Twin Tracks: The Unexpected Origins of the Modern World

by James Burke

Twin Tracks is a landmark book of real-world stories that investigates the nature of change and divines as never before the unlikely origins of many aspects of contemporary life. In each of the work's twenty-five narratives, we discover how the different outcomes of an important historical event in the past often come together again in the future.
Each chapter starts with an event -- such as the U.S. attack on Tripoli in 1804 -- that generates two divergent series of consequences. After tracking each pathway as it ranges far and wide through time and space, Burke shows how the paths finally and unexpectedly converge in the modern world.
Twin Tracks pinpoints the myriad ways the future is shaped, whether by love, war, accident, genius, or discovery. For instance, in "The Marriage of Figaro to Stealth Fighter," Burke's twin tracks start with the composer of the opera and the French spy from whose play he stole the plot. The tracks then encompass, among other things, freemasonry, the War of Independence, Captain Cook, jellyfish, Jane Austen, and audio tape. Ultimately, the convergence of the two Figaro tracks sets the stage for the development of Gulf War Stealth aircraft.
Wonderfully accessible and lucidly written, Twin Tracks offers an amusing and instructive new view of the past and the future.

Genres: History, Science, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

James Burke is a Northern Irish science historian, author and television producer best known for his documentary television series called Connections, focusing on the history of science and technology leavened with a sense of humour.

Reviews

[Margaret · Rating 1 out of 5]

How horrible! James Burke was at his best in Connections I, but this hardly seems the same man. Apart for a penchant for (how shall I say this?) connections, this book has nothing to do with the exciting and thought-provoking causal chains laid out in Connections I. It's more like a poorly-played game of six degrees of separation. It goes like this: Start from one point, and see if you can get to another point by following a dinky daisy-chain of who's-who in the time period. While you feel very intelligent for recognizing most of the names along the chain, some of the links (two authors shared the same publisher? Two noted figures probably attended the same salon? Really, Mr. Burke!)

This should not be taken as an indication that you should not watch Connections, which is excellent, entertaining, and thought-provoking. This is just obnoxious.

[David Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting! He repeatedly traces two connections between events in past history and a modern item or concept of today. For example, how the US attack on the Tripoli pirates in 1804 lead to the invention of fishsticks, how a fake collection of epic Gaelic verse published in 1760 lead to organ transplants, or how the Boston Tea Party lead to contact lenses, etc.

And 22 other examples.

(For the computer folk, he traces how the British Empire's revival of long-dead Sanskrit in India lead to cybernetics.)

Note: the connections aren't necessarily causal. Sometimes a "connection" along a path might be no more than one person was at the same party as some other person, or had been or was or becomes boyfriend or girlfriend of some other person. (Although the author might mention things along the way that connect to still other things - such as how the fake collection of Gaelic verse started the Romantic movement.)

The interesting thing about each connection he traces is that outside of beginning and ending at the same events/concepts, there are no connections between the two. Two sequences start and finish at the same time, but otherwise don't connect with each other.

It appears to be intended to connect with his other books such as Connections, Knowledge Web, and Circles Fifty Roundtrips Through History Technology Science Culture.

It's a book I'm keeping!

[Marianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly, I must agree with Margaret's one-star review (2008). Burke's Connections is inspired and always worth seeing/reading (1978). But this collection is almost silly; perhaps it offers good review for Trivia (UK edition), and it's obvious Burke had much fun pulling these together. IF there were actual connections between the originating incidents and the final "connections" -- that would make a fabulous read. But there aren't. As Margaret says, each chapter is an intricate exercise in six degrees of separation (try ten, twenty, plus degrees) that leaves you un-impressed and wondering "why did I put so much effort in following this?" As is obvious, I couldn't finish it, but I did skim the rest and give it a chance. Go watch Connections instead.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this book and took away some interesting facts, but I enjoyed the "connections" show's format better than the twin tracks laid out in this book. The book connects to seemingly unrelated events or discoveries through two series of events. Some of the connections were dubious and many of them were used repeatedly throughout the book, but it was an interested collection of facts.

Two notes on the e-book (Kindle version): the books was easier to read than the hard copy, as the twin tracks are laid out sequentially, not on opposing pages as with the hard copy. Also, due to the extensive number of citations, the book is almost 1/3 endnotes, which is hard to tell when you are reading it on a kindle.

[Heather Klebs · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was pretty interesting, though there were quite a few incidents and people I would have liked more information on (though I guess that wouldn't go with the theme of the book). I'd now like to read more of James Burke's stuff.

I didn't like the format (TRACK 1s on even pages, TRACK 2s on odd pages-- you have to turn back to the beginning of the chapter when you finish TRACK 1), but I hear that isn't a problem with the Kindle edition.

I'd recommend this book if you enjoy history and/or trivia.

[William Crosby · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collection of twin essays relating an historical event to an unlikely later outcome (e.g. starting with Boston Tea Party and ending in contact lenses).

That is an intriguing concept.

However, the writing is boring (mostly a list) and there is no causation, but only six degrees of association. This gets tedious fast. Still, in some ways, this is a clever, well researched list of associations. (That's why a 2 instead of a 1 star.)

The subtitle, "Unexpected origins of the modern world" implies causation. Not.

[Knemlich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another clever way to tell the stories of scientific discovery and societal innovation. With each chapter starting with a single path, Burke divides the tales into two simultaneous stories, which re-unite at the end of the chapter. Clever, entertaining, and always informative.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Burke continues his look at people and technology. How we got from the beginning to today. He also writes creatively using dual narratives that meet in the middle. Excellent learning and excellent book.

[Nick Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anything by James Burke will give you something to waste a day with.