The Ascent Of Man by Jacob Bronowski (PDF)

Description

Dr Jacob Bronowksi’s The Ascent of Man traces the development of human society through our understanding of science.First published in 1973 to accompany the groundbreaking BBC television series, it is considered one of the first works of ‘popular science’, illuminating the historical and social context of scientific development for a generation of readers. In his highly accessible style, Dr Bronowski discusses human invention from the flint tool to geometry, agriculture to genetics, and from alchemy to the theory of relativity, showing how they all are expressions of our ability to understand and control nature.In this new paperback edition, The Ascent of Man inspires, influences and informs as profoundly as ever.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Jacob Bronowski’s The Ascent of Man was one of several documentary style miniseries that created a market for and set the standard for thoughtful television programs of the type we should expect from the History Channel or Arts and Entertainment. The Ascent of Man along with the Civilization Series, Connections, and Cosmos proved that there was a large market for intellectually challenging and enlightening discussion extending over many weeks and many topics. These were not the first efforts in this direction, I can remember Leonard Bernstein doing televised lectures about music some time before the above mentioned programs but these took hold and proved that there was in fact a market for quality programming.This however is a review of a text only version. This book reprodes Prof. Bronowski’s lectures with very few of the visuals. In these lectures, rather 13 chapters the reader is taken from the beginning of man as a social, culturally artistic and technologically inventive being up into at least the 1970s, when this book was first published, and what was then emerging as the DNA driven understanding of human biology.I am deeply impressed with the depth and breath of the authors intellect plus his immense skill with English. He was Polish born and did not come to English until he was much older. His original background shifted from a specialty in the mathematics of physics into a later career in biology while gaining recognition as a poet, historian, philosopher and (this is new to me) a “theater author”. All of these skills were powerfully displayed in the television series and this is the source of my reservation over a fifth star for the book. My memories of this program from almost 30 years ago are tied to what were then some very high-tech graphics. The absence of the visuals affected my ability to appreciate the text. The power of Bronowski’s language is here; unfortunately the text has not been scrubbed of all references to the images not carried over into the text.Others have mentioned that science is moved forward, indeed leaped forward since this text was put in print. It is remarkable how much of what is here remains valid in itself or at least as a document of where our understanding was before it got to where it is. The very name of the book suggests that human progress his ongoing. A major theme of this book is that a failure to press ahead represents an ending for that culture but not an ending for human progress.Accepting that some of the science is dated, my recommendation is based on the powerful use of language and the opportunity to spend time with a deeply thoughtful and passionate thinker

⭐I am writing this review a bit differently from most I have written. I’m doing to start with the down sides. This is more that a bit dated. The book was published in 1973, and quite a few things in science have happened since then. Second, the book was written to accompany the original BBC television series, and at times it is very obvious that this is actually a transcript of what Dr. Bronowski is saying on the television. Although there are illustrations in the book, at times the reader just has to imagine what one might see on the screen. Now, that said, I still found this a fascinating and enjoyable book. Dr. Bronowski traces the human passion for controlling and predicting the world through the various epochs of science, literally beginning at the beginning and going as far as he could in 1973. He makes interesting connections, and I must say, as much as I have read in the philosophy of science, there were still times when I thought, “Hum, I had never thought of it that way.” I may go back now and watch the DVDs of the original broadcasts. Even if you don’t chose to do that, if you have any interest at all in how we humans came to be the creative creatures we are, you will enjoy this book.

⭐A good introduction to myselfThat was what it is: a jolly good introduction to anybody, to me, to you, and to Jacob Bronski, even to Albert Einstein. Path of development of man from original living cell millions of years ago to the bearer of brain more ingenious than the latest brand of computer available. All in thirteen steps on the Earth. A battle for survival of the fittest. An unbroken chain of getting food and shelter to enable physical and psychic steps forward to the final unknown destiny of man.Somehow I expected more mathematical proof than this enormous amount of intuition in finding factual evidence all over in the world and quite close to anybody.Up to the last moment I had in mind four stars, but how can I deny in the end five? So much satisfaction did it give, so five stars to Jacob Bronowski.

⭐I share Bronowski’s view that science is a creative process and this creativity has been at the heart of the ascent of man. A lot of what he says is all the more relevant today when funding in science has been consistently cut and — because of extreme “evolutionary pressures” to seize on the few remaining scraps — this direction has led to an oversized, overhyped effort at incremental progress (at best) and fiefdoms.The book follows closely with the BBC series from which it was derived, but there are a few minor considerations for the fact that it is a book. Yet most of what he says in that work is worth reading and remembering. As a starting point for further research, it has a considerable wealth of information in the bibliography to help dig deeper into each of the 13 topics presented in this series. Whereas I find a lot to agree with Bronowski, even some of the things I can perhaps find a little questionable, he seems like a voice worth hearing. Bronowski strikes me as a compassionate man of science who sought to understand the world and how creativity and culture influence progress and human understanding.

⭐The Ascent of Man ( Bronowski)Turn on any TV these days and there will be channels with one of more history or arts programmes. Some 49 years ago a second BBC TV channel was born (BBC2) – in colour , 625 not 405 lines – and the first of a series of blockbuster arts and science programmes were born as part of this channels remit. Following the 1969 (Lord) Kenneth Clark presentation “ Civilisation” – a personal view – covering Art , Architecture , Industrial developments and intellectual ideas of the Western world , the decision was taken for a science series on the evolution of man to be created / narrated by Dr Jacob Bronowski ( Mathematician and physicist) , entitled the Ascent of Man in 13 x 1h programmes. This was finally screened on BBC2 in 1973 A book of the series was also written based on the scripts of the series. The hardback book contains both script and illustrations and can be obtained as good quality second hand ,for very reasonable prices..A book allows stopping , pausing , thinking , reversing and rereading the text but for those who want the full visual experience ( film/TV presentation being intrinsically different to books with the sight , sounds , narration and a flowing story line to hold the attention) there is a DVD transfer copy .The quality is reasonable given the date but may not be to the taste of everyone brought up on digital sharpness and colour Quality. I can still recommend both as an example of the thoughts and presentation of the timesRate 5 star as a classic example of its time.

⭐The late 1960s and early 1970s saw the rise of the blockbuster documentary series, such as ‘The World at War’, with Laurence Olivier’s chilling narration, ‘Alistair Cooke’s America’ and ‘Civilisation’, presented by Lord Kenneth Clark (father of the scurrilous diarist, Alan Clark). Professor Jacob Bronowski, renowned principally as an academic mathematician, conceived his own series, ‘The Ascent of Man’ as a match for Clark’s ‘Civilisation’, presenting the development of human understanding and application of science.The book is an almost verbatim transcription of Bronowski’s series which was notable for his clear, readily accessible explanations of seminal moments in the history of scientific progress right from the earliest exploits of primeval man, through to theoretical physics and the commencement of the exploration of space. Even more impressive was the fact that most of Bronowski’s eloquent disquisitions were entirely unscripted.Though his own discipline was that of mathematics, Bronowski displays an enviable ability to convey complicated subjects in a manner understood by the layman. He is not reluctant to take on some of the more complex and daunting subjects, but he manages to render even Einstein’s theories of relativity into a sufficiently digestible form.He shows great sensitivity throughout building each chapter through a series of simple, logical steps to give a concise history of the development of a different aspect of modern science. The book was published more than forty years ago, so the frontiers of research in each discipline have been pushed to lengths that Bronowski could not have foreseen. His book, however, remains surprisingly current because he focuses on scientific methodology and trends in innovative thought, all portrayed with a compelling directness and simplicity.

⭐This book is a brilliant set of ‘essays’ that accompanied the BBC TV series in 1973. Bronowski evaluates the development of man’s understanding of the world in terms of scientific knowledge, its technological applications and their of impact on humanity. Knowledge and understanding of the world is of little value without considering their links to the human condition. Bronowski delves into these with rigour and an enthusiasm for each topic; revealing insights with the clarity and depth of his own thinking yet at the same time presenting his ideas in a clearly understandable style. The Majestic Clockwork chapter is an excellent example of these characteristics with an exposition of Einstein’s theory of relativity presented with logical step by step thinking and clearly illustrated with practical and living examples.I was given the book when it was first published and was delighted to see that it was available on Kindle. I can now take it with me at all times. The experience of watching the televised series and reading this book is uplifting and refreshing. Although the book was published to accompany the TV programmes it stands independently as a purposeful read in itself. it is the book for my Desert Island choice.

⭐An incredible run through some of the key highlights from mans scientific history. Although the topics covered are varied, in every essay you can almost feel the beating of Brownowski’s heart. He was an incredible human and an incredible storyteller. His vision of human history is intensely coloured by his own humanity.

⭐Despite being written in 1973 I would highly recommend this book and the DVD of the television series. A thoroughly informing personal view of the scientific advancement of the human species. The content of Chapter 13 concerning science, politics and education is as relevant today as it was in 1973.

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