World in the Balance : The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement - Robert P. Crease

World in the Balance

The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement

By: Robert P. Crease

Paperback | 16 November 2012 | Edition Number 1

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Millions of transactions each day depend on a reliable network of weights and measures. But achieving such a network was anything but easy, as Robert P. Crease, physicist and philosopher, demonstrates in this endlessly fascinating, always entertaining look at just how this international system evolved. From the link between musical pitch and distance in the dynasties of ancient China and the use of figurines to measure gold in West Africa to the creation of the French metric and British imperial systems, Crease takes readers along on one of history's greatest philosophical and scientific adventures.

Industry Reviews
"A colorful tale of global conquest driven by kings, revolutionaries, polyglots and privateers." -- Science News "[A] fascinating book." -- New Scientist "By any measure, this book is a delight." -- Natural History "Takes the seemingly mundane questions we unthinkingly ask dozens of times a day and reveals them to be thrillingly profound." -- Richard Panek, author of The 4% Universe

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