The Long and the Short of It
The Long and the Short of It
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Summary
We’ve always measured the world around us, from how big things are, to how fast they go, how much they’re worth and practically everything in between. But who decided how we do it, and why?
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The Long and the Short of It by Graeme Donald
We've always measured the world around us, from how big things are, to how fast they go, how much they're worth, and practically everything in between. But who decided how we do it, and why? This book explores the origins and evolution of a huge variety of different units of measurement. It answers such questions as: Why do we measure time in units of 60? How do you determine the height of a mountain when sea level keeps changing? Why did the length of a mile once depend on where you came from? What's the width of a horse's backside got to do with NASA's booster rockets? Packed with fascinating stories, this is an intriguing guide to the many systems of measurement that make sense of our daily lives, from pounds and parsecs to bushels and barricades.
Graeme Donald is the author of a number of books about history, the meaning of words and popular misconceptions, including When the Earth was Flat, The Accidental Scientist, The Long and the Short of It and Learn on the Loo. His writing has also appeared in many newspapers.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781782436287 |
| ISBN 10 | 1782436286 |
| Title | The Long and the Short of It |
| Author | Graeme Donald |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Michael O'Mara Books Ltd |
| Year published | 2016-09-29 |
| Number of pages | 192 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |