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Connections

by James Burke
Connections

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  • Synopses & Reviews

ISBN13: 9780743299558
ISBN10: 0743299558



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$25.00
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

  • 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.

Review

"James Burke surely has one of the most intriguing minds in the western world." andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; -- andlt;iandgt;The Washington Postandlt;/iandgt;

Review

"Lively and important."

-- Library Journal

Review

"Lively and important." andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; -- andlt;iandgt;Library Journalandlt;/iandgt;

Synopsis

  • 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.


About the Author

andlt;bandgt;James Burkeandlt;/bandgt; is the author of several bestselling books, including andlt;Iandgt;Circles, American Connections,andlt;/iandgt; and andlt;Iandgt;The Knowledge Web.andlt;/iandgt; He is a monthly columnist at andlt;Iandgt;Scientific Americanandlt;/iandgt; and also serves as director, writer, and host of the television series andlt;Iandgt;Connections 3andlt;/iandgt; 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.

5 1

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating 5 (1 comments)

`
sharrona , February 27, 2013 (view all comments by sharrona)
One of my favorite books of all time! I've bought many copies and given them away. This is perhaps the only (or at least the first) science book that can take my breath away with the beauty of a thought, or bring tears to my eyes.

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Product Details

ISBN:
9780743299558
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
07/03/2007
Publisher:
SIMON & SCHUSTER TRADE
Pages:
304
Height:
.89IN
Width:
7.39IN
Thickness:
1.00
Number of Units:
1
Illustration:
Yes
Copyright Year:
2007
UPC Code:
2800743299550
Author:
James Burke
Subject:
Engineering -- History.
Subject:
Inventions
Subject:
Inventions -- History.
Subject:
Social aspects
Subject:
History
Subject:
Technology -- History.

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