I’m a huge fan of James Burke, the British TV science host. Though he is best known for the Connections series, for me his strongest work is the ten-episode The Day the Universe Changed.
It’s a globe-trotting, era-spanning series on the history of science, technology and the human condition, but Burke keeps it low-key and intimate. He pulls each program together without any apparent effort, and with more than an ounce of wit. It was a major influence on how I approached our books, especially Born Smart?.
And now it’s on the web. Mr. Burke himself has put the ten episodes up as 45-minute podcasts.
Okay, glasses fashions have changed, and corduroy jackets are harder to come by these days, but I think that this 20-year-old series holds up very well. Enjoy.
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bryanf says:
March 19, 2007 at 8:30 am (UTC 0)
I’m also a James Burke fan. I love this series, watched it in reruns on Discovery (I think) 5 years ago or so, and agree that it’s stronger than Connections. I remember it well enough that it probably won’t make the shortlist for my commuting viewing — I have way too many computer-based training videos to watch — but it’s good to know it’s out there if I’m ever bored. 🙂