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You Belong to the Universe: Buckminster Fuller and the Future
A compelling call to apply Buckminster Fuller's creative problem-solving to present-day problems
A self-professed "comprehensive anticipatory design scientist," the inventor Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) was undoubtedly a visionary. Fuller's creations often bordered on the realm of science fiction, ranging from the freestanding geodesic dome to the three-wheel Dymaxion car to a bathroom requiring neither plumbing nor sewage. Yet in spite of his brilliant mind and life-long devotion to serving mankind, Fuller's expansive ideas were often dismissed, and have faded from public memory since his death.
You Belong to the Universe documents Fuller's six-decade quest to "make the world work for one hundred percent of humanity." Critic and experimental philosopher Jonathon Keats sets out to revive Fuller's unconventional practice of comprehensive anticipatory design, placing Fuller's philosophy in a modern context and dispelling much of the mythology surrounding Fuller's life. Keats argues that Fuller's life and ideas, namely doing "the most with the least," are now more relevant than ever as humanity struggles to meet the demands of an exploding world population with finite resources. Delving deeply into Buckminster Fuller's colorful world, Keats applies Fuller's most important concepts to present-day issues, arguing that his ideas are now not only feasible, but necessary.
From transportation to climate change, urban design to education, You Belong to the Univers e demonstrates that Fuller's holistic problem-solving techniques may be the only means of addressing some of the world's most pressing issues. Keats's timely book challenges each of us to become comprehensive anticipatory design scientists, providing the necessary tools for continuing Fuller's legacy of improving the world.
A self-professed "comprehensive anticipatory design scientist," the inventor Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) was undoubtedly a visionary. Fuller's creations often bordered on the realm of science fiction, ranging from the freestanding geodesic dome to the three-wheel Dymaxion car to a bathroom requiring neither plumbing nor sewage. Yet in spite of his brilliant mind and life-long devotion to serving mankind, Fuller's expansive ideas were often dismissed, and have faded from public memory since his death.
You Belong to the Universe documents Fuller's six-decade quest to "make the world work for one hundred percent of humanity." Critic and experimental philosopher Jonathon Keats sets out to revive Fuller's unconventional practice of comprehensive anticipatory design, placing Fuller's philosophy in a modern context and dispelling much of the mythology surrounding Fuller's life. Keats argues that Fuller's life and ideas, namely doing "the most with the least," are now more relevant than ever as humanity struggles to meet the demands of an exploding world population with finite resources. Delving deeply into Buckminster Fuller's colorful world, Keats applies Fuller's most important concepts to present-day issues, arguing that his ideas are now not only feasible, but necessary.
From transportation to climate change, urban design to education, You Belong to the Univers e demonstrates that Fuller's holistic problem-solving techniques may be the only means of addressing some of the world's most pressing issues. Keats's timely book challenges each of us to become comprehensive anticipatory design scientists, providing the necessary tools for continuing Fuller's legacy of improving the world.
216 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
September 29, 2018
I loved this book! It wildly exceeded my expectations. I was curious to learn more about inventor and cultural icon “Bucky” Fuller (1895–1983); the references to him I’ve come across have ranged from design blue prints in art museums to mentions in novels. These mentions and allusions have always been couched in quirk, and I thought I'd get a condensed biography in this slender volume. But this book was so much more. You learn some about Fuller's interesting and oft-mythologized life, but author Jonathan Keats goes on to extract the essence of his ideas and inventions and show why and how they are relevant today. Along the way you learn about the history of automotive design, utopian/planned cities, how technology has impacted pedagogy, metroengineering, and more. And you get ideas about how these concepts might be extended into the future in meaningful and productive ways. There is so much to engage the curious mind in this short book! I’d been thinking of Fuller as some kind of kooky outsider artist with a sciencey bent, but Keats imbues Fuller with dignity and vision. For all his foibles, Fuller was an important comprehensive anticipatory design scientist, and our world could use more of those.
April 28, 2024
I enjoyed this well written and cleverly organised book as an introduction to the legacy of visionary inventor Buckminster Fuller. Keats recaps the myth behind the man, deconstructs it, and astutely reassesses Fuller's contribution by discussing the 21st century relevance of six key visions: the Dymaxion Car (mobility), the Wichita House (shelter), the Two-Way TV (education), the Geoscope (planning), the Dome over Manhattan (environment), and the World Game (peace). The final chapter examines how Fuller's legacy has been shaped by acolytes (Lloyd Kahn), independent visionaries (Victor Papanek) and corporate innovators (Google). In the book's final pages Jonathon Keats lays down a compelling program for a revitalised 'comprehensive anticipatory design science' that is able to significantly contribute to solving the many wicked problems confronting humanity. Excellent read that in its tautness mirrors the design principles that Fuller held so dear.
November 20, 2018
I wanted to know more about Fuller than just the mythological tidbits that have been filtered through the lens of historical genre fiction, and this seemed like one of the better contemporary summaries of his philosophy and his work.
Unfortunately it spends a great deal of time contradicting itself, talking at length about what an unheralded genius he was, while going on to cite actual attempts to realize his inventions...which failed miserably.
Much of the book comes off as a condescending chastisement of those who oppose the idea of central planning, and there are subtle attempts to blame the world's natural problems on people who don't embrace Fuller's (often impractical) ideas.
I ended up becoming annoyed with the book when that probably had more to do with Keats' filtering of Fuller's mind, as opposed to Fuller's mind on its own. I need to dig up his original writings and some contemporary sources to get a better picture of who he was.
Unfortunately it spends a great deal of time contradicting itself, talking at length about what an unheralded genius he was, while going on to cite actual attempts to realize his inventions...which failed miserably.
Much of the book comes off as a condescending chastisement of those who oppose the idea of central planning, and there are subtle attempts to blame the world's natural problems on people who don't embrace Fuller's (often impractical) ideas.
I ended up becoming annoyed with the book when that probably had more to do with Keats' filtering of Fuller's mind, as opposed to Fuller's mind on its own. I need to dig up his original writings and some contemporary sources to get a better picture of who he was.
November 8, 2020
Maybe humanity is not destined to all live in geodesic domes, but the ideas of Buckminster Fuller make for interesting reading. Keats spends a few pages discussing Fuller's early life, but focuses the majority of his book on Fuller's work and its effects on our world. Fuller wanted to solve the problems of humanity using something called "anticipatory design science." This new science would anticipate the needs and problems of a constantly changing world, and respond to them organically, like a living organism maintains its metabolism. Can new types of cars, new geometric buildings, new forms of data visualization, and a vision of Spaceship Earth save the human race? I'm skeptical, but Fuller's ideas make for entertaining reading, and Keats has presented Fuller in a digestible form.
July 27, 2021
An Amazing Mind Challenged by Reality
Very interesting overview of one of the most powerful imaginations the World has ever produced. One idea after another evolves into an amazing prototype that then collides with the realities of Physics, Politics, Bureaucracy or Finance.
I enjoyed Keats’ book tremendously until it bogged down in his discussion of Fuller’s theory of Gaming which the author must consider a much greater contribution to the World than the Dymaxion Car, Dwelliing, or his Geodesic Domes. That Fuller’s Peace Game devolved into World of Warcraft and other MUD Games didn’t interest me in proportion to the amount of ink Keats gave it.
Other than the Dome I didn’t know two much about Fuller except that people either loved his work or thought he was a bit of a snake-oil salesman or crackpot. This book effectively painted a life that justified that controversy, but I have to come down on the side of an autodidact who devoted his life to trying to make Spaceship Earth a better and more survivable place and who was willing to think outside the tetrahedron to do it. Four stars.
Very interesting overview of one of the most powerful imaginations the World has ever produced. One idea after another evolves into an amazing prototype that then collides with the realities of Physics, Politics, Bureaucracy or Finance.
I enjoyed Keats’ book tremendously until it bogged down in his discussion of Fuller’s theory of Gaming which the author must consider a much greater contribution to the World than the Dymaxion Car, Dwelliing, or his Geodesic Domes. That Fuller’s Peace Game devolved into World of Warcraft and other MUD Games didn’t interest me in proportion to the amount of ink Keats gave it.
Other than the Dome I didn’t know two much about Fuller except that people either loved his work or thought he was a bit of a snake-oil salesman or crackpot. This book effectively painted a life that justified that controversy, but I have to come down on the side of an autodidact who devoted his life to trying to make Spaceship Earth a better and more survivable place and who was willing to think outside the tetrahedron to do it. Four stars.
November 6, 2018
This fun, interesting book excavates Buckminster Fuller's core ideals of "anticipatory design science" for the modern age, which, according to Keats, needs them terribly. I really liked how the author explained a handful of Fuller's projects, but then moved beyond the historical vignette to think about how the core idea could be applied to contemporary world problems. From the historical perspective, Keats isn't seduced by Fuller's guru status and writes about his limitations and flaws in addition to his more admirable traits. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in architecture, design, industrial processes, and what we are going to do about climate change.
November 22, 2020
A nice retrospective of Fuller and, mainly, his ideas and how they fit into the world when he was expounding on them, and updated to today. He comes across as a crackpot at times, as an innovator most all the time. Interesting and odd. The topics of the book and the person.
September 30, 2023
I had no no expectations when I started this book and very little previous knowledge on Fuller's life or work. Keats did a good job of untangling some of the myth around Fuller and his career. Where the book excelled, however, was in its approach of discussing Fuller's inventions and philosophy in relation to his predecessors and successors. This book may not be for you if what you're seeking is a straightforward biography on Buckminster Fuller. But if you're curious to understand his life and contributions within a broader design context, I'd highly recommend this quick, yet engaging, read.
September 18, 2017
There are many biographies (and hagiographies) of Buckminster Fuller (one of my favorite "armchair" overviews of his work is Baldwin's Buckyworks: Buckminster Fuller's Ideas for Today ). Keats' book steps back from the usual rhetoric and exposes some of the myths Bucky purposefully injected into his narrative, how he really handled both supporters and heretics, and how in fact his ideas have had long-lasting influence. Keats' traces some of Fuller's core ideas and how they may have actually influenced the course of design.
One can argue that a few of Fuller's ideas are only just now being observed in any degree that he envisioned, such as "ephemeralization". Recent practicalities in digital representation, recyclable materials, and just-in-time manufacturing (e.g. 3D printing) are making ephemeralization something that most people can recognize. "Automated learning" (as he put it) is also now coming into fruition in the form of MOOCs and online learning, but in importantly different ways than he imagined. Some of this is happening at a suddenly accelerating pace.
Keats shows that other ideas were overly specific, or that Fuller's embodiment of them was too narrow. For example, mathematical optimization in architecture and building is more lasting than geodesics specifically.
Finally, Keats makes a case for what the true evolution of "comprehensive anticipatory design science" is. I remain a bit more skeptical that the "optimizing mind of Fuller" can truly be codified into one "science", but it is clear that designers in all industries can benefit from the broader perspective aspired to by Fuller.
Overall, this book is very approachable and offers a balanced perspective.
One can argue that a few of Fuller's ideas are only just now being observed in any degree that he envisioned, such as "ephemeralization". Recent practicalities in digital representation, recyclable materials, and just-in-time manufacturing (e.g. 3D printing) are making ephemeralization something that most people can recognize. "Automated learning" (as he put it) is also now coming into fruition in the form of MOOCs and online learning, but in importantly different ways than he imagined. Some of this is happening at a suddenly accelerating pace.
Keats shows that other ideas were overly specific, or that Fuller's embodiment of them was too narrow. For example, mathematical optimization in architecture and building is more lasting than geodesics specifically.
Finally, Keats makes a case for what the true evolution of "comprehensive anticipatory design science" is. I remain a bit more skeptical that the "optimizing mind of Fuller" can truly be codified into one "science", but it is clear that designers in all industries can benefit from the broader perspective aspired to by Fuller.
Overall, this book is very approachable and offers a balanced perspective.
February 16, 2017
Well written balanced look at Fuller and his creations. He was a real inspiration to me when I learned about him in the early 70's through the Whole Earth Catalog. Keats takes a look at his many successes as well as his failures and brings many ideas up to date .
August 7, 2021
One of those books that's buckshot for the brain, not so much getting you to think deeply about any one thing as freshly about fifteen or so. Bucky Fuller had wild ideas about education, geopolitics, and housing -- and the Keats book traces them into oblivion and success -- but the real story here, to me, is that Fuller saw us as trapped in ways we still don't realize, by everything from national borders to game design to the opaque roofs over our heads to the fact our cars don't swim or fly yet and our cities stay on the ground. Key to capital is the idea that we're already free, and only getting freer -- that this is the best it can get. Bucky disagrees vehemently, and his critics who also do -- you'll meet them here -- find the future not in innovation and new materials but in restoration. All in all, a wonderfully nutty garden atop some easy-to-miss soil that demands a fundamental reorginization of the social order.
August 18, 2021
I was fascinated by Buckminster Fuller in middle school—the idea that houses should be light on their feet and his large domes assembled from regular members. It took some time for a new world order to settle after WWII, and Fuller was on hand, offering ideas about cars, houses, and systems that would expand mankind's worldview and take us into a hypermodern future—like the Jetsons.
But a missile crisis and a cold war later, wealthy nations seemed content to grow their wealth as they competed economically.
Author Keats is an academic. I got wise to what I assumed was a Fuller biography on NPR around the time of publication (2016) and added it to a Future Reading list [1].
I expected Keats to go on about Fuller's life and accomplishments for the full 189 pages. Instead, Keats knocked that out in 25. The rest was a review of Fuller's famous designs and an inquiry into his vision. By the end, Fuller's myth is deconstructed, his faults revealed; and comprehensive anticipatory design is preserved and emphasized as a mindset and practice that Spaceship Earth still needs.
Fuller's famous designs include the Dymaxion car, the geodesic dome, and the Wichita House. The car was three wheeled and shaped like a raindrop. The dome was shaped like a partial golf ball with triangular sides (e.g. Epcot Center). The house was a 3-ton hexagonal frame on a spindle. With these, Keats describes Fuller's futurist ambitions for mobility, the environment, and shelter.
Like other 20th century figures, Fuller's efforts were valued more for their imagination than any practical success (cf. Sigmund Freud). When he wasn't lecturing, he held academic posts.
Fuller fibbed regarding his personal origins and those of his work. He was possessive of his designs and conceptual view, effectively excluding contrary views. But apart from his cult of personality, Keats asserts that Fuller's creed remains vital—design which is biomimetic, adaptable, convergent, patternistic, wholistic, and interactive.
References
[1] https://www.npr.org/2016/04/20/475015...
But a missile crisis and a cold war later, wealthy nations seemed content to grow their wealth as they competed economically.
Author Keats is an academic. I got wise to what I assumed was a Fuller biography on NPR around the time of publication (2016) and added it to a Future Reading list [1].
I expected Keats to go on about Fuller's life and accomplishments for the full 189 pages. Instead, Keats knocked that out in 25. The rest was a review of Fuller's famous designs and an inquiry into his vision. By the end, Fuller's myth is deconstructed, his faults revealed; and comprehensive anticipatory design is preserved and emphasized as a mindset and practice that Spaceship Earth still needs.
Fuller's famous designs include the Dymaxion car, the geodesic dome, and the Wichita House. The car was three wheeled and shaped like a raindrop. The dome was shaped like a partial golf ball with triangular sides (e.g. Epcot Center). The house was a 3-ton hexagonal frame on a spindle. With these, Keats describes Fuller's futurist ambitions for mobility, the environment, and shelter.
Like other 20th century figures, Fuller's efforts were valued more for their imagination than any practical success (cf. Sigmund Freud). When he wasn't lecturing, he held academic posts.
Fuller fibbed regarding his personal origins and those of his work. He was possessive of his designs and conceptual view, effectively excluding contrary views. But apart from his cult of personality, Keats asserts that Fuller's creed remains vital—design which is biomimetic, adaptable, convergent, patternistic, wholistic, and interactive.
References
[1] https://www.npr.org/2016/04/20/475015...
October 2, 2017
Buckminster Fuller would have approved of the structure of You Belong To The Universe. It dispenses with his biography in the introduction, delineating the various myths that Fuller himself propagated. It’s the standard hagiography that everyone who is interested already knows. Keats devotes the rest of the book to putting Fuller’s ideas into perspective and criticizing many of his concepts with real world applications and criticisms. It is a wonderful approach, smartly executed, and immensely enlightening.
From cars to shelter, Keats examines Fuller’s dreams and shows how they have been realized (or bypassed) today, differently, and often in more sophisticated fashion, thanks to new materials, 3D printers and new inspiration. At some level, Fuller was little more than a dreamer, predicting a Jetsons-like future, because he had no way to execute. Keats calls him a techno-utopian. This sort of “comprehensive anticipatory design science” is fully realized only if the scientist thinks through the details: the materials, the stresses, and the environment. Fuller did not do that. He just proselytized his ideas in talks all over the world, for decades, without debate, according to Keats.
Keats takes each of Fuller’s major themes and shows their pre-history, where Fuller was right and was wrong, and how developments soon left him behind. These include the Dymaxion car, home, and map, geodesic domes, world peace games and distance learning, each of which gets a chapter.
Despite contradicting himself and changing course as needed, Fuller remained so convinced of his rightness that alternatives were meaningless to him. This cleareyed view of a futurist saint is a valuable eye-opener, providing much needed light where only heat has been apparent.
From cars to shelter, Keats examines Fuller’s dreams and shows how they have been realized (or bypassed) today, differently, and often in more sophisticated fashion, thanks to new materials, 3D printers and new inspiration. At some level, Fuller was little more than a dreamer, predicting a Jetsons-like future, because he had no way to execute. Keats calls him a techno-utopian. This sort of “comprehensive anticipatory design science” is fully realized only if the scientist thinks through the details: the materials, the stresses, and the environment. Fuller did not do that. He just proselytized his ideas in talks all over the world, for decades, without debate, according to Keats.
Keats takes each of Fuller’s major themes and shows their pre-history, where Fuller was right and was wrong, and how developments soon left him behind. These include the Dymaxion car, home, and map, geodesic domes, world peace games and distance learning, each of which gets a chapter.
Despite contradicting himself and changing course as needed, Fuller remained so convinced of his rightness that alternatives were meaningless to him. This cleareyed view of a futurist saint is a valuable eye-opener, providing much needed light where only heat has been apparent.
August 6, 2020
A retrospective critique of Buckminster Fuller's life and ideas. It was nice to have context about how his ideas were received and implemented during his lifetime - he was usually considered half crazy - half genius. He had many followers of his ideas due to his highly influential lectures at campuses and he had a big influence on US military technology and strategy.
His geodesic domes - though often associated with hippie culture today - were tested experimentally, mostly unsuccessfully in the long run. Engineering problems, mainly around materials, prevented their success. I thought it was interesting to hear about how he designed the 'hanging' dome structure to take advantage of metal's high tensile strength and low compression strength.
Also loved his point about bubbles - how geometry defines forces, not shapes. He was interested in exploring interesting force structures beyond 4 walls, and keeping his designs unconventional.
It was really inspiring to hear about how often his projects were totally crushed, or implemented differently than he designed, and how he continued with new ventures after the failures. Unfortunate how much his ego seemed to interfere and how much he took full responsibility for success of ideas he didn't originate or other projects that were possibly inspired by him.
His geodesic domes - though often associated with hippie culture today - were tested experimentally, mostly unsuccessfully in the long run. Engineering problems, mainly around materials, prevented their success. I thought it was interesting to hear about how he designed the 'hanging' dome structure to take advantage of metal's high tensile strength and low compression strength.
Also loved his point about bubbles - how geometry defines forces, not shapes. He was interested in exploring interesting force structures beyond 4 walls, and keeping his designs unconventional.
It was really inspiring to hear about how often his projects were totally crushed, or implemented differently than he designed, and how he continued with new ventures after the failures. Unfortunate how much his ego seemed to interfere and how much he took full responsibility for success of ideas he didn't originate or other projects that were possibly inspired by him.
May 29, 2023
I don't know how to rate this audiobook. The information was good. I liked the way it was presented. The author pulled no punches except possibly at the end as he wrapped up.
Buckminster Fuller's biographical data, the things he said about himself, are unreliable and somewhat made up. I am grateful to the author for telling me that and I believe it. And as more information was revealed I found I liked Fuller less and less. He did have some great ideas. He also seemed to steal one idea from one of his students and claim it as his own.
Overall, Fuller pushed people in the right direction and inspired people to think outside the box. Other than the geodesic dome, I don't really see what more he contributed.
The ending seemed forced, trying to put the best face on the subject.
Sorry for being so negative, but I was disappointed. It wasn't the author's fault though.
I doubt I will listen to this audiobook again.
Buckminster Fuller's biographical data, the things he said about himself, are unreliable and somewhat made up. I am grateful to the author for telling me that and I believe it. And as more information was revealed I found I liked Fuller less and less. He did have some great ideas. He also seemed to steal one idea from one of his students and claim it as his own.
Overall, Fuller pushed people in the right direction and inspired people to think outside the box. Other than the geodesic dome, I don't really see what more he contributed.
The ending seemed forced, trying to put the best face on the subject.
Sorry for being so negative, but I was disappointed. It wasn't the author's fault though.
I doubt I will listen to this audiobook again.
May 11, 2022
Purports to be a more down-to-earth perspective of Fuller's highfalutin ideas. Unfortunately, Keats is just as highfalutin at times, allowing his enthusiasm and creativity to override any restrait as he ventures into fields he only understands at a surface level. The best example is his chapter on video games, where he uses innacurate claims to bolster his own assertions. I am not knowledgeable enough in other fields to tell whether Keats makes similarly dubious assertiosn throughout the rest of the book, but it's always disturbing when an author wanders into an area where I have some expertise and makes a series of questionable claims.
Overall I can't recommend You Belong to the Universe as either a biography of Fuller or a scientific exploration of how his ideas could be used today. Keats is not skeptical or rational enough to bring the realism he claims to.
Overall I can't recommend You Belong to the Universe as either a biography of Fuller or a scientific exploration of how his ideas could be used today. Keats is not skeptical or rational enough to bring the realism he claims to.
January 23, 2023
Inspired by my 8th grade presentation on geodesic domes and knowing a distant relative of Fuller’s, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to learn more about ole Bucky. This book wasn’t what I expected (far more technical than biographical), but it was fascinating!
Firstly, Buckminster Fuller was a true visionary. I had no idea he was so concerned with equity and sustainability! From the sounds of it, he was…eccentric…but damn the man was brilliant!
I learned so much about comprehensive anticipatory design by reading this! And I’m pretty gutted no one bought into the dome over Manhattan because by this point, I think most cities will need to be domed…
If you can get down with some technical talk about cars and housing, you, too, might find this a fascinating read. I’d have liked to learn more about Fuller and the authors accusations of myth-making…my quest to know Bucky lives on!
A line that stuck with me:
“Comprehensivism simply isn’t possible within a single head.”
Firstly, Buckminster Fuller was a true visionary. I had no idea he was so concerned with equity and sustainability! From the sounds of it, he was…eccentric…but damn the man was brilliant!
I learned so much about comprehensive anticipatory design by reading this! And I’m pretty gutted no one bought into the dome over Manhattan because by this point, I think most cities will need to be domed…
If you can get down with some technical talk about cars and housing, you, too, might find this a fascinating read. I’d have liked to learn more about Fuller and the authors accusations of myth-making…my quest to know Bucky lives on!
A line that stuck with me:
“Comprehensivism simply isn’t possible within a single head.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2019
An interesting read, and useful as a brief overview of Fuller's life, career, and ideas. In the end, it's hard to say whether the book fosters Fuller's legend or diminishes it. Keats presents Fuller as a man who had ideas worth considering, but a good part of the book is devoted to showing the limited success Fuller had in promoting those ideas, and also how his concepts were sometimes realized more effectively by others who were working independently.
Still, this is a quick and informative read, and very much of the moment. Some of Keats' examples, like MOOCs, are likely to make this book feel very dated in about 5-10 years, but for now they help to make a case for the continuing relevance of Fuller in the present day.
Still, this is a quick and informative read, and very much of the moment. Some of Keats' examples, like MOOCs, are likely to make this book feel very dated in about 5-10 years, but for now they help to make a case for the continuing relevance of Fuller in the present day.
February 22, 2022
I was curious to read and learn some more about Buckminster Fuller.
This book adopts the stance that we likely know enough about Fuller's mythos already and primarily need to have various illusions cynically dispelled.
Keats takes us through a series of inventions, their failures, and then shares his own thoughts as to how some modern initiatives (such as MOOCs) might be taking up the torch.
It's moderately interesting but fairly unsatisfying. I suppose a core claim is that Buckminster Fuller's life presents itself as more deep and interesting than it actually was, so one should not expect a satisfying book to truly exist. Well, so far I've found actually reading Fuller verbself more fun :-3
This book adopts the stance that we likely know enough about Fuller's mythos already and primarily need to have various illusions cynically dispelled.
Keats takes us through a series of inventions, their failures, and then shares his own thoughts as to how some modern initiatives (such as MOOCs) might be taking up the torch.
It's moderately interesting but fairly unsatisfying. I suppose a core claim is that Buckminster Fuller's life presents itself as more deep and interesting than it actually was, so one should not expect a satisfying book to truly exist. Well, so far I've found actually reading Fuller verbself more fun :-3
July 4, 2022
For such a tantalizing subject, this book is bitterly dry. Organized like a list of classes (“Education,” “Planning,” etc.),“You Belong to the Universe” contains no pictures and instead relies on sterile descriptions of Buckminster Fuller’s many ideas. The author seems hell-bent on poking holes in Fuller’s personal narrative and determined to deflate his outsized ego. But what the author fails to realize is that visionaries are often revered precisely BECAUSE they embody an aspirational mythology. Buckminister Fuller wasn’t living in the present or concerned with the truth—he was a person of ideas, driven to explore the possibilities of life on Spaceship Earth. Reducing him to a crank, a liar, a revisionist, and a failure misses the point entirely.
August 14, 2023
Interesting in an unexpected way.
I just wanted to learn a bit more about the eccentric R. Buckminster Fuller, but this turned out to be more of an interesting commentary on the design of systems for life through stories of RBF's escapades an a short biography. May seem obvious for those who are familiar with RBF, but I was not.
From what I gather, RBF was an obsessive, irrational, indefatigable, inconsistent and wildly imaginative megalomaniac who's ideas captivated, infuriated, and inspired. Though many of his ideas proved untenable, his ability to maintain a unique perspective and persist in challenging traditional methods with unconventional (if unoriginal) alternatives is laudable.
I just wanted to learn a bit more about the eccentric R. Buckminster Fuller, but this turned out to be more of an interesting commentary on the design of systems for life through stories of RBF's escapades an a short biography. May seem obvious for those who are familiar with RBF, but I was not.
From what I gather, RBF was an obsessive, irrational, indefatigable, inconsistent and wildly imaginative megalomaniac who's ideas captivated, infuriated, and inspired. Though many of his ideas proved untenable, his ability to maintain a unique perspective and persist in challenging traditional methods with unconventional (if unoriginal) alternatives is laudable.
June 1, 2025
2.5 rounded down because the last ~40% (about the war games and further design implications) bored me to tears.
Full disclosure, I was/am interested in Bucky Fuller solely because 1) geodesic domes are cool as hell, and 2) I first saw the Dymaxian House at the Henry Ford Museum while on a third-grade field trip and have been on-and-off obsessed with the concept since then lol. Maybe if I had an actual interest or background in design, I would have liked this book more. I do appreciate that this author pulled no punches when it came to describing his subject, though! Bucky was kind of an arrogant asshole and Mr Keats was not afraid to say so!
Full disclosure, I was/am interested in Bucky Fuller solely because 1) geodesic domes are cool as hell, and 2) I first saw the Dymaxian House at the Henry Ford Museum while on a third-grade field trip and have been on-and-off obsessed with the concept since then lol. Maybe if I had an actual interest or background in design, I would have liked this book more. I do appreciate that this author pulled no punches when it came to describing his subject, though! Bucky was kind of an arrogant asshole and Mr Keats was not afraid to say so!
October 3, 2018
In the late 1960s, I was lucky to hear Buckminster Fuller talk at the New York Studio School one Friday evening. He went on for at least 3-½ hours, extemporaneously, brilliantly. I didn't understand ½ of what he was saying, but it was completely compelling. There was a personal commitment to everything he said which was the main thing I walked away with.
Thankfully this book is able to help me understand what Fuller was talking about that night. It's interesting to read nearly 50 years later, put into the context of the 21st century.
Thankfully this book is able to help me understand what Fuller was talking about that night. It's interesting to read nearly 50 years later, put into the context of the 21st century.
February 11, 2021
A great, pithy, thoughtful introduction to Fuller, focusing mostly on his ideas rather than his biography. I found it very useful to read this alongside Fuller's Critical Path, as it lent context, depth and greater understanding to his ideas. Fuller's writing is dense, esoteric, idiosyncratic, and un-user-friendly: This book helped clarify and contextualize him for me, and was also thought-provoking in itself.
July 22, 2021
If you know who Buckminster Fuller is, skip the first half of the book. If you want to learn who Buckminster Fuller is, read a more in-depth biography. If you’re familiar with his work, then you’ll enjoy the second part of the book, which is a modern day analysis of current and postulated scientific advances built upon or inspired by Fuller’s ideas. This book takes the abstraction of Fuller’s theorems, and turns it into realism while discussing its limitations.
November 3, 2024
Good
As much about design and the impact of design as it was about Buckminster Fuller, though it was all tied together at the end. The bio of Buckminster was done by Chapter 6… after that it was about his various designs. I was disappointed that the geodesic dome in Montreal was not mentioned. Interesting stuff!
As much about design and the impact of design as it was about Buckminster Fuller, though it was all tied together at the end. The bio of Buckminster was done by Chapter 6… after that it was about his various designs. I was disappointed that the geodesic dome in Montreal was not mentioned. Interesting stuff!
October 25, 2025
If I hear the word "Dymaxion," one more time I'm going to lose it. The narrator sounds like AI, although I'm pretty sure he's real. DNF roughly halfway, although I pretty much tuned out long before. This is some dull stuff. Not a lot about Fuller here, although he does come off as having been full of ego.
June 1, 2017
I thought the author did a great job of introducing Buckminster Fuller in what seemed to be a well-rounded and unbiased fashion. The author's thoughts on the subject matter are at least as interesting as the subject matter itself.
November 26, 2021
Highly fascination collection of the awe inspiring ideas and inventions of genius and geek Bucky Fuller. I came across some of his weirder concepts decades ago in my esoteric hippie period. Mr. Keats presents an overall view in a very objective way. Excellent introduction into Fuller's universe.
December 6, 2021
A review of the work of Buckminster Fuller that points out his flaws while also looking at what made it interesting and exciting.
The end of the book gets a bit abstract and buzzwordy but the first 90% is really interesting.
The end of the book gets a bit abstract and buzzwordy but the first 90% is really interesting.
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