Nine Chains to the Moon

The title derives from a statistical cartoon: “If … all of the people of the world were to stand upon one another’s shoulders, they would make nine complete chains between the earth and the moon. If it is not so far to the moon, then it is not so far to the limits—whatever, whenever or wherever they may be.” This is Fuller’s first book and one of the few he wrote as a book and not as a composite of articles, transcripts, or letters. Many of his original and lifelong metaphors and strategies were introduced in this volume. A projected final chapter, “From Bibble to Bible to Babble,” was rejected by the publishers because its concrete poetry format was deemed too radical for inclusion in a trade book. The end papers anticipate the Dymaxion airocean world map. There are five appendices documenting Fuller’s virtuosity in large patterns: (1) on the chronology of scientific events from the ancient world to 1936; (2) coincidence of U.S. population centers with isotherm of 32° F; (3) U.S. to become world’s greatest exporter; (4) world copper production and consumption; and (5) growth of U.S. industry correlated with inventions.

Description by Ed Applewhite, courtesy of The Estate of Buckminster Fuller