a single nail.
Professor Petroski’s lecture is part of the Engaging Faculty Series, sponsored by the Friends of the Duke University Libraries. Books will be for sale at the event, and light refreshments will be served starting at 5:00 p.m. This program is free and open to the public.
PARKING INFORMATION: The gravel lot across from Smith Warehouse on Buchanan Blvd. offers free parking after 5 p.m. If you have a Duke parking pass, the central gated area is accessible by card-swipe after 5 p.m. For more details on parking at Smith Warehouse, visit the Franklin Humanities Institute website.
Read More:
- “Coaxing a History from Board and Beam” (New York Times, June 4, 2014)
- “Henry Petroski’s New Book Explores Home’s History and Design” (Duke University, Pratt School of Engineering News Release, May 5, 2014)
Henry,
Sorry I missed your event. I’m in Chicago and have lectured all over the U.S about the poor quality of construction. I have written and published many articles. I am a 30 year veteran Home Inspector with 10,000 inspected buildings behind me. I do a lot of court work as an expert and find your opinions in harmony with mine. I would love to dialogue. Real Estate is killing the quality of the American dream “to own and raise a family in a decent home”. It’s the profit motive. I read “they don’t make them like they used to”. Great work. http://Www.TOMACOR.com. An understanding ear.