Nine Chains to the Moon

Front Cover
Doubleday, 1971 - Architecture - 346 pages

The title derives from a statistical cartoon: “If … all of the people of the world were to stand upon one another’s shoulders, they would make nine complete chains between the earth and the moon. If it is not so far to the moon, then it is not so far to the limits—whatever, whenever or wherever they may be.” This is Fuller’s first book and one of the few he wrote as a book and not as a composite of articles, transcripts, or letters. Many of his original and lifelong metaphors and strategies were introduced in this volume. A projected final chapter, “From Bibble to Bible to Babble,” was rejected by the publishers because its concrete poetry format was deemed too radical for inclusion in a trade book. The end papers anticipate the Dymaxion airocean world map. There are five appendices documenting Fuller’s virtuosity in large patterns: (1) on the chronology of scientific events from the ancient world to 1936; (2) coincidence of U.S. population centers with isotherm of 32° F; (3) U.S. to become world’s greatest exporter; (4) world copper production and consumption; and (5) growth of U.S. industry correlated with inventions.

Description by Ed Applewhite, courtesy of The Estate of Buckminster Fuller

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Contents

S a House Darling
3
Dollarability
9
сл
30
Copyright

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About the author (1971)

Richard Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller, the innovative thinker, engineer, and inventor, was born July 12, 1895 in Milton, Massachusetts. Despite early failures and tragedies, including his being expelled from Harvard University twice and the death of his four-year-old daughter, Fuller went on to achieve many successes. He is best known for inventing the geodesic dome; his design has been used in structures all over the world. Besides Harvard, Fuller also attended the U.S. Naval Academy, and was a professor at Southern Illinois University. He is the author of Synergetics: Explanations in the Geometry of Thinking, a book that discusses the utopic role technology will play in the future. Critical Path is the book Fuller felt was his most important. It outlined his plan to rejuvenate earth through the use of technology. His last book, Grunch of Giants, summarizes his most important ideas. Fuller was awarded 28 United States patents and many honorary doctorates. In 1968 he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Associate member. In 1970 he received the Gold Medal award from the American Institute of Architects. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom presented to him on February 23, 1983 by President Ronald Reagan.

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