A Measure of Everything: An Illustrated Guide to the Science of Measurement

A comprehensive reference and history book on what is measured and why. Measurement is one of humankind's oldest and most vital activities. By measuring height, speed, size, temperature, strength and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1554070899
• ISBN13: 9781554070893
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: Firefly Books
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.14 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.6" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

A treasure for the scientifically curious

I bought this book that request of my 8-year old daughter, but have enjoyed thumbing through it myself. To be sure, it is a dictionary of scientific measurement, not an encyclopaedia; yet almost all of the pages contain an illustration, chart, or graph of some kind. The definitions are arranged by groupings: earth and life sciences, physical sciences, and Technology & leisure. Subheadings include such categories as astronomy, electricity, and music. Having purchased this book, I do now rather with that there was an encyclopedia version of the same subject. The section on 'Time and Calendar', for instance, mostly just notes the Jewish, Gregorian, Islamic, and Hindu calendars with a passing nod at the Chinese and Egyptian calendar. On the other hand, you can still scratch a lot of curious itches: "How do they determine what an 'era' is?" "Just what is Newtonian Time?" (Yes, I know, it's kept you up at night too...) The book is most likely of interest to the generally curious, information nerds, and those with inquisitive children who enjoy learning more about the world around them. A decent reference book on its topic. P.S. A last note: a dictionary format rather than an encyclopedia does allow the book to be small enough to carry about and read in a chair by smaller hands, something my daughter can't do with our Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.