1960년대 말 BBC에서 최초로 방송되었던 과학 다큐멘터리 '커넥션'시리즈는 시청자들의 뜨거운 반응 속에서 이후에 영국과 미국에서 후속편들이 제작되었고, 그 모든 프로그램들을 기획하고 제작한 제임스 버크는 1978년 그 내용을 정리해 이 책 초판을 내었다. 이 책은 30년이 지난 지금까지 과학사의 고전이자 걸작으로 여전히 널리 읽히고 있다.

왜 이 책이 이토록 강한 생명력을 가지고 있을까. 한편으로는 구체적인 세부사항의 풍부함 때문이라고 할
수 있다. 이전까지는 주목받지 못했거나 잘 알려지지 않은 사건이나 발명품들에서 놀라운 실마리들이 주어지기 때문이다. 독자들은 구체적인 계기들에서 어떻게 창조와 혁신의 동력이 나타나는지 스스로 생각해볼 풍부한 자료를 얻을 수 있다.

두 번째로 이 책의 생명력의 비밀은 문명과 역사를 바라보는, 깊이와 넓이에서 남다른 저자의 통찰력 때문일 것이다. 인류 문명사를 가로지르며 저자는 창조와 혁신의 메커니즘과 더불어 과학기술과 문명의 관계, 지식과 대중 사회의 문제, 역사와 인간을 바라보는 관점 등 굵직굵직한 화두들에 대해 풍부한 암시를 남기고 있다.

Explores the accidents of time, place, and circumstance that culminated in the twentieth century's technological achievements: the computer, the telephone, the production line, the airplane, the atomic bomb, the guided missile, plastics, and television. Reprint. 35,000 first printing.

Explores the accidents of time, place, and circumstance that culminated in the century's technological achievements: the computer, the telephone, the production line, the airplane, the atomic bomb, the guided rocket, plastics, and television.

How did the popularity of underwear in the twelfth century lead to the invention of the printing press?

How did the waterwheel evolve into the computer?

How did the arrival of the cannon lead eventually to the development of movies?

In this highly acclaimed and bestselling book, James Burke brilliantly examines the ideas, inventions, and coincidences that have culminated in the major technological advances of today. With dazzling insight, he untangles the pattern of interconnecting events: the accidents of time, circumstance, and place that gave rise to the major inventions of the world.

Says Burke, "My purpose is to acquaint the reader with some of the forces that have caused change in the past, looking in particular at eight innovations -- the computer, the production line, telecommunications, the airplane, the atomic bomb, plastics, the guided rocket, and television -- which may be most influential in structuring our own futures....Each one of these is part of a family of similar devices, and is the result of a sequence of closely connected events extending from the ancient world until the present day. Each has enormous potential for humankind's benefit -- or destruction."

Based on a popular TV documentary series, Connections is a fascinating scientific detective story of the inventions that changed history -- and the surprising links that connect them.

How did the popularity of underwear in the twelfth century lead to the invention of the printing press?

How did the waterwheel evolve into the computer?

How did the arrival of the cannon lead eventually to the development of movies?

In this highly acclaimed and bestselling book, James Burke brilliantly examines the ideas, inventions, and coincidences that have culminated in the major technological advances of today. With dazzling insight, he untangles the pattern of interconnecting events: the accidents of time, circumstance, and place that gave rise to the major inventions of the world.

Says Burke, "My purpose is to acquaint the reader with some of the forces that have caused change in the past, looking in particular at eight innovations -- the computer, the production line, telecommunications, the airplane, the atomic bomb, plastics, the guided rocket, and television -- which may be most influential in structuring our own futures....Each one of these is part of a family of similar devices, and is the result of a sequence of closely connected events extending from the ancient world until the present day. Each has enormous potential for humankind's benefit -- or destruction."

Based on a popular TV documentary series, Connections is a fascinating scientific detective story of the inventions that changed history -- and the surprising links that connect them.