Buckminster Fullers fame reached its peak in the 1960s and 1970s; when his visionary experiments struck a chord with the counterculture and his charismatic personality provided the media with a good story--that of a genius who could play the role of artist; scientist; and entrepreneur all at once. In Becoming Bucky Fuller; Loretta Lorance shows that Fullers career did not begin with the lofty goals hailed by his admirers; and that; in fact; Fullers image as guru and prophet was as carefully constructed as a geodesic dome. Fuller (1895-1983) determined early on how the story of his life in the 1920s and 1930s should be portrayed. But; drawing on a close reading of Fullers personal papers (in particular; the multivolume scrapbook; Chronofile); Lorance looks at Fullers first independent project; the Dymaxion House; and finds that what really happened differs from the authorized version. According to Fuller himself and most secondary sources; after a series of personal crises in the 1920s--including the death of his young daughter; thoughts of suicide; and a "year of silence" during which he pondered his purpose in life--Fuller resolved to devote himself to the betterment of society by offering the public economical; efficient; modern manufactured housing. But the private papers tell a different story; one of his initial motivations for designing the Dymaxion House was simply to make money from its manufacture. When that didnt work; Fuller began to emphasize its possibilities rather than its practicalities. By the mid-1930s; Lorance shows; Fuller the public figure had gone from being an entrepreneur with a product to being a visionary with an idea. He had become Bucky Fuller.
#1941293 in eBooks 2013-11-11 2013-11-11File Name: B00MFWFMCW
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Essential Welles ReadingBy Michael DempseyJoseph McBride spent some 30 years being involved as an actor in Orson Welles still-in-limbo movie; "The Other Side Of The Wind." Thus; he is in a unique position to deliver a thorough report on its sadly checkered history; and he more than delivers. He also puts paid to the trite; false notion that Welles spend his final years idling on trivia or diddling with commercials. This book provides a detailed explanation of just what he was doing in so many media and how explosively creative he remained.The reports on his woes as he tried repeatedly to raise completion funds for these many projects; which now exist (if at all) in fragmentary form; are disheartening; but they are balanced by McBrides portrait of Welles unconquerable spirit despite the stunning array of obstacles he faced. McBride likewise drives a stake through the heart of the so-often uttered theory that Welles had some pathological fear of completion; which is allegedly why so many of these projects remained unfinished at his death. The truth is significantly more complex; as this book shows.Despite the authors association with Welles; he hasnt written a hagiography; theres plenty in this volume about the great mans less than admirable attributes and behavior. But McBride makes it abundantly clear that Welles was; in all likelihood; American and perhaps world cinemas greatest; most creative filmmaker to date.There are many books about Welles in print ("Oh; how theyll love me after Im dead;" he reportedly commented in a mordant vein); but dont think that this abundance makes this one unnecessary. Its; in fact; indispensable reading for anyone who knows or cares about the work of Orson Welles -- and that means anyone who knows anything in a serious way about movies.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. very enlightingBy KayI have been a fan of his for years and years. Of several books Ive read about him I think this is the best. I havent had time to finish it yet but I do like the way the author gives his reason for leaving America and filming in Europe is that Amercans/Hollywood were so surpressed at the time. Every discription of him so far has been very enlighting.14 of 16 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating and informativeBy Sean G. GraverWhile I might be biased because a many parts of this book included stories about my father; Gary Graver; this is not something you want to miss out on if you have any interest in Orson Welles or the inner workings of the Hollywood movie industry. I knew Orson when I was a young boy and teenager during the time my father worked with him; but my memories are nothing compared to the vivid details and thoroughness of Joes writings.This book taught me a lot about a man whom I admired and feared. He was rather scary from the perspective of a ten year old; but he often took time to have me sit with him while he taught me card tricks. I am so grateful that these stories are now available for everyone to read. Thank you Joe for your commitment in documenting what no one else ever has and sharing these wonderful stories.
