Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time by Dava Sobel is a nonfiction book that delves into the historical quest to solve the problem of determining longitude at sea. The narrative focuses on the life and work of John Harrison, a rogue clock maker who invents the chronometer, a groundbreaking timekeeping device that revolutionizes navigation. Through a blend of heroism and chicanery, the book provides a brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking, offering readers a new perspective on the world. Sobel's writing style is described as easily digestible, making complex scientific concepts accessible to a wide audience in a relatively short read.

The book is praised for its engaging storytelling that reads like a novel despite being nonfiction. It presents a captivating account of Harrison's forty-year obsession with building the perfect timekeeper, shedding light on the challenges and triumphs faced during the scientific quest to solve the longitude problem. Sobel's ability to bring the characters and historical events to life, coupled with her skill in explaining technical aspects in simple terms, makes Longitude a compelling and informative read for those interested in history, science, or navigation.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and dynamic, mixing factual detail with narrative elements that highlight the drama of Harrison's journey.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers on John Harrison's invention of the marine chronometer, delving into the historical struggle to measure longitude at sea and the resistance from established scientific authorities.

Setting:

The setting revolves around 18th century England, emphasizing maritime challenges and scientific pursuits during a key period of exploration and naval competition.

Pacing:

The pacing is brisk, making it a quick read that effectively covers a lengthy and complex historical problem in a compact form.

Once on a Wednesday excursion when I was a little girl, my father bought me a beaded wire ball that I loved. At a touch, I could collapse the toy into a flat coil between my palms, or pop it open to m...

Genres:

Topics:

the longitude problem

historical scientific quests

the triumph of the underdog

obsession and dedication

Notes:

The British Parliament consulted Sir Isaac Newton and Edmond Halley when they passed the Longitude Act of 1714.

Determining longitude accurately was a major challenge for seafaring captains.

A fleet of British ships sank in 1707 due to navigation errors related to longitude, leading to a loss of nearly 2000 men.

Latitude is easier to determine than longitude because it can be measured using the stars.

Finding longitude required accurate timekeeping, which was hard to maintain at sea in the 1700s.

John Harrison, a self-taught carpenter and clockmaker, developed the first practical sea clock, called a marine chronometer.

The Longitude Board initially favored using star tables over Harrison's clocks, leading to skepticism about his work.

Harrison created four different clock designs over many years to solve the longitude problem.

Dava Sobel's book 'Longitude' was first published in 1995 and is considered a classic of popular science writing.

The book tells a compelling story of scientific discovery infused with drama, intrigue, and human perseverance.

From The Publisher:

New foreword written and read by Neil Armstrong.

Ratings (11)

Incredible (2)
Loved It (3)
Liked It (3)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (27):

Read It (13)
Want To Read (9)
Not Interested (5)

2 comment(s)

Bekahpaige

It Was OK

4 months

I can honestly say that I have never once thought about longitude or what it means, or how it was discovered. This was an interesting book about the process of scientific discovery in the 1600s-1700s. I think we like to think of our current time period as being the most innovative and scientific, but when you think of the political and economic support provided during this time period to solve problems, I started to wonder if we are in the dark ages now! I think the book could have been shorter or an article, though, it started to drag on a bit.

madhukaraphatak

Incredible

6 months

Interesting history of the struggle and innovations went to find the ship's position in vast ocean. The whole problem was to find out the longitude by comparing time in two places at same time. This was thought to be almost impossible. So the book gives a historical story about how different people went about solving this problem.

The book also focuses on the innovations brought in watch making which we take for granted today and also highlights the favoritism in the science community which has made the life of innovators without well-known background harsher.

If you enjoy reading historical scientific innovations this is a good little read for you.

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About the Author:

Dava Sobel, a former New York Times science reporter, is the author of Longitude, Galileo's Daughter, and Letters to Father. In her thirty years as a science journalist, she has written for many magazines, and coauthored six books, including Is…

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

Dava Sobel