Book 4 - Dava Sobel "Longitude"

[jazzy_dave]

Dava Sobel "Longitude" (Fourth Estate)






This is a hard book to categorize. Is it history or science? In the end it does not quite fit into either category and that it is down to its brevity, about 176 pages long, which ultimately means that it lacks a certain depth. It tells the tale of a brilliant craftsman's battle against snobbery and vested interests to solve one of the biggest puzzles of his time. An uneducated Yorkshire man who ultimately succeeds against the London establishment.However, what is perhaps even more remarkable are the countless unknown sailors who were willing to cross vast oceans far away from the sight of land having no real idea as to where they were.

This is an easy as well as enjoyable read, a great introduction to the subject and there area a few interesting asides within as well. Harrison was certainly poorly treated by certain individuals however, I do feel that on a couple of occasions the author's own particular bias against the star gazers shines through a little too brightly to give a truly balanced feel. All the same give it a go, it might even make you look at your GPS enabled smart phone a little differently.

Overall, an enjoyable account of the development of methods to measure longitude, a fairly dry subject that she makes interesting.

Comments

[cmcmck]

This really is a good read!

[qatsi.livejournal.com]

This is on my to-read list. I'd definitely recommend Galileo's Daughter by the same author.

[loganberrybunny.livejournal.com]

I re-read this a year or two back, when the National Maritime Museum had an exhibition showing all of Harrison's early chronometers. A very fair review, I think.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, that is quite a recommendation!

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

ultimately means that it lacks a certain depth.
But like you add...
a great introduction to the subject :)

a fairly dry subject that she makes interesting.
That's a good writer. :)
Hugs, Jon

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

I guess i expected it to be deeper in the subject , hence the comment of it not being a substantial read , and when it is no more than 180 pages it can only br described s an introduction of this horological science.

[kabuldur.livejournal.com]

Good review! (And interesting subject.)

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting... I'll add it to the TBR list. In a way, it fits in with my short story, Mr. Townsend's Chronometer.
Dave