Bibliograph

Beyond measure, the hidden history of measurement from cubits to quantum constants, James Vincent

Type

Label

Beyond measure, the hidden history of measurement from cubits to quantum constants, James Vincent

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 353-391) and index

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Beyond measure

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

1348186944

Responsibility statement

James Vincent

Sub title

the hidden history of measurement from cubits to quantum constants

Summary

"A vibrant account of how measurement has invisibly shaped our world, from ancient civilizations to the modern day. From the cubit to the kilogram, the humble inch to the speed of light, measurement is a powerful tool that humans invented to make sense of the world. In this revelatory work of science and social history, James Vincent dives into its hidden world, taking readers from ancient Egypt, where measuring the annual depth of the Nile was an essential task, to the intellectual origins of the metric system in the French Revolution, and from the surprisingly animated rivalry between metric and imperial, to our current age of the "quantified self." At every turn, Vincent is keenly attuned to the political consequences of measurement, exploring how it has also been used as a tool for oppression and control. Beyond Measure reveals how measurement is not only deeply entwined with our experience of the world, but also how its history encompasses and shapes the human quest for knowledge"--, Provided by publisher

Classification