
The Knowledge Web
From Electronic Agents to Stonehenge and Back -- And Other Journeys Through Knowledge
James Burke(Author)
Simon & Schuster (Publisher)
Published on 1. June 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-0-684-85935-4 (ISBN)
Description
What do the Hubble Telescope, Buffalo Bill, and the Spanish Inquisition have in common, and how is the answer found in a certain fast food chain? How do margarine's strange origins tie in to plankton shells, receding stars, hot chocolate, and the first solo Atlantic flight? Continuing the fascinating journey he began in THE PINBALL EFFECT, James Burke shows how seemingly unrelated ideas and innovations bounce off each other, spinning a vast web of knowledge. Burke explains how the Internet is responsible for bringing these connections to light and claims this new awareness of our interdependence, with each other and with the past, will change our lives. Taking Burke's webbed approach to knowledge is one way that we can manage our information overload as we approach the ever-more-complex world that awaits us in the Twenty-First Century. Only by understanding the interrelated nature of the modern world can we hope to identify complex patterns of change and direct the process of innovation to the common good.
Reviews / Votes
The Washington Post One of the most intriguing minds in the Western world. Bill Gates James Burke is a favorite author of mine.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
32 b-w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
412 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-684-85935-4 (9780684859354)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2010
1st Edition
Simon + Schuster LLC
€14.83
Available for download
Person
James Burke is the author of several bestselling books, including Circles, American Connections, and The Knowledge Web. He is a monthly columnist at Scientific American and also serves as director, writer, and host of the television series Connections 3 on The Learning Channel. He is the founder of the James Burke Institute for Innovation in Education, whose flagship project, the Knowledge Web, an interactive website, was recently launched. He lives in London.