We take stationery items for granted, pens, pencils, rulers and those little tools that help us in our everyday lives. However the stories behind the development of these implements are fascinating, the paperclip itself is a clever and stunningly simple design. Looking at the history of design, manufacture and marketing, Ward shows the evolution of a number of humble objects.

As a self-confessed stationery geek, I loved this book. As someone who reads and enjoys quirky biographies, I loved this book. ( )

Its a cute book, explaining the history of common office items such as the stapler, paperclip, and even the Rolodex. Its nothing world shattering, and most of the histories go like this: Turn of the century bookkeeping needs a certain item to help efficiency. Someone has a great idea, and over the next few years, experiments until the perfect shape is found. And than it gets copied by everyone.

The author (who is British) writes with a very British voice. Its mildly sarcastic and certainly wry. He has a thing against American anachronisms. Strangely, I agree with his comments about it, but at the same I really wanted to slap him for making fun of MY country. He does know his stuff - each chapter is well researched and well written. The dry topic of office equipment is made interesting and even funny in this book. Recommended if you like odd books about topics not generally known about. ( )

Writing in a brand new notebook. Organizing a desk drawer. Shopping for office supplies. If you have a smile on your face 1.) you’re not alone, and 2.) you probably need to read The Perfection of the Paper Clip by James Ward.

I’m sure there are readers out there who would find a book about stationery dreadfully dull, but I’m not one of them. I can’t tell you how much I love binder clips and Sharpies, or how much I despise using White Out from a pen. James Ward has similar feelings and uses The Perfection of the Paper Clip to both share his love for stationery and explore the history behind some of our most commonly used products.

Starting with the simplicity of the paper clip—which actually has numerous different designs—Ward works his way through the supplies in his desk, tracing the history behind each item. Pens, pencils, highlighters, staples, thumb tacks, tape and glue are just a few of the products on the journey, which spans decades and crosses continents. Ward adds bits of humor in funny asides and jabs that will delight the nerd in all of us and help to keep the book fun and fresh. The Perfection of the Paperclip is a great mix of random facts, bits of history, and a wildly relatable love for stationery.

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James Ward needs to get out more.

The extraordinarily badly named Perfection of the Paper Clip is about stuff on a desk. Every item, from pencils and pens to paper and envelopes to staplers and adhesive tape, get the treatment. The treatment is a thorough history of their development, use in history and pop culture, and lots of little images of pencils and paper between paragraphs. It’s an organized collection of trivia for office items that are largely on their way out.

Apparently there is a limit to how much you can write about erasers and ink eradicators, so Ward branches out to postcards, pocket protectors, glue, and the inevitable, tiresome Post-It story.

The most memorable part of the book is the very last page, About The Author: "James Ward’s Blog, I Like Boring Things, has featured in the Independent and the Observer and on the BBC website. He is a founder of the Stationery Club in London. His annual Boring Conference has featured in the Independent, the Guardian, the Wall Street Journal, and the Sunday Times and on BBC Radio 4. The Perfection of the Paper Clip is his first book."

It should also be noted Ward claims to be unable to snap a pencil in two using his thumbs.

David Wineberg ( )