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

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

by Graeme Donald (Author)

Synopsis

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? The Long and the Short of It takes us back in time to discover the origins and evolution of a huge variety of different units of measurement. On the way 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.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 192
Publisher: Michael O'Mara
Published: 29 Sep 2016

ISBN 10: 1782436286
ISBN 13: 9781782436287
Book Overview: 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?

Media Reviews
An enjoyable source for snippets of measurement history (Why is a boxing ring square?) and casual reading. --Library Journal
Author Bio
Graeme Donald is the author of a number of books about history, the meaning of words and popular misconceptions, including When the Earth was Flat, The Accidental Scientist, The Long and the Short of It and Learn on the Loo. His writing has also appeared in many newspapers.