Enlightened Entrepreneurialism: A Conversation with Margaret Jacob

Description

This book is based on an in-depth conversation between Howard Burton and Margaret Jacob, Distinguished Professor of History at UCLA. Topics examined during this extensive conversation include Margaret Jacob's motivations to become a historian and her comprehensive analysis of the history of the Industrial Revolution and interpretation of the major economic motivations on the ground, comparing daily life experiences in England, France, Belgium and the Netherlands. A sophisticated understanding of the past naturally involves a composite approach that marries economic motivations with associated cultural factors of educational trends, religious influences and scientific and technological awareness, and more. This carefully-edited book includes an introduction, Measuring Motivations, and questions for discussion at the end of each chapter: Historical Origins - Rebel-turned scholar Decrypting Newton - From physics to theology Beyond the Numbers - Searching for causes Apprenticeship - Pivotal time to develop Religion and Geography - Unitarianism and other factors Theory vs. Practice - France's surprising underdevelopment Lessons Learned? - Towards cultivating the innovative spirit History Today? - Reflections on research and teaching Past and Future - New books and bizarre faucets Righting Wrongs, Slowly - Gender discrimination in the academy About Ideas Roadshow Conversations Series (100 books): Presented in an accessible, conversational format, Ideas Roadshow books not only explore frontline academic research featuring world-leading researchers, including 3 Nobel Laureates, but also reveal the inspirations and personal journeys behind the research. Howard Burton holds a PhD in physics and an MA in philosophy, and was the Founding Director of Canada's Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.