World in the Balance

The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement

By: Robert P. Crease

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Paperback | 16 November 2012 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
320 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.08 x 13.96 x 2.03

Paperback

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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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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Science Science in General History of Science Scientific Standards Mensuration & Systems of Measurement Popular Science

Introduction: The Noonday Cannon	p. 13
Vitruvian Man	p. 17
Ancient China: Feet and Flutes	p. 35
West Africa: Gold Weights	p. 53
France: "Realities of Life and Labor"	p. 69
Halting Steps Toward Universality	p. 99
"One of the Greatest Triumphs of Modern Civilization"	p. 126
Metrophilia and Metrophobia	p. 149
Surely You're Joking, Mr. Duchamp!	p. 167
Dreams of a Final Standard	p. 183
Universal System: The SI	p. 210
The Modern Metroscape	p. 227
Au Revoir, Kilogram	p. 249
Epilogue	p. 269
Acknowledgments	p. 277
Notes	p. 279
Illustration Credits	p. 295
Index	p. 297
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

World in the Balance

The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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