The Long and the Short of It: How We Came to Measure Our World (Hardcover)

The Long and the Short of It: How We Came to Measure Our World By Graeme Donald Cover Image
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Description


We’ve always measured the world around us, from how big things are, to how fast they go, how much they’re worth, and practically everything in between. But who decided how we do it, and why? This book explores the origins and evolution of a huge variety of different units of measurement. It answers such questions as: Why do we measure time in units of 60? How do you determine the height of a mountain when sea level keeps changing? Why did the length of a mile once depend on where you came from? What’s the width of a horse’s backside got to do with NASA’s booster rockets? Packed with fascinating stories, this is an intriguing guide to the many systems of measurement that make sense of our daily lives, from pounds and parsecs to bushels and barricades.

About the Author


Graeme Donald is the author of Lies, Damned Lies and History; The Accidental Scientist; and Words of a Feather.

Praise For…


"An enjoyable source for snippets of measurement history (Why is a boxing “ring” square?) and casual reading." —Library Journal
Product Details
ISBN: 9781782436287
ISBN-10: 1782436286
Publisher: Michael O'Mara
Publication Date: September 1st, 2017
Pages: 192
Language: English