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

Science News,  August 18, 2007  

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A MEASURE OF ALL THINGS: The Story of Man and Measurement IAN WHITELAW

Inches and centimeters are common units of measurement. But does anyone know what a sydharb is? Of a perch or lustrum, for that matter? Who created these terms, and what do they measure? Whitelaw chronicles the history of measurement and describes how it has enriched people's understanding of their world. Much of modern measurement got its start in Mesopotamia, where the need for standard measurement was first recognized, whitelaw recounts the development of the imperial system of Great Britain and describes how the newly formed United States colonies abandoned that system for their own. He summarizes common units of measurement such as length, weight, area, volume, mass, temperature, speed, and time. Along the way, he provides interesting notes about everyday units of measurement, such as ring sizes and alcohol content, as well as lesser-known units, such as those that measure fly-fishing weights and the distance between railroad tracks. St. Martin's, 2007, 160 p., b&w illus., hardcover, $17.95.

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