A VC - Latest Comments in The Invention Of Air

Re: The Invention Of Air

fredwilson — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:15:26 -0000

Yeah. Its a good read in the context of what's going on now

Re: The Invention Of Air

Matthew Putman — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:10:15 -0000

Thanks for giving him this support. I just finished reading "Invention of Air", and found it inspiring, especially as a rational, creative solution to the creation of a society is something that we can all learn from.

Re: The Invention Of Air

$10074 — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:01:32 -0000

There's a statue in Birstall Leeds, not more than 50 yards from where I'm sat to the memory of Joseph Preistly erected from 'public subscription'...

Re: The Invention Of Air

fredwilson — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:47:21 -0000

Yes, it's about that for sure, but also about a lot more, like all of
Steven's books

Re: The Invention Of Air

Michael Lisse — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:22:34 -0000

I'll second Steve Kane's comment; James Burke has written extensively and eloquently on the subject of history and technology advances...his best is still the original Connections.

Re: The Invention Of Air

gruvr music map — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:53:11 -0000

oooh! Is this about the un-discovery of Phlogiston?? I am always telling that story to illustrate how beliefs and paradigms shift to fit new facts, prior to which all facts supported the now invalidated belief system.

But that story comes from Kuhn's STructure of Scientific Revolutions, which is a classic but a bit tedious reading to recommend it. I would love a more recent look at the whole philosophy of science and maybe this is just the book. Wishlisted, thanks!

Re: The Invention Of Air

Brian — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:42:04 -0000

I was paraphrasing Officer Brady from South Park

The quote is "Nothing to see here. Please move along." A way of saying tongue in cheek "Not going to happen." We are not going to make any great strides of changing humanity like the founders did.

If I accept your premise, Obama would be the Washington of this outfit.

Where are the Adams, Jeffersons, Franklins, and Hamiltons?

There are none of these figures in our government and none in the public media sphere.

I blame campaign finance reform.

Re: The Invention Of Air

Aruni S. Gunasegaram — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:40:57 -0000

Funny how Joseph Priestly was able to discover oxygen while being a clergyman, political activist, and advisor to three great men...yet you advised Steven Johnson to wait to write his book because you felt he should not write a book and be CEO of a company at the same time. Some people do things sequentially and some do things in parallel.

It's true that epic breakthroughs happen when 'energy flows' and often in the spaces between the notes.

Bon Voyage! Have some great wine and cheese while you are there...

Aruni

Re: The Invention Of Air

gerry campbell — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:45:05 -0000

I can't wait to read the book. I have been boring my friends and family about Cholera since I read Ghostmap last summer.

And I completely agree with your take on the times we're in. There's no doubt in my mind. Many of our institutions and approaches we have relied on for the past who-knows-how-many-years are transforming. The foundations of our economic, political and social world are changing.

There is a precedent in science, philosophy, etc that new ideas are often thought up at the same moment in different places (that's what the quote is about...). Good time to be in emerging technology and media. Huge positive impact to be made.

Props to Mark and Steven. Very impressed with what you're doing with outside.in.

Safe and fun travels to you Fred.

Gerry

Re: The Invention Of Air

Brian — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:16:31 -0000

I am assuming you mean "Epic Breakthroughs" as a new and positive thing.

I do not think we are in that kind of moment now. Our public intellectuals and government leaders need to get their act together. No renaissance men (or women) here. Please move along.

Re: The Invention Of Air

fredwilson — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:19:20 -0000

Please move along? To where? I am all ears

Re: The Invention Of Air

Ethan Bauley — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:57:46 -0000

Joseph Priestly reminds me of another brilliant renaissance-man, the 20th century American composer Charles Ives.

Ives was a child musical prodigy, became incredibly wealthy as an entrepreneurial insurance executive at Mutual Life, and composed dozens of brilliant pieces, including full-on symphonies that rival any (Beethoven, etc) in terms of innovation and sheer beauty.

This post also reminds me of a thought I had this weekend, which was: the Constitution is a beautiful work of design.

Thanks Fred! Enjoy Paris...

Re: The Invention Of Air

aarondelcohen — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:49:50 -0000

Update;

Steve is speaking in DC at Poltics and prose bookstore
Monday, January 5, 7 p.m.
STEVEN JOHNSON
THE INVENTION OF AIR (Riverhead, $25.95) Audio
Joseph Priestley was a radical eighteenth century scientist who discovered oxygen, but he was more than a “mere” scientist. He was an outspoken advocate of the American and French Revolutions and had to flee to the new United States. Science writer Steven Johnson (Mind Wide Open) is the perfect biographer for this polymath.

Re: The Invention Of Air

Riaz Kanani — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:41:45 -0000

interesting quirk in disqus here.. I wrote the comment 10 minutes ago and you are showing as replying 1 hour ago..

Re: The Invention Of Air

Riaz Kanani — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:30:09 -0000

Hopefully the company is doing well too! The book sounds like an interesting read.. <added>

Re: The Invention Of Air

aarondelcohen — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:59:57 -0000

Good Stuff Fred and even better stuff Steve. Fred, this reminds me of one of Antonio Gramsci's ideas about Interregnums. Literally between kings or regimes. He used that word to describe the time old decaying institutions' (in his case Italian Fascism and Aristocracy) death and the rise of something new. I'm going to connect Steve and my Mom and make sure he speaks at Politics and Prose in DC although he might be already.

Aaron

Re: The Invention Of Air

fredwilson — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:38:21 -0000

They are doing well

Re: The Invention Of Air

Steve Kane — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:11:04 -0000

Priestly was a unique individual, a devoted evangelical Christian theologian who also avidly supported religious tolerance and scientific inquiry, whose house and church was burned down by a mob forcing him to flee his country, owing to his vehement defense of the French Revolution.

If anyone wants further reading and viewing, Priestly figures prominently in the books and videos of one of our great modern science historians (and one of my all time favorite authors and filmmakers) James Burke:

http://www.amazon.com/Circl...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Re: The Invention Of Air

fredwilson — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:34:20 -0000

Yup. He was a seriously talented individual. You should get this book steve. You'll enjoy it

Re: The Invention Of Air

gregorylent — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 08:46:18 -0000

yes, a paradigm shift is underway .. steve's writing first caught my attention with his article on the cognition advantage of computer game playing .. glad he was able to go further with this interest of his .

Re: The Invention Of Air

Stu Rich — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:21:28 -0000

I hope we are in that kind of moment right now Fred.