Michael Gorman is the first of a new generation of Fuller Biographers who were too young to ever have known Buckminster Fuller personally. Yet this allows a fresh and critical overview of the great man's successes and failures. The book is arranged in chronological order giving a concise and vibrant account Fuller's amazing life story. However it is the inventions (realised and unrealised) he produced along the way that is the focus of this book. These inventions (or artefacts as Fuller preferred) are also the authors vehicle to explain Fuller's singular and highly developed personal philosophy.
Gorman's time in Stanford working on Fuller's personal Chronofiles is evident in the book. A very wide range of source material has been consulted including interviews with collaborators. A look at Stanford Humanities website will show you how enthusiastically they have embraced their role as custodians of Fuller's personal archives. This book seems to have been borne out of this time.
This is the ideal first book for someone who wants to learn a lot about Bucky quickly. I would recommend this to Architecture schools especially. It is the most accessible and presentable of my big collection of Fuller books. All his major inventions are appraised. Gorman's skilful synopsis of synergetic and Geodesic geometry will also enlighten the novice.
I would also recommend the book to die-hard Buckminster Fuller fans for beautiful unearthed pictures of the Montreal Expo dome in flames, craftsmen working on the Dymaxion Car and Domes in every guise imaginable. The Author's writing style will also delight new and old Fuller fans. Gorman is capable of citing little known influences on Fuller and makes interesting parallels with other visionaries form the world of art and science. It seems to me Fuller had Forrest Gump like knack of cropping up at historical events - Gorman points out the Kitchen Debate happened in a Geodesic dome.
While the author obviously admired Fullers work he does not hold him in complete reverence as others have. His successes and failures are examined in an attempt to distil what is Bucky's real architectural and philosophical legacy. Fuller believed his discoveries were more important than his own biographical details making this a fitting tribute. The book captures the paradox of Fuller in all his complexities. A non conformist egalitarian, a practical utopian and a successful failure.
Go read, and then try Fullers own Critical path if you really want your head rewired.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
