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Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture
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Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture Hardback - 2000

by James Burke

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Reader reviews for Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture

From the publisher

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.

First line

"I SUPPOSE MY view of history tends away from the orderly and toward the chaotic, in the sense of that much overused phrase from chaos theory about the movement of a butterfly's wing in China causing storms on the other side"

Details

  • Title Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture
  • Author James Burke
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 288
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Simon & Schuster, New York
  • Publication date December 5, 2000
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780743200080 / 074320008X
  • Weight 1.25 lbs (0.57 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.5 x 6.5 x 1 in (24.13 x 16.51 x 2.54 cm)
  • Category Science
  • Library of Congress subjects Science - History, Technology - History
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 00057335
  • Dewey Decimal Code 609

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Circles : Fifty Roundtrips Through History, Technology, Science, Culture..
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Circles : Fifty Roundtrips Through History, Technology, Science, Culture..

by James Burke

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Circles : Fifty Roundtrips Through History, Technology, Science, Culture..

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Circles : Fifty Roundtrips Through History, Technology, Science, Culture..

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Circles : Fifty Roundtrips Through History, Technology, Science, Culture...
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Circles : Fifty Roundtrips Through History, Technology, Science, Culture...

by James Burke

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Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture

Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture

by Burke, James

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Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture

Circles: Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture

by Burke, James

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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Circles : Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture
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Circles : Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture

by Burke, James

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9780743200080 / 074320008x
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Simon & Schuster, Incorporated. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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Circles : Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture
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Circles : Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture

by Burke, James

  • Used
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Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743200080 / 074320008x
Quantity available
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Item price
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Description:
Simon & Schuster, Incorporated. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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Circles : Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture
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Circles : Fifty Round Trips Through History Technology Science Culture

by Burke, James

  • Used
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Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743200080 / 074320008x
Quantity available
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Item price
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Free Delivery to USA

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Description:
Simon & Schuster, Incorporated. Used - Very Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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Item price
A$11.12
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Circles : Fifty Roundtrips Through History, Technology, Science, Culture..
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Circles : Fifty Roundtrips Through History, Technology, Science, Culture..

by James Burke

  • Used
  • Hardback
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Edition
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743200080 / 074320008X
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Simon & Schuster, 2000-12-05. First Edition. hardcover. Used: Good. 6.00x1.00x9.25. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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