Longitude by Dava Sobel
The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
This book delves into the historical quest for a reliable method to determine longitude at sea, a critical challenge that perplexed sailors and explorers for centuries. It focuses on the story of John Harrison, an 18th-century English clockmaker, who dedicated his life to solving this problem. Harrison invented the marine chronometer, a revolutionary timepiece that enabled navigators to accurately calculate their longitude, fundamentally changing sea travel. The narrative not only highlights Harrison's inventive genius and persistence against the skepticism of the scientific establishment of his time but also explores the broader impact of his work on navigation, maritime trade, and the expansion of the British Empire.
The 5372nd greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1995
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 180-220
- Original Language
- English
- Avg User Rating
-
(4.1)
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 6 lists:
- 1585th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List (1,000 Books to Read Before You Die(Book))
- 10 of the Best Popular Science Books as Chosen by Authors and Writers (NewScientist )
- 500 Must Read Books (The Daily Telegraph)
- The Best War and History Books of All Time (Telegraph)
- Top 10 books books on the history of science (Guardian) (Guardian)