Connections
Feb 2012 · Simon and Schuster
4.7star
9 reviewsreport
eBook
320
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About this eBook
Connections is a brilliant examination of the ideas, inventions, and coincidences that have culminated in the major technological achievements of today.
How did the popularity of underwear in the twelfth century lead to the invention of the printing press? How did the waterwheel evolve into the computer? How did the arrival of the cannon lead eventually to the development of movies?
In this highly acclaimed and bestselling book, James Burke brilliantly examines the ideas, inventions, and coincidences that have culminated in the major technological advances of today. With dazzling insight, he untangles the pattern of interconnecting events: the accidents of time, circumstance, and place that gave rise to the major inventions of the world.
Says Burke, "My purpose is to acquaint the reader with some of the forces that have caused change in the past, looking in particular at eight innovations—the computer, the production line, telecommunications, the airplane, the atomic bomb, plastics, the guided rocket, and television—which may be most influential in structuring our own futures....Each one of these is part of a family of similar devices, and is the result of a sequence of closely connected events extending from the ancient world until the present day. Each has enormous potential for humankind's benefit—or destruction."
Based on a popular TV documentary series, Connections is a fascinating scientific detective story of the inventions that changed history—and the surprising links that connect them.
How did the popularity of underwear in the twelfth century lead to the invention of the printing press? How did the waterwheel evolve into the computer? How did the arrival of the cannon lead eventually to the development of movies?
In this highly acclaimed and bestselling book, James Burke brilliantly examines the ideas, inventions, and coincidences that have culminated in the major technological advances of today. With dazzling insight, he untangles the pattern of interconnecting events: the accidents of time, circumstance, and place that gave rise to the major inventions of the world.
Says Burke, "My purpose is to acquaint the reader with some of the forces that have caused change in the past, looking in particular at eight innovations—the computer, the production line, telecommunications, the airplane, the atomic bomb, plastics, the guided rocket, and television—which may be most influential in structuring our own futures....Each one of these is part of a family of similar devices, and is the result of a sequence of closely connected events extending from the ancient world until the present day. Each has enormous potential for humankind's benefit—or destruction."
Based on a popular TV documentary series, Connections is a fascinating scientific detective story of the inventions that changed history—and the surprising links that connect them.
Ratings and reviews
4.7
9 reviews
Elizabeth Dragoo
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30 March 2013
I have been a fan of James Burke since the original TV series, on which this book was based, aired in the late '70s. He is a master at showing how invention and technology is interconnected, and how the most unlikely circumstances can result in world-changing ideas. (The original series video is now available for viewing online, hooray for the internet!) Reading this explodes the myths about lonely, solitary inventor geniuses, and shows how many of the things we use every day grew out of seemingly serendipitous chance discoveries and encounters. On this electronic edition: I was delighted to see this in an e-book, as it is the type of work I can read again and again. This edition isn't perfect -- illustrations particularly are often oddly placed, and are followed by expanses of blank pages -- but it's such a treat to have this on my tablet, to dip into whenever I find myself with some spare time, that I can overlook the inconsistencies. Thanks to the publisher for putting this classic work in electronic format!
1 person found this review helpful
Alvin Fridie
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16 October 2024
Just a wonderful exploration of technical history.
A Google user
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28 February 2012
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About the author
James Burke is the author of several bestselling books, including Circles, American Connections, and The Knowledge Web. He is a monthly columnist at Scientific American and also serves as director, writer, and host of the television series Connections 3 on The Learning Channel. He is the founder of the James Burke Institute for Innovation in Education, whose flagship project, the Knowledge Web, an interactive website, was recently launched. He lives in London.
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