Rating: 
Summary: The advertising in misleading on this book
Review: Harrison wasn't even a "lone" genius. Although he faced unfair obstacles from some astronomers, the text notes that John Harrison was supported financially throughout his life by government- appointed board of astronomers. He was aided by his son, and found allies in important men such as Halley and King George. The "lone genius against all odds" certainly sounds like an exciting, inspiring story, but it wasn't that dramatic. There was 20,000 pounds at stake. Big surprise that Meskalyne, a competitor, tried (ineptly, unlike a decent villain) to sabotage Harrison. I think you have to be pretty simple to find this story terribly inspiring. Not that there's anything wrong with simple, per se. Einstein said, "Things should be as simple as possible, but no simpler." Unfortunately this book is too simple. In fact the lack of technical information, some of it so basic to the story, will astound anyone with an appetite for learning. For example, we are routinely told by how many seconds off Harrison's chronometers were, over the course of a long voyage. Okay, so... how was this calculated? How did everyone involved know, when the chronometer reached the West Indies from England, that it was off by just three seconds? How could they determine this so precisely, lacking accurate clocks, or a telephone back to England? Perhaps a reader who liked this book can educate me on this matter. The differing opinions of this book remind me very much of the debate over The Bridges of Madison County.
Rating: 
Summary: Understanding Where We Are By Looking Back In History
Review: One of the amazing things about life in our world of technology is how the struggle for discovery and progress was rather slow and frustrating just a few centuries ago. That said, reading Sobol's "Longitude" was a wonderful experience. Written briefly and for people who may not be scientists but certainly appreciate Science, the author gives us a sense of the human side of this "longitude" issue in its historical context. In the last few pages, when she writes about finally coming face to face with "these machines" in their museum, one gets that little chill from the thought that a man (John Harrison), who died in 1776 and of whom most know little or nothing, left behind something that, in 1998, still exists and which, in its time, made a difference. Another small step for mankind, if you will, in solving the seemingly-endless array of challenges that confront us as we push forward.
Rating:
Summary: Understanding Where We Are By Looking Back In History
Review: One of the amazing things about life in our world of technology is how the struggle for discovery and progrss was rather slow and frustrating just a few centuries ago. That said, reading Sobol's "Longitude" was a wonderful experience. Written briefly and for people who may not be scientists but certainly appreciate Science, the author gives us a sense of the human side of this "longitude" issue in its historical context. In the last few pages, when the she writes about finally coming face to face with "these machines" in their museum, one gets that little chill from the thought that a man (John Harrison), who died in 1776 and of whom most know little or nothing, left behind something that, in 1998, still exists and which, in its time, made a difference. Another small step for mankind, if you will, in solving the seemingly-endless array of challenges that confront us as we push forward.
Rating: 
Summary: A very readable intro to a potentially complex subject
Review: For people with little or no knowledge of the longitude problem, Dava Sobel's little book cannot be beaten as a genral intro. It is intriguing and very readable, though the latter half of the book sometimes lapses into a mere chronology of events. Still, the extensive bibliography at the end will certainly be of use to those who wish to persue the matter further.
Rating:
Summary: a truely human look at the quest for longtitude
Review: Dava Sobel takes a compassionate look at man's quest for the knowledge of Longitude. The focus of the book is to describe this journey of discovery from a human perspective. At times some technical descriptions have been left out, particularly those concerning Harrisons 5 chronometers. Although frustrating at times, this lack of technincal material makes the book a light and easy read and brings the story of longitude to a wider audience, who otherwise would probably never know the true story of Harrisons struggle.
Rating:
Summary: A good book for a general view
Review: You will find this an enjoyable book if your expectations are limited to general discussion and historical perspective. If you have detailed navigational expertise or want citations, technical details and comparisons, then the book will disappoint you.Taken as an object lesson it's quite enjoyable: Mr. Harrison should have demanded the prize he rightly deserved after his first satisfactory model was proved to comply with the terms of the prize. Instead, he made several additional models (the quest, not the attainment, apparently was his goal) and was shabbily treated by the British bureaucracy (which is obviously no different than any other bureaucracy) until King George III intervened when Mr. Harrison was in his old age. Still, a pleasant diversion.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book
Review: I liked the subject matter and the detail about this subject, which was never in any history class I ever took.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, Interesting, A little light on detail
Review: Sobol does a wonderful job describing the human side of tackling an important scientific problem. I served as a navigator on several Navy ships 20 years ago, before satillites, but still much in the time of electronics. So taking readings by the stars was done as a "backup" and seemed more tedious than important. I wish I'd been able to read this book then. I might have appreciated the art more. I wish she had provided a little more technical detail. As it was, she whetted my curiosity, answered a few general questions, and told a compelling tale.
Rating:
Summary: Very readable story of one man's struggle against many foes
Review: I'll try not to repeat what others have said, though I will take issue with some comments. I could not put this book down. I understood all of the technical explanations, but I should admit to a practical knowledge of navigation (I know the difference between WGS72 & ED50). It explained one thing I had wanted to know for YEARS. In Joshua Slocum's "sailing alone around the world" (which is essential reading for anyone that liked longitude) Slocum says "I had no need of a chronometer because I find my longitude by the lunar method". After reading longitude I know what the lunar method is. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. After reading this book I HAD to go and see the clocks in person, and so I did (you can see the Cutty Sark there as well). I loved the story of Harrison doggedly doing what he knew was right in the face of so many enemies who were so unscrupulous. Buy it. Steve
Rating:
Summary: An interesting topic marred by skimpy scientific explanation
Review: Longitude is a basic introduction to the topic of longitude but the author's journalese style of writing plus her failure to explain clearly certain scientific principles militates against accepting the work as valid history. After reading sections of the book over and over, I still have no idea how longitude is plotted, either astronomically or by Harrison's clock. And I don't think Slobin does either.
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