James Burke
5/5 stars
Circles is a sort of "six degrees of separation" in which Burke begins with an idea or person (history, technology, science, culture, the like) and through connections with other ideas or people, circles back around to the beginning point. This is a witty, interesting, and informative book that reads like having a conversation with the author. Most lead me to want to research further on my own. Some of the links are more tenuous than others, but that doesn't lessen the entertainment value of the essay.
The important thing to remember about Circles is that it is not intended to be read straight through. One or two essays at time, at most, should be read, digested, enjoyed before proceeding to another. Trying to read multiple chapters at a time will result in an overdose of Burke's humor, and an inability to remember any of the details.
I highly recommend Burke in general, and Circles in particular for the lay-historian.
(And yes, I have, and have had since the early 1990's, a painful schoolgirl-crush on Burke.)
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