Customer Reviews

The Day The Universe Changed: A Personal View

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I have some of this series on tape from 15 years ago but it hasn't aired since then. Burke combines science and history with a narrative that provides one surprise after another. A previous reviewer stated that he was blown away. Exactly my feeling. If you can't find the series on VCR then buy the book but please purchase the book on tape just to hear Burke in his own words. His voice is an important part of the presentation. If this were offered on DVD, they would sell like crazy. Someone is an idiot! "The Day the Universe Changed" is an eleven on a scale of 1 to 10.

This documentary series blew my mind. I learned so many things about scientific discoveries -- plus it was very well directed with seamless cuts between historical recreation and Burke in the modern time explaining it all. I did tape it on VHS but the tapes are lost. I always wondered why I didn't see this title all over the place in video stores. Everyone owes it to themselves to witness this fascinating glimpse into human discovery and the way that our universe changes with each significant breakthrough in medicine, science and technology over the ages. I still have such vivid memories of this show from 21 years ago. The discovery of ether as an anesthetic was particularly surprising -- US doctors partying with it and discovering they were "painless." Burke on board a modern Navy vessel talking about war technology and sonar, and in another episode, Isaac Newton drops balls from a balcony and Burke catches them in the modern time. I'm searching for this on DVD. Must have.

I watched this entire ten part BBC series by James Burke and learned more about history in its accurate form than I would have learned had I taken ten college courses. The amount of information contained in this series is simply overwhelming, and I particulary enjoyed the third segment titled "In the Light of the Above". It is one of the very few portrayals of the vast contributions by Muslims and Arabs to civilization, and it was that source of knowledge that transformed Europe out of its Dark Ages and into the so-called Renaissance; "so-called" since the French word means "to be reborn", yet how could Europe have been reborn into the enormous knowledge that came to them from Arabs and Muslims if they never had it before? Those contributions included science, mathematics that included algebra (the numbers we use are know as Arabic Numerals)and the introduction of the zero and decimal system. They made incredible studies and advances in optics, irrigation, navigation, astronomy, philosphy, botany, anatomy, pharmacology, medicine, architecture, dentisry, and on and on. Different courses at meals, rhyming poetry and rhythmic music, dressing for the seasons, many spices and farmed products, daily baths, public lighting, and even table manners came from the Arabs and Muslims. Europe's grand cathedrals would not have been possible without Muslim contributions to mathematics, architecture, and science. The West is deeply indebted to Muslims for those contributions. Where would we all be without them!
This series is a MUST see, MUST learn, and MUST know undertaking. I urge everyone to buy this series when it is available. You will not regret it.
Yousef Salem
Sunnyvale, California

I went looking for this on DVD but it's not available, so I transferred my VHS copies of the series to DVD so that my children will be able to enjoy this in the future. James Burke and his crew did a fantastic job in creating this series. The information wasn't spoon-fed, it took into consideration that people come into a learning situation already knowing something and he leaves enough for you to think about it after it's over.

Borrow this from a library if you don't own it and get the companion book, they're still available here on amazon.com, you deserve to see this work.

The After Words in the TV series are at the end of the James Burke presentation with interviews by Benjamin Dunlap with James Burke and others. The After Words with James are new and not the same as they were on TV

This is one of the greatest series ever produced. If you can find the DVDs, buy them. I have never seen a better presentation on history and science in 30 years of watching these type of documentaries.

PBS has just released the series on DVD! Hands-down the best history of western science ever filmed, and one of the few science documentaries pitched above elementary school level. The vocabulary and slow pace will put off youngsters, but thoughtful adults interested in history and science will love James Burke's witty, erudite presentation.

An excellent seller, the DVDs and the book arrived in very good condition very quickly, price was reasonable, very good to deal with. I am very satisfied with the DVDs, book and seller