Unzipping History: Everyday Inventions and Their Surpising Origins

di Roseanne Blylove (Autore)

Roseanne Blylove, 2025

In The Zipper's Secret War: Unveiling the Hidden Battles Behind Everyday Objects, takes readers on an enthralling journey through the hidden dramas that birthed some of the most ubiquitous items in our world. This book peels back the layers of history to expose the unexpected wars—corporate conspiracies, cultural clashes, and inventive accidents—that turned ordinary objects into global icons. Drawing on verified historical facts, Bylover crafts a narrative that's as cinematic as it is informative, blending fast-paced storytelling with immersive scenes that transport you to the heart of innovation's battlegrounds. At the core of the book is the zipper itself, a seemingly simple fastener that endured decades of sabotage, patent heists, and industrial espionage before conquering the fashion world. In the chapter "The Zipper's Corporate Conspiracy," we meet Gideon Sundback, the Swedish-American engineer whose midnight sketches in 1913 refined the zipper into a reliable marvel, only to face ruthless rivals like the Hookless Fastener Company plotting to steal his designs. Amid the shadowy backdrop of early 20th-century industrial America, where espionage was rife and companies guarded secrets like treasures, Sundback's story unfolds as a thriller of grit and betrayal. The book details how the zipper broke through fashion's resistance, evolving from a military utility during World War I to a symbol of modern liberation in the Roaring Twenties, all while clarifying myths and grounding the tale in documented evidence from patents, court records, and archives. Equally compelling is the tale of the teabag in "The Teabag's Accidental Empire," where New York tea merchant Thomas Sullivan's frantic 1908 packing mishap—stuffing samples into silk pouches to meet a steamship deadline—sparked a revolution in convenience. What began as a cost-saving gimmick morphed into a cultural phenomenon, challenging tea purists' rituals and empowering housewives amid the rise of consumerism. Bylover explores the social context of early 20th-century America, from women's clubs popularizing the teabag as a time-saver to its role in shifting household dynamics, all while debunking exaggerated myths about Sullivan's intentions and relying on trade records and contemporary accounts. Throughout the book, Bylover expands beyond these anchors to uncover similar "secret wars" behind other everyday objects, weaving in themes of innovation under pressure, the clash between tradition and progress, and the unintended consequences that reshape society. Subheadings like "The Silk Pouch Mistake" and "The Patent Heist" guide readers through the drama, making complex histories accessible and engaging. Written in a fluid, immersive style that avoids dry academia, this book targets a general U.S. audience fascinated by the untold stories lurking in their pockets and cupboards. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a casual reader drawn to tales of underdog triumphs, The Zipper's Secret War invites you to see the extraordinary in the ordinary, proving that the battles behind our daily conveniences are as epic as any war in the history books. Perfect for fans of popular histories like Salt by Mark Kurlansky or The Wright Brothers by David McCullough, this volume promises to zip open your perspective on the world around you.

• Autore: Roseanne Blylove
• Anno edizione: 2025
• Editore: Roseanne Blylove
• Formato: EPUB2 con DRMFREE
• Lingua: Inglese
• Compatibilità: Tutti i dispositivi (eccetto Kindle)
• Layout: Reflowable
• EAN: 9798232447526