Beyond Measure
The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants
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Beyond Measure
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Narrated by:
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James Vincent
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Written by:
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James Vincent
About this listen
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 listeners 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.
©2023 James Vincent (P)2022 HighBridge, a division of Recorded BooksWhat listeners say about Beyond Measure
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- valerie
- 2023-01-13
A subject worth studying
I am familiar with all of the writings by Vincent, a London-based science writer for The Verge. This book does not disappoint. I am left in awe of his ability to elucidate the subject of measurement in a manner that is captivating and profound. I am
left asking myself why indeed do we as a species feel compelled to measure everything? I believe now, that this furthers our connection with the universe and quenches our thirst for knowledge. This is a book for those who are thinkers and the innately curious will enjoy it.
Valerie H.M
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Pierre Gauthier
- 2023-01-21
Rather Disjointed!
The premise behind this book is fascinating: to chart how measurement has affected human technological and sociological development from Antiquity to the present. Potential readers should be aware however that it is written by a journalist and not by an expert in the field of history, science or sociology.
Sadly, though some chapters are worthwhile, the overall result is far from rigorous, rather disjointed in fact and at times even rambling. For instance, there is an overdone discussion on the impact of the Jeffersonian grid pattern on the USA West of the Alleghenies. Yet very little is said about how measurements were traditionally made in non-European cultures, for example in China or India.
In the audio version, listeners may find that the narrator at times does not seem to understand what he is saying. It turns out that the book is read out by the author himself, who clearly does not have the training or talent to do so!
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1 person found this helpful