46 used & new from $3.05

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
 
Connections
 
See larger image
 
Tell the Publisher!
I’d like to read this book on Kindle

Don’t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.
 
  

Connections (Paperback)

~ (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.


6 new from $11.83 38 used from $3.05 2 collectible from $168.95

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
  Hardcover, December 31, 1977 -- $75.00 $1.75
  Paperback, July 2, 2007 $16.50 $11.10 $7.49
  Paperback, September 1995 -- $11.83 $3.05
  Audio, Cassette, Abridged, Audiobook -- $54.01 $2.11

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Pinball Effect: How Renaissance Water Gardens Made the Carburetor Possible - and Other Journeys

The Pinball Effect: How Renaissance Water Gardens Made the Carburetor Possible - and Other Journeys

by James Burke
4.0 out of 5 stars (25)  $17.09
The Two Cultures (Canto)

The Two Cultures (Canto)

by C. P. Snow
3.1 out of 5 stars (14)  $16.19
The Day the Universe Changed

The Day the Universe Changed

by James Burke
4.4 out of 5 stars (28)  $7.09
The Common Sense of Science (Harvard Paperbacks)

The Common Sense of Science (Harvard Paperbacks)

by J. Bronowski
4.8 out of 5 stars (4)  $18.70
American Connections: The Founding Fathers. Networked.

American Connections: The Founding Fathers. Networked.

by James Burke
2.7 out of 5 stars (6)  $13.26
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You can make all the plans you will, plot to make a fortune in the commodities market, speculate on developing trends: all will likely come to naught, for "however carefully you plan for the future, someone else's actions will inevitably modify the way your plans turn out." So writes the English scholar and documentary producer James Burke in his sparkling book Connections, a favorite of historically minded readers ever since its first publication in 1978. Taking a hint from Jacob Bronowski's Ascent of Man, Burke charts the course of technological innovation from ancient times to the present, but always with a subversive eye for things happening in spite of, and not because of, their inventors' intentions. Burke gives careful attention to the role of accident in human history. In his opening pages, for instance, he writes of the invention of uniform coinage, an invention that hinged on some unknown Anatolian prospector's discovering that a fleck of gold rubbed against a piece of schist--a "touchstone"--would leave a mark indicating its quality. Just so, we owe the invention of modern printing to Johann Gutenberg's training as a goldsmith, for his knowledge of the properties of metals enabled him to develop a press whose letterforms would not easily wear down. With Gutenberg's invention, Burke notes, came a massive revolution in the European economy, for, as he writes, "the easier it is to communicate, the faster change happens." Burke's book is a splendid and educational entertainment for our fast-changing time. --Gregory McNamee


Review

"James Burke surely has one of the most intriguing minds in the western world."

-- The Washington Post

"Lively and important."

-- Library Journal --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Little Brown & Co (P); Rev Sub edition (September 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0316116726
  • ISBN-13: 978-0316116725
  • Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 0.7 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #670,317 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

More About the Author

James Burke
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's James Burke Page

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

34 Reviews
5 star:
 (21)
4 star:
 (5)
3 star:
 (5)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (34 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A materialist view of history needs illustrations, July 18, 2004
By Valjean (Salem, Ma United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Connections (Audio Cassette)
The point of James Burke's Connections is that material inventions and environmental conditions (not ideas) are the driving force behind the way that societal interaction is structured. As such, Burke reopens the centuries-old Marx-Hegel debate about whether or not our world is structured by the ideas of prominent thinkers (ie: Martin Luther) or the invention of certain objects (ie: the deep plow) and other material conditions (ie: the Black Plauge).

While you may or may not agree with Burke, on all levels, he does a great job of supporting his central argument. From the claim that the first cities were formed as the result of the receding ice age to the idea that romance became viewed by society as a "private" thing with the invention of the fireplace, he is consistent in his thinking. And while, the gaping hole in his argument is his failure to acknowledge that it was the *ideas* of certain "gifted" persons (ie: Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers) to put available materials together in a useful way, he still reaffims my conviction that social relations are a function of the material world around us. Bottom line is that we don't structure our world as much as we like to think.

Sadly, I found the lack of illustrations in the abridged audio edition had the overall effect of weakening his argument to some degree. I'm really not big on illustrations in texts, but I think to thoughroughly appreciate James Burke's ideas, you have to "see them". For instance, it's very distracting to try to visualize "Volta's Electric Pile" in your head and keep track of what Burke is talking about. I suppose that's why the Mini-series and the book did so well. (5 stars for the now unavailable book, by the way)

On the other hand, I take strong exception to the reviewer who claims that Burke "...goes off on tangents..." in Connections. His attention to fine detail is much appreciated as both thoughtful commentary and, more importantly, substatiative evidence to his claims. Reviewers who do not see the value of such introspection perhaps lack the attention-span that is required to read (or listen to, as the case may be) Burke's treatise.

In sum, I deduct one star for the audio edition for its lack of illustrations.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars "Connections"The Book. v/s The PBS Series "Connections", July 29, 2005
James Burke stunned PBS viewers with his 10 part series on the
integrating factors of culture,ideas,necessity and science. Integrated by an individual who produced a new, unique 'invention.'and credited as the'Inventor'. The inventions lead directly to todays technologies. Yet each invention, as Burke see's it, was a collaborative effort. The fellow who puts the pieces together becomes the Father Inventor of the 'Whats-It'.
Burke leads us to the realization that a complex of existing knowledge provided the tools for the final product(usually research from dead-end or other little known bits of proven science that had no home.) These extant, yet little known
research conclusions, a single individual integrated and created a unique and important 'invention'.

Burkes book of "Connections" could not possibly sum up the depth and detail that many years of research toward a visual experience provided. I think, at some point he decided his own curiosity with 'the real,hap-hazard evolution of Science' could be found in most people who like a good riddle. He couched every episode in, "what do you think happens next?" after giving us a few seemingly unconnected stories about some unknown
inventors research, that produced something new ..usually not what was expected.

He'd ask us if we could unify these into something different and unique. As the ''Inventor' had.
We all guessed. Sometimes we were right.
He still keeps us guessing.

"Connections" the original PBS science series(the whole set on VHS sold millions) The VHS set cannot be found.
There is not a copy to be purchased. It has vanished from the
Earth. I've used E-Bay and set a price. No replys.

Get the Book: it's not the series but it has Burke's infectious and habituating curiosity; his questioning; and his passion.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating book, November 9, 2000
This book suffers from comparisons to Burke's PBS series by the same name probably because this is more of a sampler of his perspectives than a comprehensive treatment. Still, it is an absolutely fascinating look at the history of technology and how a break in the smallest link in the chain of technological development might preclude an invention from ever coming forth.

I enjoyed Burke's presentation style, written a bit like a mystery novel, giving us the pieces of the puzzle one at a time leading to the ultimate technology as we know it today. It leaves the reader guessing at each step as to what indispensable modern technology will result.

Burke postulates that major technological advancements are not the result of geniuses slaving away in laboratories, but instead the amalgamation of numerous small inventions, mostly created by average folks trying to adapt to everyday problems. While I accept that premise prior to the 19th century and perhaps in certain cases through to the 20th century, I believe that with few exceptions (like Gates invention of DOS for example), most major technological breakthroughs now result from concerted and organized R&D efforts that result from government grants and the corporate profit motive. The only difference today is that the geniuses are working in their den on a PC, and not in a lab. However, with the sophistication and innovativeness necessary to reach the next level in today's complex scientific fields, such breakthroughs are no longer the within the capabilities of the average person. Though one might point to the proliferation of dot com companies as support of Burke's position, I would argue that these are not average people, but rather the geniuses next door.

This is a book that makes one ponder the fabric of life and the importance of each individual strand. It is light reading with a heavy point and in that regard it is extraordinarily elegant. I rated it a 9/10. I highly recommend it to anyone with a curious mind.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
I don't usually care too much for books but this book was very well written and I wanted to read it.
Published 10 months ago by Melissa M. Bentley

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!
This is a great book, that follows more or less to the original Connections series. Although you don't have Burke's wonderful accent to lead you along as in the series, the... Read more
Published 12 months ago by George Jaramillo

5.0 out of 5 stars 6 Stars for this Series and Book...5 stars just isn't enough!
I saw James Burke's Connections Series when it came out years ago and it made a tremendous impact on me. I then read the book cover to cover! Read more
Published 19 months ago by C. Clayton

5.0 out of 5 stars Connections
James Burke takes the reader through history and the inventions that were made. He is very insightful as to the reasons for the inventions and he explains how events lead from one... Read more
Published 21 months ago by William C. Beckham

5.0 out of 5 stars For all of those who nearly died of boredom in history and science class
James Burke has built a career out of showing people that not only aren't history and science boring but that the two disciplnes relate to one another in the most unexpected ways... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Jeanne Tassotto

5.0 out of 5 stars Correlation is interchangeable with Causation
After having consumed the Connections book, television miniseries and audiobook, I would like to comment on the three. Read more
Published on August 9, 2006 by Helencarnate

4.0 out of 5 stars The relationship of history and technology
I used to regularly watch Mr. Burke's "Connections" television series on cable, and I enjoyed his rather unorthodox portrayal of history. Read more
Published on August 9, 2006 by Andrew W. Johns

3.0 out of 5 stars Connecting the dots of human progress
This book is a combination of history, science, and the history of science. It shows how random and often accidental connections between events and individuals have fostered many... Read more
Published on September 7, 2005 by Newton Ooi

3.0 out of 5 stars Not everything it's cracked up to be
I've always been fascinated by science and history and I thought that this book would be the perfect combination of the two for some interesting (if light) reading. Read more
Published on August 17, 2005 by Brad

5.0 out of 5 stars A great history of technology
I think that this whole series of James Burke is just 1st rate and if you want to look at the world in a whole new way. Then this work is worthy of your consideration.
Published on August 6, 2005 by D. D Lawson

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   



So You'd Like to...


Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.



Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.