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313th out of 2,086 books
—
3,722 voters
Connections
by
James Burke
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
...morePaperback, 304 pages
Published
September 1st 1995
by Little Brown and Company
(first published 1978)
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Nov 11, 2008
Trevor
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Trevor by:
Ginnie Jones
The world seems to be infinitely complicated and quite frankly totally beyond the comprehension of any of us. As science progresses one would need to live a dozen lifetimes and would still not be able to understand all of the processes and theories that are used daily to create the world we inhabit.
You might think it is hard to program your DVD Recorder (I almost said VCR, but who has one of those nowadays?) but what if you had to build a television set from scratch? What if you had to go back...more
You might think it is hard to program your DVD Recorder (I almost said VCR, but who has one of those nowadays?) but what if you had to build a television set from scratch? What if you had to go back...more
3 likes · like · see review
view all 6 comments
This is the only "history" book I am aware of that follows lines of thought through history, rather than an individual person or invention.
This is the proverbial butterfly fluttering its wings in the 12th century, leading to cell phone technology today.
The book can be a bit disconcerting to read, since you can read it in any order you like. This is a unique experience in my book-reading life, and the first time I read this book I read it front to back.
Later I went back and followed particular th...more
This is the proverbial butterfly fluttering its wings in the 12th century, leading to cell phone technology today.
The book can be a bit disconcerting to read, since you can read it in any order you like. This is a unique experience in my book-reading life, and the first time I read this book I read it front to back.
Later I went back and followed particular th...more
Have you ever considered how one discovery often leads to another? The computer you're reading this review on could not have come about if someone had not discovered how electricity works, another developed the theory, and someone else then found practical ways of using it.
James Burke has given a lot of thought to such interrelations -- many times over, and with a lot more inventiveness than most people. Connections explores how, for instance, a water-wheel grain mill led to punch-card computers...more
James Burke has given a lot of thought to such interrelations -- many times over, and with a lot more inventiveness than most people. Connections explores how, for instance, a water-wheel grain mill led to punch-card computers...more
Connections is an incredibly interesting look at the process of scientific discovery through journeys that connect two seemingly disparate pieces of technology. By using these journeys to demonstrate how accident, epiphany, and circumstances can lead to inventions that change the course of history, James Burke is stating that history does in fact have something to say about the future. He claims that patterns of discovery are tied to qualities of humanity, so that we can look at the circumstance...more
I have been a fan of James Burke ever since I saw one of his documentaries in a college class some 15 years ago. Mr. Burke has such a fascinating way of detailing history and science. I am sure if history classes were taught like a Burke documentary it would become a very popular subject. This book is pretty much the same story as the documentary of the same name. I love how someone can be innovating something at on place and someone else can be discovering something by accident and then somehow...more
James Burke was originally a news reader for the BBC who went on to write a series of very interesting books/TV programmes (heck he is British). I both read and watched the "Connections" and "Connections II" (and there is a third one whose title escapes me) books and shows many years ago.
They are older so the CGI and FX are not what you could see today, but the information and linkages in the material is really very good. Not fiction, but facts and presented in rather unique ways.
I strongly reco...more
They are older so the CGI and FX are not what you could see today, but the information and linkages in the material is really very good. Not fiction, but facts and presented in rather unique ways.
I strongly reco...more
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 acci...more
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 acci...more
I first became a fan of James Burke back in the 70's when I was in high school and was exposed to a few of his "Connections" documentaries on PBS. But then I promptly forgot all about him until last year when I was paging through my Netflix recommendations and realized the entire series was available. My wife and I watched them all and I was so intrigued that I went ahead and bought this book for my library.
I've long been fascinated with history in general, and inventions in particular so I supp...more
I've long been fascinated with history in general, and inventions in particular so I supp...more
US News and World report interviewed some Business School professors on some of the greatest business books. A Dartmouth Professor recommended this book. The premise of the book is that innovations of the past built to innovations today. The author does not take into account dumb luck as much as a market need for innovation. This was a PBS series in the late 1970's. It was written in 1978 and I am told the book is out of print. It is a slow read, with so much detail and pictures. The book Talks...more
Based on the truly genius series shown on PBS in the US. I grew up with this and loved it from the initial showing. I still go back and watch it probably once a year as an adult. The book aligns with the first series and is just as great. In regards to the series, the second 'season' was not nearly as good. The third was better but still not quite as good as the first.
If you liked the TV series, the book is more of the same - brilliant.
If you liked the TV series, the book is more of the same - brilliant.
I loved the television series, and thought this would be a chance to get a little more back story and to slowly and meticulously follow the chain of events. That was not to be. The book reads almost exactly like a word for word transcript of the series, except without the music and visual cues that are essential for pulling everything together. Stick with the show; the book really isn't the best medium for these ideas.
So great! I can't imagine the kind of research that would go into writing a book like this. He seems to know everything about everything that has made civilization go. From the plough to the atomic bomb, series of connections and discovery that is fascinating. He based his TV miniseries "Connections" on the chapters of this book, so if you are more visual, that is just as good!
This is an admittedly catch-as-catch-can approach to the intersection of circumstances associated with some of the major technological and industrial innovations of western Civilization. Whether you actually agree with Burke's thesis or not (which I don't), it's still interesting reading sure to provide you with considerable grist for your own further research.
If you are like me and want to know how something was invented, why it was invented, who invented it, where it came from etc etc etc this is the book for you. It takes you from the very beginning through current technology (I think the 1987's). there is also a PBS series on this which someday I am hoping to watch. Fascinating.
Feb 29, 2012
Clare K. R.
added it
I didn't actually finish this book. I probably would have, except that the library's copy stinks of cigarette smoke, I can't get it out, and it's making me sick. I'm putting it on my wish list and watching the TV show on YouTube. According to the reviews the TV show is more interesting anyway.
Deep and wide explanations about why we live the way we do. Everything is connected to the work and experiences of others who added to our lives in ways we rarely consider. A PBS TV series years ago. Great and colorful illustrations.
Sep 23, 2011
Nathaniel
added it
Great links from ancient history to ?odern times. Filled with litte kwon facts. The conections made by the author are his own
But intriging none the less. Certain facts certainly speak for themselves.
But intriging none the less. Certain facts certainly speak for themselves.
1 like · like · see review
Fun and interesting but there is so much space left between the connections, and they sometimes seem so arbitrary that it was hard to really fit the new knowledge into "history" instead of "trivia".
One of my favorite books. I've always found it interesting to see the cause and effect of certain events and/or inventions have had on how the world around us has been shaped.
Connections was written as a companion series to a documentary series of the same name. I've heard great things about the show, and since I really enjoyed the book, I'll track it down eventually. Burke's basic arguments here is that history is a continuum, not a series of isolated events. And so the atomic bomb owes its existence, in part, to that marvel of military engineering, the stirrup. It is indeed fascinating to trace the development of things that only seem unrelated and turn out to be o...more
This is an amazing book and Mr. Burke is an amazing player of historic connect-the-dots. Based on the BBC series.
Every word is gold.
Every word is gold.
Fun little book tracing the development of and connections between various technologies and ideas through time.
I really enjoyed this book and the round about way he connected inventions and events to come to our present day lives.
Mostly entertaining, though the author's inexhaustable linking of events did not leave me yearning for more.
James Burke is just the kind of teacher this country needs to make science fun again.
Just a classic - scientific discovery to invention to innovation to changing history.
Genius who presents us with geniuses.
Feb 29, 2012
Elizabeth
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
box-313-history-biographies
DVD Connections 1. Volumes 1-2, The trigger effect. Death in the morning
DVD Connections 1. Volumes 3-4, Distant voices. Faith in numbers / written by James Burke ; produced in association with Time Life Films
Normans used stirrups at Battle of Hastings led to England being English also the spiraling upward of warfare. Who started using horses in the first place?
get this again
I also have the book.
DVD Connections 1. Volumes 3-4, Distant voices. Faith in numbers / written by James Burke ; produced in association with Time Life Films
Normans used stirrups at Battle of Hastings led to England being English also the spiraling upward of warfare. Who started using horses in the first place?
get this again
I also have the book.
A very enjoyable work of non-fiction, I thoroughly enoyed reading it!
Sep 20, 2008
Kyle Wild
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
people into the history of science and innovation
Just an incredible way to communicate history...
Burke works through generations of humans, working ever forward through time along a chain of connected inventions and coincidences, until he reaches a modern super-invention. Each of the eight arguments is compelling, surprising, well-supported, and masterfully narrated.
TV People: Watch the entire BBC series!!
Burke works through generations of humans, working ever forward through time along a chain of connected inventions and coincidences, until he reaches a modern super-invention. Each of the eight arguments is compelling, surprising, well-supported, and masterfully narrated.
TV People: Watch the entire BBC series!!
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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
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