About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherBloomsbury Publishing USA

ISBN-10080271529X

ISBN-139780802715296

eBay Product ID (ePID)16038824755

Product Key Features

LanguageEnglish

TopicTransportation, Science, Biography & Autobiography, Antiques & Collectibles, Navigation, Earth Sciences / Geography, Clocks & Watches, Time, Science & Technology

AuthorDava Sobel

IllustratorYes

Dimensions

Item Length7.4 In.

Item Height0.7 In.

Item Weight6.3 Oz

Item Width4.6 In.

Additional Product Features

Book TitleLongitude : The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time

Dewey Decimal681.1/18/092

Intended AudienceTrade

SynopsisThe dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of one man's forty-year obsession to find a solution to the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day--"the longitude problem.", The dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of one man's forty-year obsession to find a solution to the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day--"the longitude problem." Anyone alive in the eighteenth century would have known that "the longitude problem" was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day-and had been for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Thousands of lives and the increasing fortunes of nations hung on a resolution. One man, John Harrison, in complete opposition to the scientific community, dared to imagine a mechanical solution-a clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had ever been able to do on land. Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of Harrison's forty-year obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. Full of heroism and chicanery, it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking, and opens a new window on our world.

Edition Number10

Publication Year2007

Dewey Edition21

FormatPerfect

ReviewsAs much a tale of intrigue as it is of science...A book full of gems for anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and--not the least--plain old human ambition and greed., For anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and -- not the least -- plain old human ambition and greed. , "This is a gem of a book."- Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York Times "A simple tale, brilliantly told."- Washington Post Book World "As much a tale of intrigue as it is of scienceâ€¦A book full of gems for anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and-not the least-plain old human ambition and greed." - Philadelphia Inquirer "Only someone with Dava Sobel's unusual background in both astronomy and psychology could have written it. Longitude is a wonderful story, wonderfully told."- Diane Ackerman, author of A Natural History of the Senses "The marine chronometer is a glorious and fascinating object, but it is not a simple one, and its explanation calls for a writer as skilled with words as the watchmakers were with their tools; happily such a writer has been found in Dava Sobel."- Patrick O'Brian, author of The Commodore and the Aubrey/Maturin series, " A simple tale, brilliantly told. " & -- Washington Post Book World " A gem of a book. " -- The New York Times " As much a tale of intrigue as it is of science ... for anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and -- not the least -- plain old human ambition and greed. " & -- Philadelphia Inquirer " Intricate and elegant ... No novelist could improve on the elements of Dava Sobel ' s Longitude . " & -- Newsweek, Only someone with Dava Sobel's unusual background in both astronomy and psychology could have written it. Longitude is a wonderful story, wonderfully told., Praise for Longitude : "This is a gem of a book."- Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York Times "A simple tale, brilliantly told."- Washington Post Book World "As much a tale of intrigue as it is of scienceâ€¦A book full of gems for anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and-not the least-plain old human ambition and greed." - Philadelphia Inquirer "Only someone with Dava Sobel's unusual background in both astronomy and psychology could have written it. Longitude is a wonderful story, wonderfully told."- Diane Ackerman, author of A Natural History of the Senses "The marine chronometer is a glorious and fascinating object, but it is not a simple one, and its explanation calls for a writer as skilled with words as the watchmakers were with their tools; happily such a writer has been found in Dava Sobel."- Patrick O'Brian, author of The Commodore and the Aubrey/Maturin series, "This is a gem of a book." -- Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, New York Times "A simple tale, brilliantly told." -- Washington Post Book World "As much a tale of intrigue as it is of science...A book full of gems for anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and--not the least--plain old human ambition and greed." -- Philadelphia Inquirer "Only someone with Dava Sobel's unusual background in both astronomy and psychology could have written it. Longitude is a wonderful story, wonderfully told." -- Diane Ackerman, author of A Natural History of the Senses "The marine chronometer is a glorious and fascinating object, but it is not a simple one, and its explanation calls for a writer as skilled with words as the watchmakers were with their tools; happily such a writer has been found in Dava Sobel." -- Patrick O'Brian, author of The Commodore and the Aubrey/Maturin series, The marine chronometer is a glorious and fascinating object, but it is not a simple one, and its explanation calls for a writer as skilled with words as the watchmakers were with their tools; happily such a writer has been found in Dava Sobel., Praise for "Longitude" "This is a gem of a book."--Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, "New York Times ""A simple tale, brilliantly told."--"Washington Post Book World ""As much a tale of intrigue as it is of science...A book full of gems for anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and--not the least--plain old human ambition and greed." --"Philadelphia Inquirer ""Only someone with Dava Sobel's unusual background in both astronomy and psychology could have written it. "Longitude "is a wonderful story, wonderfully told."--Diane Ackerman, author of "A Natural History of the Senses ""The marine chronometer is a glorious and fascinating object, but it is not a simple one, and its explanation calls for a writer as skilled with words as the watchmakers were with their tools; happily such a writer has been found in Dava Sobel."--Patrick O'Brian, author of "The Commodore "and the Aubrey/Maturin series

LC Classification NumberQB225.S64 2007

Number of Pages208 pages