Alec Nevala-Lee

Thoughts on art, creativity, and the writing life.

Inventing the future

with 8 comments

I realize that I’m well overdue for an update on my new book, Inventor of the Future: The Visionary Life of Buckminster Fuller, which is scheduled to be published by Dey Street Books / HarperCollins on August 2. Yesterday, I delivered my revisions to the copy edit, so I’ve essentially reached the end of a process that has lasted three long and challenging years. The result, I think, is the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s a big book—over six hundred pages including the back matter and index—but Fuller more than justifies it, and I hope that it will appeal to both his existing admirers and readers who are encountering him for the first time. (Even if you’re an obsessive Fuller fan, I can guarantee that there’s a lot here that you haven’t seen before.) I’m also delighted by the cover, which features a remarkable portrait of Fuller by Richard Avedon that has rarely been reproduced elsewhere. Obviously, I’ll have a lot more to say about this over the next few months, so check back soon for more!

Written by nevalalee

February 9, 2022 at 11:19 am

8 Responses

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  1. Very Smart to write a bio of “Bucky” – a surefire winner – sure to justify (pay for) your effort and that of your publisher.

    He’s SO famous (in certain circles) they named a synthetic carbon molecule after him:

    Fullerene (?)

    “Bucky Balls” (same thing?)

    C60

    Be sure to send notice when the book is ready for prime time.

    Jim Susky

    February 11, 2022 at 12:18 pm

  2. There’s a big section in the epilogue about the discovery of the buckyball! It’s a pretty good story.

    nevalalee

    February 11, 2022 at 12:22 pm

  3. Congratulations. I hope the editing and revision process was a little easier on you this time.

    Mark Pontin

    June 14, 2022 at 12:09 pm

  4. It’s never too easy, but I think it went pretty well. And I’m really happy with how it turned out—thanks!

    nevalalee

    June 14, 2022 at 6:10 pm

  5. What about the ” conservation of the integrity of eternel regeneration of Universe? And do you talk about Universe vs The Universe? :)

    Claude Saint-Jarre

    June 28, 2022 at 10:28 am

  6. Well, I do quote Fuller’s friend E.J. Applewhite: “For Fuller, nature—like integrity and principle—is abstract and generalized and thus never capitalized. Universe is a place like Pleasantville or Baltimore and deserves a capital letter.”

    nevalalee

    June 28, 2022 at 10:30 am

  7. Can’t thank you enough. I’ve always wondered who he really was and now I have a much better idea!

    randomeshelter

    August 9, 2022 at 4:25 pm

  8. That’s great to hear—thanks so much!

    nevalalee

    August 9, 2022 at 4:27 pm


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