# James Burke Fans! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884 "2003-04-06T17:10:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/1 "2003-04-06T17:10:54Z")
Lookie at what I’ve found! [James Burke’s Knowledge Web Project](http://www.k-web.org/)! > [@](#): > > Begin with any subject you want: start with ice cream and track the connections to Einstein, or enter through the gateway of global warming and explore your way to chewing gum or Humbolt. Also, I really nifty [fan site](http://www.palmersguide.com/jamesburke/). Looks like loads of fun. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/2 "2003-04-06T18:24:30Z")
Neat site. Connections was cool, but I still think his best work was The Day the Univers Changed. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/3 "2003-04-06T18:50:41Z")
Thanks! **Tuckerfan** I heard James Burke speak a couple years ago. He mentioned this Knowledge Web Project, but this is the first time I have seen the website. Anyone who is not familiar with James Burke’s _Connections_ or _The Day the Universe Changed_ would be well advised to check them out. Burke is one of the great heroes in the fight against ignorance. Okay, sometimes his links the chains are stretched, but I have learned a lot. The second episode of _The Day the Universe Changed_ **In the Light of the Above** is about the transmission of ancient classical knowledge through the then “superior” Islamic culture into medieval European culture makes modern Western culture and thought what it is today. Upon preview, I agree with **Spiritus Mundi** about _TDTUC_ being better that the _Connections_ franchise. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/4 "2003-04-06T19:09:53Z")
I watch _Connections_ when I happen to see that it’s on, but I haven’t seen it recently. Personally, I prefer _The Day the Universe Changed_. Just going on memory, I seem to remember it being a little more coherent than _Connections_. ---
**Author:** ![TheRealJohnPeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TheRealJohnPeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheRealJohnPeat)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/5 "2003-04-06T20:37:20Z")
In the UK there’s a fairly-famous car writer/presenter called Jeremy Clarkson - who is often cited as the originator of the ‘hanging pause’ - he certainly uses it a lot anyway! BUT Anyone who’s watched James Burke ina ction will know he got there first by some margin… You know the sort of thing… This reaction was going to be big \<5 sec pause\> VERY big… 🙂 JP ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/6 "2003-04-06T20:41:52Z")
James Burke rules! Every science teacher should be FORCED to watch all of the Connection and The Day The Universe Changed, just to get a feel for how exciting science and technology can be. Put me down for Connections over TDTUC. The writing seemed a lot sharper and, well, there was just a tinge of sappiness to some of TDTUC. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/7 "2003-04-06T21:51:37Z")
Thanks for the further info **Copa**. I should know better than to just say “Gutenberg’s printing press.” One has to include the use of standardized, interchangable , and indiviual letter typefaces. As far as ‘right man at the right time’ goes, there is the theory that the Black Death in the previous century had made paper more available. The best printing in the world is pretty well useless without a relatively cheap source of print media. Papermaking had increased in the 14th century, in part, because the clothes of the dead were used to make linen paper. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/8 "2003-04-06T21:58:57Z")
Oops, the above post was supposed to be in a **GD** thread. Although it is material I learned from Burke. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/9 "2003-04-06T22:07:39Z")
I was a fairly typical undergraduate goof-off, and wound up with a liberal arts degree that was pretty near useless as far as getting a job was concerned. After graduation, I spent about six months job-hunting and generally hanging about. _Connections_ was at that time on it’s first run on PBS, and I was following the show with some interest. If you recall the series, the final episode sort of asked the question “Where do we go from here?”, and laid out a number of possible strategies. The conclusion was that, no matter which strategy you chose, if you didn’t keep moving forward, history would pass you by. I found this episode spoke quite directly to me, recognized that I was not moving forward and determined to do something about it. The next day, I applied to graduate school. I owe something of my subsequent personal and professional success to James Burke’s getting me off my butt. I am forever in his debt. ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/10 "2003-04-06T22:58:58Z")
Anything by James Burke whups @ss on most everything else television has to offer. I’ve always thought of him as one of the ultimate dinner guests. Imagine having him, David Attenborough, Arthur C. Clarke and David Brin over for din-dins? I could die happy before afters. ---
**Author:** ![dono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/11 "2003-04-07T02:12:34Z")
Nothing to add, just a fan checking in. I own the _Connections_ companion book. Thanks for the links, **Tuckerfan**. ---
**Author:** ![Swede\_Hollow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Swede\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swede_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/12 "2003-04-07T02:14:38Z")
I saw James Burke speak at the University of Minnesota last year and he is an EXCELLENT speaker. He showed an early “draft” of what the Knowledge Web is meant to look like. His long-term vision was to have an all-encompasing history of the entire world including all authors/inventors/statesmen,etc with input from researchers from all corners of the globe so that it won’t just be a Western view of history. ---
**Author:** ![little\_lighthouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ea666f/32.png) [@little\_lighthouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_lighthouse)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/13 "2003-04-07T04:29:02Z")
Damn **Swede**! I would have loved to see him speak!! (I’m in St Paul too). James is one of the coolest people around! **Zenster** - what a great thought, yes, Mr. Burke can have dinner with me anytime!! I’m one of thouse that owns the companion book to TDTUC, and I agree, while I loved Connections (the hour longs were better), TDTUC was so enlightening! ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/14 "2003-04-07T05:40:37Z")
I saw him speak at Central Michigan University. It was sweet. I disagreed with his central thesis, but it took me about a month to figure out why. Still, it was really cool. Catch him if you get the chance. ---
**Author:** ![Hobie\_the\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e99b99/32.png) [@Hobie\_the\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hobie_the_One)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/15 "2003-04-07T12:45:40Z")
What a coincidence. I am just rereading the Connections companion book. Loved both series but have seen connections more often. Our nearby PBS store has the set on VHS (or used to a year or two ago) but the price tag is just a little higher than I’m going to spend. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/16 "2003-04-07T14:56:37Z")
Say, did you Burke fans know that: - There were also two additional series of **Connections** on The Learning Channel a few years back - That he wrote a Connections-esque column in Scientific American for about a year (my favorite part of the issue then) - He’s issued at least two more Connections-like books, **The Knowledge Web** and **The Pinball Effect**? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/17 "2003-04-07T17:06:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dono \* > \*\*Nothing to add, just a fan checking in. I own the _Connections_ companion book. Thanks for the links, **Tuckerfan**. \*\* …and _I_ own the “The Day the Universe Changed” companion book and just re-read it. Great writing. Love that guy. Really turned me on to science. I learned many wonderful ways to start a conversation from his series. “Did you know that if it wasn’t for the Napoleonic wars we would not have Campbell’s soup as we know it?” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/18 "2003-04-07T17:34:37Z")
One more thing: Burke himself reads the text for the audiocasette versions of **Connections** and **The Day the Universe Changed**. He talks so rapidly that it feels as if you’re getting a lot for your money. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/19 "2003-04-07T17:34:37Z")
Well I always thought that some of the connections in _Connections_ were a bit, shall we say, tenuous. And others just moved you to think _“So… ?”_ Sure the connection was there, but it didn’t have any real significance other than just coincidence. It was an informative series, but let’s face it, the whole connections thing was often just a weak ploy to hang some interesting facts together. So the overall result just irritated me, I’m afraid. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884/20 "2003-04-07T19:27:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*Lookie at what I’ve found! [James Burke’s Knowledge Web Project](http://www.k-web.org/)! Looks like loads of fun. \*\* Noooooo! I can’t get to the page! I’m a HUGE connections fan (although i think the later series sorta suffered. They stretched a bit too far for said connections. But the first stuff? Science and History colide and awsome stories ensue!) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/james-burke-fans/166884.md?page=2)