{"product_id":"connections-9780743299558","title":"Connections","description":"\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eHow did the popularity of underwear in the twelfth century lead to the invention of the printing press?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eHow did the waterwheel evolve into the computer?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eHow did the arrival of the cannon lead eventually to the development of movies?\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e 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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Based on a popular TV documentary series, \u003ci\u003eConnections\u003c\/i\u003e is a fascinating scientific detective story of the inventions that changed history -- and the surprising links that connect them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Simon \u0026amp; Schuster\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/03\/2007\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780743299558\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.21lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.92h x 7.39w x 0.89d","brand":"James Burke","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":38470928531637,"sku":"9780743299558","price":23.8,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_e6c01686-6ed0-4f10-943c-901d69fe842a.jpg?v=1612927694","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/connections-9780743299558","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}