Customer Reviews

Bucky: A Guided Tour of Buckminster Fuller

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While I recommend this book to those wanting to learn more about Bucky, I don't think this should be the first book you read if you are new to the subject of Buckminster Fuller. (If you are new to learning about Bucky get this instead: "Buckminster Fuller's Universe: His Life and Work" by Lloyd Sieden). Why? Because this book is difficult. You may not understand it after one brief read. But if not, you will understand it after multiple reads!

And it really does repay that reading and concentration. For your effort you will be treated to: 1) an understanding of a lot of Bucky's key concepts which when coupled with Bucky's vocabulary, as they are in this book, goes a long way toward making Buckminster Fuller's vocabulary understandable. 2) a glimpse into Bucky's geometry - no previous math knowledge required! 3) an attempt to integrate all of Bucky's key discoveries, which is only doing Fuller justice 4) Hugh Kenner!

On that last point: Hugh Kenner is a joy to read. I had never heard of Kenner before and picked up this book solely because I'm interested in Buckminster Fuller. And while Bucky is a rare genius without comparison, Hugh Kenner while not in that league is a feverishly intelligent, highly erudite man. They don't make them like Kenner anymore. And even though I have very little interest in the subjects Kenner usually writes about (literature), I am considering reading more Kenner just based on really appreciating his erudition in this book.