BlackOxford’s review of Measuring the World > Likes and Comments

The Dirk Gently of mathematics.

So if something cannot be measured does it mean it doesn't exist?

Great review, Michael (BO!). And thanks for letting me know, which I always do so appreciate. Yes, I should read it, it's been on my TBR pile for ages. Wasn't the novel specifically about the travels they joined in South America or am I mistaken?

Michael wrote: "The Dirk Gently of mathematics.

So if something cannot be measured does it mean it doesn't exist?"

Got it in one. Including running up enormous expenses in exotic locations.

Hanneke wrote: "Great review, Michael (BO!). And thanks for letting me know, which I always do so appreciate. Yes, I should read it, it's been on my TBR pile for ages. Wasn't the novel specifically about the trave..."

Yes, you should read it. It’s a dereliction to leave it on the shelf. You’re right about Humboldt in South America, but Gauss (like me) wouldn’t have been caught dead there. He did however, according to Kehlmann, read reports of Humboldt’s travels in the papers. I prefer GoogleEarth.

Superb review, BlackOxford!

Fran wrote: "Superb review, BlackOxford!"

Once again thanks, Fran.

Very interesting review, Michael. And, like you, I wonder how they would have fared in C21 academic institutions in pragmatic and prosaic democracies. Not very well, I suspect.

Lyn wrote: "Very interesting review, Michael. And, like you, I wonder how they would have fared in C21 academic institutions in pragmatic and prosaic democracies. Not very well, I suspect."

O tempora, O mores! Ever has it been so.

Seems like the kind of book that a fan of "Mason & Dixon" would like, correct?

Anthoferjea wrote: "Seems like the kind of book that a fan of "Mason & Dixon" would like, correct?"

Yes, it is. I thought the same. Entirely different subtext though.

Kehlmann hints at this himself “the newspapers reported on Maskelyne, Mason, Dixon, and Piazzi as if they were heroes.” (page 121)

I happened to read Measuring the World at eactly the same time as you, Michael, and I was able to appreciate the nuances of your review as a consequence. Yours is an impressive, and innovative critique and quite different from the majority of other published reviews on the book. Excellent.

Jonathan wrote: "I happened to read Measuring the World at eactly the same time as you, Michael, and I was able to appreciate the nuances of your review as a consequence. Yours is an impressive, and innovative crit..."

Thanks very much, Jonathan. It’s a subtly inspiring book. Understatement is a winner with me.

Even reading your review, I felt drawn into this book. “Measurement was philosophy in action,” exciting statement. Enjoyed your piece on this book immensely and have already ordered a copy. Thank you for the time and thought you always put into your reviews. They are always great reading.

Mel wrote: "Even reading your review, I felt drawn into this book. “Measurement was philosophy in action,” exciting statement. Enjoyed your piece on this book immensely and have already ordered a copy. Thank y..."

Many thanks, Mel. It’s so satisfying to know that we can connect with ideas. At least occassionally!

Black - please take this as a question: my understanding is this book is an intentional miss-characterization of Humboldt, that there is a game here that Kehlman is playing with the facts. Specifically, Kehlman presents a Humboldt pushing for exploitation, whereas the real Humboldt was more concerned with human damage to the nature. Admittedly, I don't understand the game, so just putting it down here, I begin to feel like conspiracy lunatic. Maybe I am. But, any thoughts on this?

Daniel wrote: "Black - please take this as a question: my understanding is this book is an intentional miss-characterization of Humboldt, that there is a game here that Kehlman is playing with the facts. Specific..."

That’s a new one to me. I never remember reading about Humboldt as a proto-Muir, but who knows? If he is promoting a deception, what could Kehlman’s motivation possibly be? In any case, I didn’t get the message that Humboldt as exploiter, but as adventurer and a sort of scientific mystic.

Thanks Black. Maybe just my imagination. I don’t remember the book well.

Daniel wrote: "Thanks Black. Maybe just my imagination. I don’t remember the book well."

👍

Thank you for your review. Wonderful.

Read Sapolsky's Determined, so any praise for your elegantly written review would be misplaced ;-)

"The backgrounds of these two men show that genius is purely genetic."

This is not "true". "Purely" is too strong of a word here, genius is the intricate result of both nature and nurture, how these two men became them. Good genetics is needed for sure, but so is upbringing, culture, training, all of that. And no head trauma along the way, nor parasites that cripple you... and on and on. Cheers!

Korpivaara wrote: "Read Sapolsky's Determined, so any praise for your elegantly written review would be misplaced ;-)

"The backgrounds of these two men show that genius is purely genetic."

This is not "true". "Pure..."

True enough: “ Both thrived because they were recognised and rewarded by monarchical rulers as contributing to German culture. One wonders what their fates might have been in the competitive academic milieu of a modern pragmatic democracy.”🙃

This is a brilliant review. Thanks!