5 Fuller’s Earth
6 A Day with Bucky and the Kids
7 by Richard J. Brenneman
8 St. Martin’s Press
9 NEW YORK
10 ISBN-10: 0-312-30981-3
11 Updated: 2024-03-25 21:20
1718Aware that Buckminster Fuller’s philosophic prose often intimidates readers (who assume they could never understand him), and that Bucky, on the contrary, repeatedly insisted that any child could follow his reasoning, Richard Brenneman had the brilliant notion of bringing Bucky together with three children---a 10-year-old girl and two 12-year-old boys. Fuller’s assignment: to explain to the children his vision of how the universe works and answer any questions they had.
19The book that resulted from this encounter is a remarkable document of a very remarkable man. Not only the simplest exposition of Bucky’s radical world view---which even children could (and did) understand---it is perhaps the most lovable and personal portrait ever produced of the man who has been called ‘‘the planet’s friendly genius.’’
20 (continued on back flap)
21 Drawings and photos by the author.
22 Fuller’s Earth: A Day with Bucky and the Kids.
23 Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6 copyright © 1984 by Richard J. Brenneman. Chapters 3, 4 copyright © 1984 by Richard J. Brennenman and R. Buckminster Fuller. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
24 ‘‘Memories of Bucky’’ by Norman Cousins. © 1983 Saturday Review Magazine Company, Inc. Reprinted by permission.
25 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
26 Fuller, R. Buckminster (Richard Buckminster), 1895--1983
Fuller’s earth. Bibliography: p.
Includes index.
27 1. Technology---Social aspects. 2. Civilization.
28 I. Brenneman, Richard J. II. Title.
29 T14.5.F934 1984 620 83-19219
30 ISBN 0-312-30981-3
31 First Edition
32 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
33 With humility and gratitude I dedicate this book:
34 ---To Richard Buckminster Fuller, for his extraordinary dedication to humanity and for his enthusiastic desire to share his thoughts through this book,
35 ---To Laura Shelton Brenneman, for the love and gentle encouragement without which this work would never have been published, and
36 ---To my parents, for everything.
37 I would also like to thank Benjamin Mack, Rachel Myrow, and Jonathan Nesmith for their invaluable role in this project, and for being the bright lights they really are. Special thanks are due also to James H. Craft, a remarkable teacher who imparted to at least one student his love of language.
38
--- Richard J. Brenneman
Davis, California
July 5, 1983