Rube Goldberg, who lived from 1883-1970, was a scientist and cartoonist who satirized people’s overly complicated solutions to problems. In his cartoons he portrayed chain reactions with simple machines to complete very basic tasks such as filling a dog bowl with food or watering a plant. His designs always performed a simple task but used over-engineered and complicated processes to accomplish the task.
Look online for more of his amusing cartoons!
Modern Day Rube Goldberg: “This Man is a Professional Useless Machine Builder”
If there is an easy way to get from Point A to Point B, Joseph Herscher isn’t going to take that route when he is building a Rube Goldberg machine. The contraptions are purposely designed to complete a simple task in the most roundabout way possible. Remember the Mouse Trap game? That’s a small-scale Rube Goldberg machine. The machines Herscher constructs are much more elaborate. Some feed him, others slather him in sunscreen, or slip him into bed. One lesson Joseph Herscher has learned from creating these intricate machines—you’ve got to be willing to fail to succeed.