A Measure of All Things: The Story of Man and Measurement
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Book Overview
Every wonder how long a cubit really is? How much is in a hogshead and what it refers to? Or the difference between a light year, a parsec and a Planck length? How many pings there are in an acre and who uses which term in what context? Every wonder where all these terms and formats came from and how they are used? Well, wonder no more In the tradition of Schott's Miscellany, A Measure of All Things is a well-researched page-turning, illustrated look at the way things concrete and theoretical are and have been measured. It ranges from the history of measurement systems (from the earliest times to the present) to the different classes of measurements (length, area, volume, mass, time, temparature, speed, power, energy, pressure and everyday, unscientific measurements). A Measure of All Things covers the origins of the various units of measurement, the ways in which they developed and changed over time, and the many connections between them.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0312370261
ISBN13:9780312370268
Release Date:August 2007
Publisher:St. Martin's Press
Length:160 Pages
Weight:0.90 lbs.
Dimensions:0.9" x 6.1" x 8.5"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
A Fascinating Romp Through the World of Measurement
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
When I first leafed through this book, I got the impression that it was simply a listing of various units used in the measurement of various quantities. However, upon closer examination, I realized that it was much more that. For each of the various units that are discussed, the author gives its historical origin, its evolution and its current standing. In eleven chapters, the author covers everything from length, area and volume to energy, radioactivity and lasers. The last chapter covers miscellaneous topics such as the perceived hotness of chili peppers, the hardness of various materials and ring sizes. The writing style is very clear, authoritative and friendly. Although anyone would be fascinated by this book, it would likely be most enjoyed by science buffs - especially those with a passion for the physical sciences.
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