Connections

I never saw the PBS show, though I had heard plenty about it, and this book has been on my mental To Do list for quite a long time. A chance encounter in a second-hand bookstore was fortunate. If you're not familiar with it, Burke's book is about the inter-connectedness of technical and social progress...how one thing invariably begets another, sometimes in spite of the goals of those involved.

While you may or may not agree with his premise that individual genius is less important in technical progress than might be expected, and perhaps question some jumps he makes, I think you cannot help but be fascinated by this charting of history, not in terms of dates and kings, but in terms of innovation.

It is, perhaps, hard to imagine a show more history book being a page-turner, but that is exactly what this is. show less

A good sampler of human ingenuity and invention through random social connections. Entertaining and informative, and perhaps an incentive for many to read more deeply and widely. On the other hand, this random-evolution thesis seems to underplay the increasingly narrowed deep pursuits of 20th century science (and science funding by governments). It's intentionally intriguing and provocative, but not ideal for teaching history of science and technology, or how societies can acquire and apply knowledge to seek collective goals.

Where do ideas come from? What circuitous routes does the inspiration of the genius take? This is the story that James Burke so eloquently portrays in this compendium of history of science, ideas and technology. For the curious mind it is a wonderful story.

What a wonderful book, full of wonder! I've re-read Connections again and am as much filled with wonder about the fellow who recognizes the truth in the non-standard, non-linear nature of the progression of the development of human history and technology as I was the first time quite a few years ago.

No one who reads Burke's book will make the mistake of assuming straight-line development of technology or changes in human condition, nor will they give credence to those talking-head-experts who, with great airs of superiority predict the future based on simplistic evolutions of events.

In case the reader doesn't quite get it, he wraps up his thesis wonderfully in the last chapter.

Thank you Mr. Burke for this and your other publications. show more They are wonderfully eye-opening for any who read with their eyes open. show less

The series was excellent, and the companion book is no less so. By emphasizing the truly strange connections that led to various modern inventions, Burke makes it clear that the only way to halt progress in one field...would be to simply stop all progress. The opening and closing episodes (now chapters) may be eye-openers to many readers.

Very enjoyable romp through the history of human technological inventions. It shows the connections between historical and modern inventions, and human ingenuity as a continuum stretching over millenia. Excellent writing and illustrations. A bit outdated on the computer stuff (it was written in the 70's), but it can nevertheless be greatly enjoyed.

Highly recommended to anyone interested in History of Science, Burke's companion to his Connections television series delivers a step-by-step track through history, and how the developments caused by inventors and innovators led to surprising and incidental discoveries that paved the way for the modern world.