A Measure of All Things: The Story of Man and Measurement

by Ian Whitelaw

Every wonder how long a cubit really is? How much is in a hogshead and what it refers to? Or the difference between a light year, a parsec and a Planck length? How many pings there are in an acre and who uses which term in what context? Every wonder where all these terms and formats came from and how they are used? Well, wonder no more!
In the tradition of Schott's Miscellany , A Measure of All Things is a well-researched page-turning, illustrated look at the way things concrete and theoretical are and have been measured. It ranges from the history of measurement systems (from the earliest times to the present) to the different classes of measurements (length, area, volume, mass, time, temparature, speed, power, energy, pressure and everyday, unscientific measurements). A Measure of All Things covers the origins of the various units of measurement, the ways in which they developed and changed over time, and the many connections between them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History, Reference

192 pages, Hardcover

First published August 7, 2007

Reviews

[Siobhan Julian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great overview of some history of units and measurements and also relationships between systems of measurement. My biggest conclusion, however, is that the Imperial system is very, very, very stupid.

[Ian Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, easy to digest book that gives an insight into the haptic origins of measurements

[Kim Zinkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

[Christopher Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of those rare books in which you learn something surprisingly interesting in every single chapter.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about various forms of measurement. I was most interested in the history behind the units rather than the units themselves. I did skip sections if it was more about the definition of units or anything that reminded me too much of physics 101.

[geekboy42 · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are scientist, engineer, or techie, it is worth a borrow and a quick read. Not a reference book, thanks to that, but more of the background of "where units of measurement came from".

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool book! Very informative. The world would indeed be in chaos without standardized measurements. :)