Longitude : The True Story of the Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time

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Summary: A book on the science of longitude, without the science
Review: While Sovel's book is a facinating character study and an epicof determination against great odds, it says little of what thestruggle was about. Determination of longitude depends on determination of time on shipboard, and the solution to the puzzle was a better clock. While documenting the struggle to build this better clock, Sovel says little of how the clock was built, and nothing of the scientific and engineering principles involved. Except for a few tantalizing but uninformative pictures, there is no information whatsoever about the clocks, the technology, and the science. The facinating story of longitude has yet to be told.

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Summary: A simple introduction to a critical problem in exploration.
Review: The most exciting stories are those that describe the opening of a door to that human experience and knowledge that eventually becomes familiar and taken for granted. While those of us in the United States have depended on sea voyages for the foundation of our personal and national histories, the understanding of what was necessary for our ancestors to make the voyage safely has not been common knowledge, and certainly not known to me. Dava Sobel took me by the hand and introduced me to the theme of longitude and its role in the dramas not only of Galileo's life, Captain Cook, Captain Bligh and the British Navy, but my own grandparents who came over so easily from Europe and landed at Ellis Island as was planned. Thank you Dava Sobel. Thank you John Harrison. And even a thank you to Nevel Maskelyne, the necessary, but brilliant "viilain" who helped find a place for the stars to maintain their importance in our lives

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Summary: History written to captivate and inspire even non-historians
Review: This is an unlikely read for someone who is not of a scientific bent. Yet, it is for eveyone. Do not miss this exceptionally well-written, captivating, inspiring, historical account. I could not wait to read the next page. The author presented information that I am not educated about and helped me understand. Reading this book is what I call time well spent

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Summary: Held my interest from the start.
Review: The fascinating story of John Harrison's clock, and of his succesful, forty year quest for a means to establish longitude at sea, is contained in Dava Sobel's book, "longitude".

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Summary: Facinating exposition for the layman interested in science.
Review: This slender volume provides a facinating history of the discovery of how sailors measure longitude, absolutely vital to navigation. More importantly, it provides insight into the true nature of the scientific process in the real world. Treating the scientific community as individual human beings operating within the context of their times, provides a deeper understanding into the processes which affect our own lives and future

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Summary: Lots of information in a small book; readable & surprising
Review: Lots of information; a fresh look at the commonplace This book opens up an area that one doesn't usually think about: how did early explorers know where they were? How did time as we know it come to be? The genius involved in the creation of an accurate watch is one of the stories here. The race for a way to accurately measure distance and location is another. But most intreresting is the creation of a universal sytem to measure time, starting at a Prime Meridian through Greenwich, England. All of this is contained in this small book, and it's all very readable. Even obscure concepts, like figuring time by observing the moons of Jupiter, are clearly explained, so that you're glad you don't have to do the figuring.

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Summary: Lots of information; a fresh look at the commonplace
Review: This book opens up an area that one doesn't usually think about: how did early explorers know where they were? How did time as we know it come to be? The genius involved in the creation of an accurate watch is one of the stories here. The race for a way to accurately measure distance and location is another. But most intreresting is the creation of a universal sytem to measure time, starting at a Prime Meridian through Greenwich, England. All of this is contained in this small book, and it's all very readable. Even obscure concepts, like figuring time by observing the moons of Jupiter, are clearly explained, so that you're glad you don't have to do the figuring.

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Summary: An inventor's plight against 18th century bureaucracy.
Review: Dava Sobel tells the riveting tale of a British carpenter who strove to solve a centuries-old dilemma. Scores of seamen had perished when the inaccurate measure of longitude caused monumental errors in the plotting of a ship's course. Sobel's hero, John Harrison brings a new perspective to the problem as he seeks to design a clock that would withstand the lot of a seafaring vessel. He faces nearly overwhelming opposition from government and contemporary astronomers. But after decades of determined effort, he triumphs. This book reads like a novel, both in its fast-paced plot and in the careful attention to language and detail. Bravo

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Summary: Unsatisfying
Review: This is a well-written story about one of the great quests of our time. Unfortunately, this particular telling is particularly unsatisfying to read. The primary reason is, as pointed out in several other reader reviews, the lack of any technical information whatever. John Harrison was a brilliant engineer, but there is little or no information (let alone diagrams) about his brilliant engineering innovations.I was particularly irritated by the lack of any information about Harrison's 19-year seclusion, during which the final chronometer was developed. I don't know whether there's nothing known about this period, or Ms. Sobel missed it in her museum trips. Think about it: 19 years without a peep, and then...victory. In summary, if USA Today is your newspaper, then this book is for you. If not, then skip to the bibliography at the back of the book and read a more scholarly and authoritative treatment

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Summary: Fascinating study of a little-known area of science.
Review: Scientific studies tend to get bogged down in terminology and concepts that are often beyond the lay person's knowledge or understanding. "Longitude" is a major exception to this rule. Sobel's account of the invention of the chronometer to help 18th century explorers find their way at see by identifying their degree of longitude is written in a way that emphaiszes the human interest and puts the scientific questions and explanations in terms easily understandable by anyone. She uses vivid examples and clear explanations. She also makes us care about this problem and the trials of the chronometer's inventor. It's too bad science textbooks can't follow her example