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Guinea Pig B: The 56 Year Experiment
Published in 1983, this slim volume contains some of Bucky's most shining observations on his 87 years of living on Spaceship Earth. The foreward by Bucky's daughter, Allegra Fuller Snyder, gives us some personal glimpses of this intellectual giant, who applied his mind to developing theories and principles to help guide humans through the naturally occurring evolutionary process of the planet. Contains a full listing of Bucky's patents, honorary doctorates, and published works.
- GenresNonfictionScience
43 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2004
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About the author
R. Buckminster Fuller
132 books773 followersRichard Buckminster "Bucky" Fuller was an American architect, systems theorist, author, designer, and inventor.
Fuller published more than 30 books, coining or popularizing terms such as "Spaceship Earth", ephemeralization, and synergetic. He also developed numerous inventions, mainly architectural designs, and popularized the widely known geodesic dome. Carbon molecules known as fullerenes were later named by scientists for their structural and mathematical resemblance to geodesic spheres.
Buckminster Fuller was the second president of Mensa from 1974 to 1983.
Fuller published more than 30 books, coining or popularizing terms such as "Spaceship Earth", ephemeralization, and synergetic. He also developed numerous inventions, mainly architectural designs, and popularized the widely known geodesic dome. Carbon molecules known as fullerenes were later named by scientists for their structural and mathematical resemblance to geodesic spheres.
Buckminster Fuller was the second president of Mensa from 1974 to 1983.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 24, 2022
Visionary clear thinker. I appreciate how he communicates precisely an integrated big picture with fascinating specifics. Bucky is always interested in engineering with the economic minimums (least pounds of materials, least ergs of energy, in the least seconds of time, etc). He even uses the fewest words & pages to communicate his sustainable future designs.
January 18, 2019
Doug had recommended it to me. Not my type.
September 23, 2011
Just received this book which I ordered from Borders KL. Typical with all of Bucky's books which I have attempted, this is also a challenging read. The difference is the size of the book ensures that I will be finished with a first reading in a few days. As usual, the distinctions I derive from the book will also be changing with every read.
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This is the first book by Bucky that I have managed to finish. Before I congratulate myself, this book was first published as the introduction to “Inventions - the Patented Works of R Buckminster Fuller” (1983). So what I have done is merely finished reading the introduction to one of Bucky’s books.
As the title and subtitle ‘The 56 year experiment’, of the book suggests it is about Bucky’s experiment “to discover what, if anything, an unknown, moneyless individual, with a dependent wife and newborn child, might be able to do effectively on behalf of all humanity that could not be accomplished by great nations, great religions or private enterprise, no matter how rich or powerfully armed.”
In the more than half a century this experiment was being documented until then, Bucky had to expand his knowledge a great deal and unlearn a great deal more.
As can be expected, I ended this first read wondering what I had actually read, but for now I’ll just reflect on this: “...the fact that we are designed to be born naked, helpless and ignorant is, I feel, a very important matter. ...we are quite clearly designed to be inexorably driven to learn only by trial and error. ...that being the only way ...‘how’ we can take advantage of what we have learned from our mistakes.” (from Page 22)
And I just love the way Bucky ends it with, “I hope this book will prove to be an encouraging example of what the little, average human being can do if you have the absolute faith in the eternal cosmic intelligence we call God.”
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This is the first book by Bucky that I have managed to finish. Before I congratulate myself, this book was first published as the introduction to “Inventions - the Patented Works of R Buckminster Fuller” (1983). So what I have done is merely finished reading the introduction to one of Bucky’s books.
As the title and subtitle ‘The 56 year experiment’, of the book suggests it is about Bucky’s experiment “to discover what, if anything, an unknown, moneyless individual, with a dependent wife and newborn child, might be able to do effectively on behalf of all humanity that could not be accomplished by great nations, great religions or private enterprise, no matter how rich or powerfully armed.”
In the more than half a century this experiment was being documented until then, Bucky had to expand his knowledge a great deal and unlearn a great deal more.
As can be expected, I ended this first read wondering what I had actually read, but for now I’ll just reflect on this: “...the fact that we are designed to be born naked, helpless and ignorant is, I feel, a very important matter. ...we are quite clearly designed to be inexorably driven to learn only by trial and error. ...that being the only way ...‘how’ we can take advantage of what we have learned from our mistakes.” (from Page 22)
And I just love the way Bucky ends it with, “I hope this book will prove to be an encouraging example of what the little, average human being can do if you have the absolute faith in the eternal cosmic intelligence we call God.”
November 7, 2014
Very short book that gives you quick but fascinating insights into one of the great minds of the last century. He dedicated his whole adult life to improving humanity, calling it a "50 year experiment", and his accomplishments are pretty inspiring.
September 1, 2012
Again I can't pretend that I understand half of his references but there is something to glean from his writing.
January 24, 2013
hard work..almost gave on SpaceShip Earth _
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews