JOEL LEVY
In the morning, you get up, take a hot shower, drink a cup of coffee, make a couple slices of toast, and put the dishes in the dishwasher, yet you probably never consider what objects make those activities possible. Levy challenges you to stop and smell the coffee as he explores the history of more than 100 objects used in daily life, from air conditioners to zippers. For instance, coffee comes from Turkey and dates to A.D. 575. The Greeks had plumbing systems that would spray water onto bathers. This technology faded, however, and was not seen again until victorian times. Sliced bread, on the other hand, is a newer invention. A bread slicer was introduced in 1912, but it was flawed. The inventor first used hairpins to keep the slices together before conceiving a wrapping system. Levy shares these and hundreds of other tidbits in this engaging look at everyday things. Firefly, 2002, 240 p., color photos, paperback, $24.95.
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