Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
12th out of 12 books
—
16 voters
The Knowledge Web: From Electronic Agents to Stonehenge and Back -- And Other Journeys Through Knowledge
by
James Burke
In The Knowledge Web, James Burke, the bestselling author and host of television's Connections series, takes us on a fascinating tour through the interlocking threads of knowledge running through Western history. Displaying mesmerizing flights of fancy, he shows how seemingly unrelated ideas and innovations bounce off one another, spinning a vast, interactive web on which...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
June 22nd 2000
by Simon & Schuster
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
249)
James Burke, the bestselling author and host of television's Connections series, takes us on a fascinating tour through the interlocking threads of knowledge running through Western history. Displaying mesmerizing flights of fancy, he shows how seemingly unrelated ideas and innovations bounce off one another, spinning a vast, interactive web on which everything is connected to everything else: Carmen leads to the theory of relativity, champagne bottling links to wallpaper design, Joan of Arc con...more
Basically a string of barely related events so tenuous in parts as to trivialize his point about "connections" between ideas. But nevertheless the way snippets of text reference each other throughout the book works well, and it is fun to jump around between bits of historical trivia. His concise descriptions of each of the events also make for good reading.
All in all however I prefer more depth than this book can offer.
All in all however I prefer more depth than this book can offer.
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11616560
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11616560
I love James Burke's work generally (the BBC show connections especially) but this jumps around a bit much even for him. I think it's a prep for his web-based project (which is designed to jump).
Lots of the social scandals behind different historical events and discoveries- they often seem to fuel things. As with all James Burke- mad connections and chains of events that got us where we are now.
Lots of the social scandals behind different historical events and discoveries- they often seem to fuel things. As with all James Burke- mad connections and chains of events that got us where we are now.
May 13, 2013
Chris Otto
is currently reading it
May 10, 2013
Joan
marked it as to-read
May 01, 2013
John Rice
marked it as to-read
Apr 21, 2013
Anthony
marked it as to-read
Apr 09, 2013
Nick
marked it as to-read
Apr 08, 2013
ميساء السحار
marked it as to-read
Mar 15, 2013
Edunut
marked it as to-read
Feb 25, 2013
Eric Jackson
marked it as to-read
Feb 24, 2013
Brandon Engelhardt-dibello
marked it as to-read
Feb 24, 2013
Lauren Foster
added it
Feb 23, 2013
Kfred
marked it as to-read
Feb 16, 2013
Milan
marked it as to-read
Feb 16, 2013
J White
marked it as to-read
Feb 13, 2013
Kenn
added it
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
James Burke (born 22 December 1936) is a Northern Irish science historian, author and television producer best known for his documentary television series called Connections, focusing on the history of science and technology leavened with a sense of humour.
-Wikipedia
More about James Burke...
James Burke (born 22 December 1936) is a Northern Irish science historian, author and television producer best known for his documentary television series called Connections, focusing on the history of science and technology leavened with a sense of humour.
-Wikipedia
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
