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The Perfection of the Paper Clip
The Perfection of the Paper Clip: Curious Tales of Invention, Accidental Genius, and Stationery Obsession | James Ward
7 posts | 1 read | 11 to read
This wonderfully quirky book will change the way you look at your desk forever with stories of accidental genius, bitter rivalries, and an appreciation for everyday objects, like the humble but perfectly designed paper clip and the utilitarian, irreplaceable pencil. How many of humanitys brightest ideas started out on a scrap of paper, a Post-It, or in the margins of a notebook? In a delightfully witty and fresh voice, James Wardcofounder of the Boring Conference and collector of the arcaneexplores 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. In the spirit of The Evolution of Useful Things and A History of the World in 100 Objects, Ward transforms the mundane into stories of invention, discovery, and even awe. The Perfection of the Paper Clip is a fascinating tour of the objects that touch our daily lives, filled with charming drawings, illuminating stories, and winning humor that will satisfy curious minds and armchair inventors.
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Mitch
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These postit notes have fast become one of my most prized desk accessories- thank you so so much @wanderinglynn for indulging my need for cuteness right now xxx

Ps - to all you stationary lovers out there - check out the tagged book - it‘s FAB!

LeahBergen How cute!!! 😍😍 4y
squirrelbrain They are so cute, and I definitely need that book! ❤️ 4y
AkashaVampie The penguins are too cute 4y
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Leftcoastzen Japanese ones are the cutest! 4y
wanderinglynn ❤️ So happy you like them. I thought they were super cute. 4y
Cupcake12 These are so cute xx 4y
Bookzombie So freaking cute!! 4y
Mitch @wanderinglynn they‘re amazing xxx 4y
dottie.floating.on.words Omgggg those are amazing! 4y
Mitch @dottie.floating.on.words They're brilliant aren't they xx 4y
75 likes1 stack add10 comments
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Mitch
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I have to spread this over two posts because the box of wonderful Japanese stationary that @wanderinglynn sent me it the BEST! She‘s tapped into my inner love of cute things in small packages, beautifully designed and beautifully crafted. Thank you so the most wonderful of gifts! 😍

LeahBergen Gasp! 😍😍😍😍 4y
wanderinglynn So glad it finally arrived! Happy (belated) birthday. Next time I‘m going to try the Japanese post to see if it‘s a bit more timely. 4y
Mitch @wanderinglynn ahh - it just makes the celebrations last longer! 4y
62 likes3 comments
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Lacythebookworm
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These books are perfect @Shadowfat 😍Thank you so much, Molly! I love the page clips and can‘t wait to try the chocolate Buddhas! Now which book to read first...

#2018nonfictionbookexchange #2018NFBE Thanks for organizing such a great swap @inwhichHeikereadsharder 😊👍

bookish_wookish Those bookmarks!! 😍😍 7y
Lacythebookworm @bookish_wookish Aren‘t they the cutest?! 7y
Shadowfat @Lacythebookworm i'm glad you like them 😊 I hope the books are good, Reporter's Kitchen looked interesting! 7y
Smarkies The number of books I am actually stacking from this exchange.... 7y
103 likes1 stack add5 comments
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anneofgreentables
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Pickpick

A fascinating book about all things office-supplies from post-it notes to pens, pencils, and of course, the paper clip. Ward discusses the history, trivia, and culture associated with these useful everyday objects, and it‘s a must-read for anyone (like me) who has a major thing for stationery.

rubyslippersreads This sounds right up my alley! I ❤️ stationery! 7y
13 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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WanderingBookaneer
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@gibblr asked me to find my #bookishhoroscope for 2017 by reaching out, grabbing a book that was next to me, going to page 117, and identifying the second sentence in that page. After discarding, "Hide them," the actual full second sentence on this page, we settled that this would do. What is your bowcase horoscope? Tag me if you look it up!

KCorter Ooh, I like yours! Mine is "Are we still friends?" 8y
gibblr 👍🏼👍🏼 8y
gibblr @KCorter Yours is good too!! 8y
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Bloomingjen Cool. Mine is "He is so different from the rest of us" ugh...that could actually work for 2017 8y
Kitta "I still can't believe that he's real and that he came out of me." Eeekk ? am I going to have a baby? My girlfriend will be really surprised. ? 8y
Leniverse "I was relieved to discover that despite the shabby exterior my apartment was south facing, warm and quite comfortable." Uh... I don't like the sound of this. Why will I be getting an apartment? I hope it's going to be just for a week because I'm going to uh... holiday alone? (edited) 8y
WanderingBookaneer @Kitta 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂 8y
BarbaraJean The second sentence isn't remotely fortune-like, but the third is ominous: "I dub thee... asses and foolsssss... I dub thee...Mr. Sickly...and...Mr. Pale...!" I knew it was going to be bad, given the book I'm reading! (edited) 8y
drokka 'I couldn't disobey - it just wasn't possible'.😂😂😂 (edited) 8y
minkyb @WanderingBookaneer OK this is so spooky. I picked up my book and my bookmark is on page 117! Second sentence is "This kind of meeting was far above his pay grade. " 8y
Cinfhen "I hate her and her remorse." 8y
83 likes1 stack add11 comments
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BookBabe
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Can you tell I‘m a stationery addict? 😂 Hey, there are worse things to be addicted to than fountain pens and paper, I always say! 😛 📒🖋📓🖊📝📔🗒#augustofpages #augustphotochallenge #bookphotochallenge #day24 #booksandstationery

MrBook Indubitably so 😊👍🏻. 8y
The_Literary_Jedi Beautiful! 8y
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LitLogophile This is lovely 💕 (& I share this trait😉) 8y
KimM The red stapler. ❤️ Perfect. 8y
LauraBeth Great pic 😀 8y
tricours During my year as an exchange student in France I got hooked on fountain pens (with erasable ink!) since all the students used them. Loved it 😃 8y
katedensen My jealousy is palpable. 8y
RealLifeReading Ooh those notebooks! 8y
pppooraikul Beautiful! 😍 8y
Flaneurette Love your desk! All those little drawers.... 8y
BookBabe @tricours awesome! Fountain pens are the best—they have such personality! 🖋 It's so cool to observe the differences in other countries. FPs were big in Germany, too, the last time I visited. 8y
BookBabe @Flaneurette Thank you! It's a handmade rolltop that I bought right after high school. ❤️ 8y
BookBabe @lostlogophile thanks! 😁🙌🏻 8y
Angelala007 I have the same deep love. I can't resist beautiful journals and Moleskins. And good pens. 8y
Angelala007 @tricours what is the brand of the erasable fountain pens? Must have. ❤️ 8y
Angelala007 And your desk is so lovely 8y
Autumnscribe I share a similar affliction. Have you ever checked out this (https://www.bestfountainpen.com) blog? You might like it. She focuses on awesome, yet inexpensive, fountain pen reviews. 8y
[DELETED] 1409720085 I cannot stop myself when it comes to pens. 8y
tricours I especially like how they adapt to your way of writing/the pressure you apply while writing so that someone else may be unable to use them! 8y
tricours @Angelala007 it's the ink that is erasable, I think lots of French brands carry it! 8y
Posemn I love the desk too! 8y
LeahBergen Beautiful! 😍😍 8y
rustoryhuf I cannot begin to think of passing up papers, stationary, journals, etc. I have so many journals waiting to be written that I need a journal to keep track of my journals. ♥️♥️ 8y
iread2much I am also a stationary addict. What makes me super sad is the lack of pen pals. I have all these amazing cards but no one to send them too. 8y
150 likes2 stack adds27 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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One of many #bookstacks at the home @JaimitaPR and I share with our six cats 😊 #augustofpages

tricours You have six cats? 😶 8y
Lizpixie I spy a few books that are in my stack as well! I love Litsy recommendations😊 8y
BookishMarginalia @tricours We are crazy cat ladies! 😻😻😻We have six indoors and 1 outdoors (we had 2 outdoor cats but one died this week -- the mama of 3 of our girls-- and we are still heartbroken over her loss) 8y
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BookishMarginalia @Lizpixie isn't @Litsy the best? I'm so hooked! 8y
tricours I keep trying to guilt-trip my bf about him not wanting to have more than 2 cats because then we are "crazy cat people". We're getting a dog though. And the dominant cat isn't very likely to accept any new cats anyway... He hates everyone, and the other cat is a nervous mess! 8y
tricours Sorry about your cat btw 😿 8y
BookishMarginalia @tricours Our cats are all rescues, so in a sense they found us. Every one of them is a character! And we embrace being crazy cat --and book-- ladies because it's such fun! 😊 8y
Karen3 Love these stack. So many similar books 😍 8y
WanderingBookaneer @tricours : I was like your boyfriend. Then I amended it to no more than two cats per person. Then Tricky happened and later Chipmunk, but six is really my max. It's hard work to clean all those litter boxes! 8y
Godmotherx5 @BookishMarginalia I spy The Red Parts. I have it & hope to get to it someday 😉 8y
tricours Ours are outdoor cats, so at least during the summer they don't use the litterbox that much! 8y
LauraBeth Reading this is making me want another cat 😻😻 8y
Mimi28 We have six cats too! They are all indoor. I'm a proud crazy cat lady but the older I get and the closer I get to my boyfriend it's getting to be a bit much. Every time I try to give one or two away my friends all say they have enough cats already, for some reason " three" is the number of cats you get the crazy cat lady label at, and everyone already has 2, lol. Sorry to hear about your loss ? 8y
99 likes13 comments