The Day the Universe Changed

by James Burke

Book Overview

In The Day the Universe Changed, James Burke examines eight periods in history when our view of the world shifted dramatically: in the eleventh century, when extraordinary discoveries were made by Spanish crusaders; in fourteenth-century Florence, where perspective in painting emerged; in the fifteenth century, when the advent of the printing press shook the foundations of an oral society; in the sixteenth century, when gunnery developments triggered...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316116955
• ISBN13: 9780316116954
• Release Date: January 1985
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 2.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.7" x 10.0"

Customer Reviews

Best Of Burke

Having read Burke's previous efforts, I was prepared to be entertained and amazed at how seemingly unrelated thoughts and developments came together to move history and innovation forward - but this book exceeded my expectations! Another reveiwer commented (accurately) that Burke gives religion a pretty rough time, it must also be said that he gives an incredible perspective on how much impact religious thought impacted people's freedom to think, and how those places tolerant of fresh thinking attracted (and benefitted from) thinking people.The same is shown to be true of political freedom, economic freedom, and, well, you get the picture...freedoms made great differences.Burke does a fabulous job of providing meaningful context to innovation and innovators. He also demonstrates that a lot of innovation was not pursued, but rather occurred almost by accident - two things sitting next to each other for the first time, and someone decides to combine them!If you don't read any of his other books, be sure to read this one! I have only one bit of advice when reading it - pace yourself - it is much too good to rush, so savor it...

Wonderful

This is how history should be written. Period. Brilliant, witty, yet with a serious, driving philosophical point.There is a very simple lesson here, but many people resist it, as it can be very a difficult one to take to heart: the only way people can change the world is if they first recognize that it can be changed. To change the world, one must first change his perspective on it and himself. And to change oneself, one must admit that he is not perfect.We often find it very hard to admit when we're wrong, especially about the things that seem to define us, because redefining oneself can be an extraordinarily painful and confusing thing. But only though this painful process of discovery can we hope to advance, for real progress and growth only comes about by questioning and changing the hard parts of ourselves.There's more, of course, but you'll have to read to find out the rest. This is an ideal graduation gift; I am giving my copy of this book to my sister and plan on buying another to replace it.

Changed the way I think...about thinking

I disagree with earlier reviews saying that there is no cohesive message. Burke's message is more about how history happens, than history itself.Burke turns history on it's ear by looking at the way things happen. How they change history in directions people would never have thought of. Kinda makes you wonder what we are doing today that will change tomorrow.

Burke's connectionist thought is uniquely insightful

This book describes the evolution of scientific beliefs and ideas, and how they have intertwined throughout history to present day. His refreshing writing style is clever and humorous, displayed in an amazing presentation of the history of paradigm shifts in regard to invention and scientific discovery. He brilliantly ties together various scientific notions and explains them in their historic contexts, and shows the interconnectedness of scientific ideology in a way that is truly stunning to the "acolyte" connectionist thinker.