A Brief History of Timekeeping

The Science of Marking Time, from Stonehenge to Atomic Clocks

A Brief History of Timekeeping
Chad Orzel
RRP:
NZ$ 26.99
Our Price:
NZ$ 21.59
Paperback
h198 x 129mm - 336pg
3 Feb 2022 UK
International import eta 7-19 days
9780861542154
Out Of Stock
Currently no stock in-store, stock is sourced to your order
You only need to press the snooze button on your alarm a bit too often to understand the importance of good timekeeping. What you might not know is that the need to tell the time connects you to over five thousand years of human history, from the first solstice markers at Newgrange to quartz crystal oscillating in your watch today. Science underpins time: from orbital motion and axial tilt to the quantum mechanics and relativity theory that gives us our ultra-precise atomic clocks. Yet time is also socially decided: the Gregorian calendar we use today is a result of complex political negotiations. The ancient Maya used sophisticated astronomical observations to produce a calendar system unlike any other in the world. In his quirky and accessible style, Chad Orzel reveals the wondrous physics that makes time something we can set, measure and know.
' Each day in 2019, Chad Orzel informs us, is nearly two milliseconds longer than days were in 1870. And they feel even longer. This entertaining and engrossing book takes us through our long struggle to measure time with precision. Filled with amazing devices, it' s ultimately a story of the triumph of human ingenuity. ' -- Sean Carroll, author of Something Deeply Hidden ' A deliciously detailed journey through the astonishing ticks and tocks of timekeeping, from neolithic henges and Mayan number systems to cinnamon-filled sandglasses, tuning fork wristwatches, and even the northern lights. Equal parts mesmerizing and fascinating, Orzel' s beautifully clear explanations of physics illuminate subjects from planets to quantum engineering. By the end it is clear that time may never be on our side, but keeping track of it has opened up the universe for us. ' -- Caleb Scharf, author of The Copernicus Complex ' As Chad Orzel shows in his informative new book, while the pace of modern life seems to march briskly in step with the rhythms of various clocks, keeping accurate time has been a mainstay of history - a driving force for astronomical measurements, and eventually classical and relativistic physics. A Brief History of Timekeeping offers the quintessential account of all the factors that make up ways we record time - from the relatively slow progression of daily and lunar cycles to the near-instantaneous speed of atomic transitions. Orzel' s fascinating chronicle of how we measure the seconds, days, and years that set the stride of our life' s journey is well worth making the time to read - and that literary adventure will fly by, no doubt. ' -- Paul Halpern, author of Flashes of Creation ' Today' s best atomic clocks can track time with a precision of one part in a billion - but getting to this point, as Chad Orzel' s entertaining new book shows, has been an incredible adventure. It' s a history of technology, of course, but we also learn about the underlying science, from the ancient astronomers who first made sense of the motions of the sun, moon, and stars to those who unveiled relativity and quantum mechanics in the last century. If you like science, history, and fun in equal measure, A Brief History of Timekeeping is for you. ' -- Dan Falk, science journalist, author and broadcaster ' A fascinating intersection of science, history, and theology. I never expected to lose track of time reading a book about time. ' -- James Breakwell, comedy writer, creator of @XplodingUnicorn on Twitter, and author of How to Be a Man (Whatever That Means) ' Orzel gives us the grand tour of something we all take for granted. It' s about time. ' -- Chris Ferrie, author of Where Did the Universe Come From?
Chad Orzel is an associate professor at the department of physics and astronomy at Union College. He has written for Forbes, Daily Mail and Physics World, and has spoken at numerous TED talks. His previous books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He lives in Niskayuna, New York.
Status: Active
ISBN-13: 9780861542154
Published: 3 Feb 2022
Published In: United Kingdom
Imprint: Oneworld Publications
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
Format: Paperback
Height: 198mm
Width: 129mm
Spine: 25mm
Pages: 336

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