Connections

Before Wikipedia, before the Internet, before the PC, there was James Burke, the original hypertext-liked encyclopedic brain.

Remember when you first surfed the Web, how much fun it was to go from link to link exploring connections around the world, staying up till 4 in the morning? That's what Connections does, but better, with James Burke as your guide, bouncing around 150 location shoots in 20 different countries in just 10 episodes. Fasten your seat belt! This series really should be shown on MTV, it moves so fast!

James Burke accomplishes in Connections what Jared Diamond promises in Guns, Germs and Steel, not only explaining the rise of the West's industrial, technological machine, but producing a work of true scholarly originality without being part of the academic establishment.

If you haven't seen Connections, you must give it a chance by watching just the first 10 minutes. Or just look at the astronomical IMDb rating. Connections was the most watched program on America's PBS up to that time, and it is just as important today. If you want to understand how the world you live in came to be, you need to watch Connections.

If still not convinced, read author: classicalsteve's review below; he nails it.

As to what universe James Burke dropped in from, see the one critic's review from tvcream for some background.

I've watched every episode of the original series so many times I've worn out the tapes. I don't care. I still watch them and learn more every time. I love history and James Burke makes it even more fun and interesting to me. I am particularly enamored of the sequences that deal with military history and the advancements of weaponry. 'The Long Chain' and 'Thunder in the Skies' ranks as superb in my book I wish I knew more people that love this series as I do, to chat with them about it. The other series that ranks as a winner is 'The Day the Universe Changed' which carries on in the same genre but deals with social concepts and their origins. Watch them all, and have fun learning.

In this amazing series, James Burke, discusses the amazing world of scientific inventions and discoveries and how they all relate to one another. It explores the historical and cultural implications on the things that we take for granted today. It might be old, but all of it is still relevant and damn interesting. James Burke is an excellent narrator and grips your attention throughout the series with his amazing findings about the man made world and how and why are things the way they are. I was always intrigued by the things all around us, and how we got from hunter gatherers to a space faring civilisation. This series beautifully answers that question while presenting you with extraordinary complex world which stan on seemingly simple incremental changes that got us where we are today.

The Connections series I, II and III are the most delightful and accessible approach to the history of the world and its' sciences since the Cosmos series. Compelling and Addictive... something on television that's truly worth watching. Companion books to the series are also available. The Connections series' blend of humor and Zen are incredibly entertaining--- Call it Life As We Know It 101.

Also recommended: The Day The Universe Changed series.

When I was in a gifted and talented 7th/8th grade class, I had an incredible teacher named Mr Barnette (who I miss!) who showed us a lot of these episodes. They were fascinating then and they still fascinate me now. Its amazing how he ties things together with past and present. Much better than reading a history book. James Burke made history come alive.