I can’t believe the prices for the video tapes. If they’re too pricey check out this, The Pinball Effect: How Renaissance Water Gardens Made the Carburetor Possible and Other Journeys Through Knowledge" by James Burke. The book follows the format of his shows Connections and The Day The Universe Changed, demonstrating how scientific progress builds on previous discoveries. It’s even cross-indexed so one can jump from one chapter to another, then back again in order to follow the differing threads of progress just one innovation can inspire. Cool concept, but somewhat awkward (I think I’ll stick to hypertext). But its just as fascinating when read in a linear fashion.
Along with the original Connections another similar British series I would love to own is The Secret Life of Machines. The Discovery Channel ran it a couple of years ago but I only got a few on tape.
The Secret Life of Machines! I loved that show when it was on The Discovery Channel. Does anyone know if it’s available on VHS? Amazon doesn’t seem to carry it.
As a rule, documentary videos cost a lot more than theatrical feature films because of the darn rules of supply and demand. You might be able to find a deal on something by Ken Burns, but that’s about it.
Most public libraries get videos from PBS series through special deals, although you’d be surprised how much it cost. Since “Connections” has been out for a while, you may have a hard time rounding up all the episodes. Public library videos tend to get pretty beat up.
Have you guys had Local Heroes yet? It is another minor BBC triumph. Basically it has this guy (Adam Hart-Davis) going around on his bicycle giving short biographies and recreating experiments/inventions of notable scientists and engineers who lived in the area his is in that episode. If you have not seen it I would suggest you petition PBS to run it.