From the bestselling author of The Knowledge Web come fifty mesmerizing journeys into the history of technology, each following a chain of consequential events that ends precisely where it began. Whether exploring electromagnetic fields, the origin of hot chocolate, or DNA fingerprinting, these essays -- which originally appeared in James Burke's popular Scientific American column -- all illustrate the serendipitous and surprisingly circular nature of change.In "Room with (Half) a View, " for instance, Burke muses about the partly obscured railway bridge outside his home on the Thames. Thinking of the bridge engineer, who also built the steamship that laid the first transatlantic telegraph cable, causes him to recall Samuel Morse; which, in turn, conjures up Morse's neighbor, firearms inventor Sam Colt, and his rival, Remington. One dizzying connection after another leads to Karl Marx's daughter, who attended Socialist meetings with a trombonist named Gustav Holst, who once lived in the very house that blocks Burke's view of the bridge on the Thames. Burke's essays all evolve in this organic manner, highlighting the interconnectedness of seemingly unrelated events and innovations. Romantic poetry leads to brandy distillation; tonic water connects through Leibniz to the first explorers to reach the North Pole.Witty, instructive, and endlessly entertaining, Circles expands on the trademark style that has captivated James Burke fans for years. This unique collection is sure to stimulate and delight history buffs, technophiles, and anyone else with a healthy intellectual curiosity.
- 288 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
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Information
Topic
Scienze biologicheSubtopic
Storia della scienzaTable of contents
- Cover Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Foreword
- 1. A Bit of A Flutter
- 2. Satisfied Customers
- 3. Folies De Grandeur
- 4. A Lot of Baloney
- 5. Impressions
- 6. Making Your Mark
- 7. What Goes Around Comes Around
- 8. Sweet Dreams
- 9. Waving the Flag
- 10. The Silk Circuit
- 11. Out of Gas
- 12. Ordinary Buffoons
- 13. Breakfast Thoughts
- 14. Stones and Bones
- 15. Is This Essay Noticeably Different?
- 16. Showtime
- 17. Cool Stuff
- 18. Revolutionary Matters
- 19. Donât Forget This One
- 20. Take Two Acronyms
- 21. The Buck Starts Here
- 22. Healthy Blooms
- 23. And Now The Weather
- 24. On Track
- 25. Is There Anybody There?
- 26. Turkish Delight
- 27. Sheer Poetry
- 28. Lucky He Missed
- 29. Cheers
- 30. Whatâa in A Name?
- 31. Feathered Friends
- 32. Scribble, Scribble
- 33. Heavy Stuff
- 34. Tick Tock
- 35. Rebellious Affairs
- 36. Local Color
- 37. Does This Take You Back?
- 38. Oops
- 39. Tea, Anyone?
- 40. A Light Little Number
- 41. Lend Me Your Ear
- 42. Entente Cordiale
- 43. Zzzzzzz
- 44. A Few Notes
- 45. Sound Ideas
- 46. Or Maybe Not
- 47. A Matter of Degree
- 48. Room With (Half) A View
- 49. Various, Unrequited
- 50. The O Zone
- Select Bibliography
- About the Author
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Yes, you can access Circles by James Burke in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Scienze biologiche & Storia della scienza. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.