Longitude
The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of his Time
Ratings47
Average rating4.1
15
The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of his Time
Ratings47
Average rating4.1
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.
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Ultimately, not the most riveting of topics, however, I couldn't help but be amazed by the world we live in today. Things that we take for granted (GPS, satellite imaging, longitudinal information, etc.) today regularly take on issues that were argued about and were huge concerns for the nations of old.
Additionally, the author mentioned something about money and it just got me thinking how much scientific advancement and even just scientific exploration was done in the name of money and how many projects and ideas were never explored because it wasn't profitable to someone.
A decidedly subjective narrativization that turns history into an allegory for how established power structures might hinder progress, that’s open enough about the fact that it’s a story about history more than anything else to make it into an entertaining read full of anecdotes for the next party smalltalk and/or business pitch meeting.
Probably a 3.5. It is a short book. I enjoyed it, though I already knew the tale. Something in the telling held me back from really loving the book. Certainly, I have read more engrossing telling of historical events.
Enjoyed this a lot, opened a window into an interesting bit of British scientific history, and as someone who's rather accidentally into watches it had a particular interest. A bit meandering, a bit partisan, but engaging and easy to read. Would recommend!
