Rating:  Summary: Informative and engaging read about the journey of meter Review: An engaging read, Measure of all things is the story of the meter and the two intreprid astronmers who set about measuring it. Imagine, France three centuries ago. There were quarter million different units of weights and measures being used across the country. Perfectly natural for the people in those days, but unimaginable and chaotic in our current era. French Astronomers at that time came up with a radical proposal of having a single measure. To make it acceptable not only to the French denizens, but all the people around the world, they wanted to get the measurement from the earth itself. The concept was to fix the value of meter as one ten-millionth of the distance from the NorthPole to the Equator. They set out to measure the meridian arc from Dunkrik to Barcelona, running through Paris and then extrapolate this measurement. The catch was in their assumption that the Earth is a perfect sphere, whereas it is warped, due to which their measurement fell short minutely from the actual value. This error has been perpetuated in every subsequent redefinition of it's length, including our current definition of the meter in terms of the distance travelledby light in a fraction of second. The meter fell short by 0.2 millimeters short. The tale is not a dry essay on science or measurements. It's a personal saga of courage and dedication from the two astronomers whose expedition stretched for seven years admist political upheavals and war. Even as the French revolution claimed millions of lives, even as many of their scientific colleagues like Lavosier ended up in gullotine, Mechaine and Delambre soldiered on their task. Ending up in enemy territory in the middle of war didn't deter Mechaine. The savant community was unified irrespective of their political affliations, for this was a effort for the whole of mankind. Mechaine is a punctilious astronmer, extremely obsessed in his measurement. A mismatch in his measurements drowned him in paranoia and fearful of loss of his reputation. Even though errors of this nature in an expedition of this nature was expected, Mechanie's nature of being self-critical and monomaniac turned him melachonic and forced him to fudge measurements to match the existing meter value of that time. Delambre on the other hand is practical and open about his efforts. A geodesic of equal calibre, he completes the northern portion of measurement and provides emotional and logistic support to Mechaine. The very act of measuring length is done using the principle of triangulation. If you know the three angles of a triangle and length of one side , you can calculate the length of other two sides. Hence if you know all the angles in a set of triangles connected side by equalside in a chain, plus the length of any single side, you can calculate the length of all their sides. The strength of the book is it is a easy read, which is targeted for all audiences. It is well written without lingering or digressing on extraneous turns. The element of human drama, especially the state of Mechaine during his worse times, the triumph of human spirit, the highs and lows of human nature, the camaraderie and squabbles in the savant community, all of this is superbly expressed by KenAlder's prose. It's a story of human spirit and Alder fittingly concludes, Man is the measure of all things! Afterall, measurement is an accepted standard. So what if the atheletes who are running a 100m race are actually running 99meters and 98 centimenters. It's the same distance for all the runners! The quibble is the book could have been 100 pages shorter without losing it's imapact or details or message. The philosopher in Alder keeps coming forth to make observations on human triumph and foibles and the last two chapters are observations on the importance of errors and their understanding for better measurements. The dreams of Mechaine and Delambre has come true. Except three countries (USA, Burma and Liberia), every country in the world follows metric system.
Rating:  Summary: Informative and engaging read about the journey of meter Review: An engaging read, Measure of all things is the story of the meter and the two intreprid astronmers who set about measuring it. Imagine, France three centuries ago. There were quarter million different units of weights and measures being used across the country. Perfectly natural for the people in those days, but unimaginable and chaotic in our current era. French Astronomers at that time came up with a radical proposal of having a single measure. To make it acceptable not only to the French denizens, but all the people around the world, they wanted to get the measurement from the earth itself. The concept was to fix the value of meter as one ten-millionth of the distance from the NorthPole to the Equator. They set out to measure the meridian arc from Dunkrik to Barcelona, running through Paris and then extrapolate this measurement. The catch was in their assumption that the Earth is a perfect sphere, whereas it is warped, due to which their measurement fell short minutely from the actual value. This error has been perpetuated in every subsequent redefinition of it's length, including our current definition of the meter in terms of the distance travelledby light in a fraction of second. The meter fell short by 0.2 millimeters short. The tale is not a dry essay on science or measurements. It's a personal saga of courage and dedication from the two astronomers whose expedition stretched for seven years admist political upheavals and war. Even as the French revolution claimed millions of lives, even as many of their scientific colleagues like Lavosier ended up in gullotine, Mechaine and Delambre soldiered on their task. Ending up in enemy territory in the middle of war didn't deter Mechaine. The savant community was unified irrespective of their political affliations, for this was a effort for the whole of mankind. Mechaine is a punctilious astronmer, extremely obsessed in his measurement. A mismatch in his measurements drowned him in paranoia and fearful of loss of his reputation. Even though errors of this nature in an expedition of this nature was expected, Mechanie's nature of being self-critical and monomaniac turned him melachonic and forced him to fudge measurements to match the existing meter value of that time. Delambre on the other hand is practical and open about his efforts. A geodesic of equal calibre, he completes the northern portion of measurement and provides emotional and logistic support to Mechaine. The very act of measuring length is done using the principle of triangulation. If you know the three angles of a triangle and length of one side , you can calculate the length of other two sides. Hence if you know all the angles in a set of triangles connected side by equalside in a chain, plus the length of any single side, you can calculate the length of all their sides. The strength of the book is it is a easy read, which is targeted for all audiences. It is well written without lingering or digressing on extraneous turns. The element of human drama, especially the state of Mechaine during his worse times, the triumph of human spirit, the highs and lows of human nature, the camaraderie and squabbles in the savant community, all of this is superbly expressed by KenAlder's prose. It's a story of human spirit and Alder fittingly concludes, Man is the measure of all things! Afterall, measurement is an accepted standard. So what if the atheletes who are running a 100m race are actually running 99meters and 98 centimenters. It's the same distance for all the runners! The quibble is the book could have been 100 pages shorter without losing it's imapact or details or message. The philosopher in Alder keeps coming forth to make observations on human triumph and foibles and the last two chapters are observations on the importance of errors and their understanding for better measurements. The dreams of Mechaine and Delambre has come true. Except three countries (USA, Burma and Liberia), every country in the world follows metric system.
Rating:  Summary: Science History as Entertainment Review: Disclaimer: Ken was a high school classmate with whom I have spoken once since graduation. Prof. Alder's achievement in writing this book is considerable. Firstly, like any good historian, he brings to life a story (of the creation of the metre) that is familiar to few. In doing so, he also brings to our attention the two individuals charged with performing the measurements -- the metre was to be 1/40000000 of the "Paris Meridian" -- and the times in which they worked. Because those times happen to coincide with the demise of the Ancien Regime and the French Revolution, there is excitement and action aplenty, no minor thing for a history of science. That he also managed to unearth the undiscovered letters of Mechain and Delambre in the Paris Observatory to flesh out his understanding of the two principals makes this book an important academic work as well as a popular account of history. Secondly, he tells a story that grips the reader. His book will naturally draw comparisons to Dava Sobel's "Longitude," but in my estimation Alder's story is the more compelling of the two. In fact, there is an additional similarity I would draw to Thomas Pynchon's fictional "Mason and Dixon," which likewise tells the story of two geographers traveling across perilous country to perform a measurement (or, in the case of Mason and Dixon, to draw boundaries). Of the two works, "The Measure of All Things" is the more readable account and no less poignant a story than that of Mason and Dixon. Thirdly, from my perspective as a practicing scientist, Alder achieves yet more with this book. The tragic story of Mechain's horror regarding his perceived errors of measurement leads neatly into Alder's coda regarding the nature of error in measurement. Error analysis, now the staple of all science, was completely unknown in the time of Mechain, and consequently he was unable to perceive of the limitations of his own instrumentation and methods as the ultimate source of error. Instead, tormented by his sense of personal failure, Mechain drove himself to death in a misguided attempt to correct his mistakes. The pathos of this subplot transforms "The Measure of All Things" from a dry work of scholarship into the stunning work of literature that it is. Anyone with an interest in science and history should find this book to be something special.
Rating:  Summary: A tough subject handled well Review: From page 1 I have really enjoyed reading The Measure of All Things. The story is put well and sympathetically. The weaving of the facts within the contemporary situation (the French were thoroughly enjoying their Revolution), the hardships, anxiety, fear of imprisonment for getting the numbers wrong etc etc just added to the pace and excitement. The book is nicely written, the style is light and airy. Just the thing for long journeys. I have critisisms, but these do not really detract from the enjoyment or value of the book as a work of history. Mr Alder might have consulted a geodetic surveyor and preferably one who knows the history of geodesy and is familiar with the instruments and techniques. The claim regarding the superb accuracy of the de Borda repeating circle versus Ramsden's theodolite was flawed - the circle suffered from systematic errors and it was this that led to its extinction in the 1830's in favour of the theodolite. Again, some expert advice would have removed the errors regarding the astro-geodesy such as the deviation of the vertical etc. My last complaint is the impression that the savants of the Academie Royal led the world in the science. Little mention is made of the science work the British contributed and the collaboration that existed between the scientists of both nations. On the other hand, this is a book about the metre so I suppose it's reasonable to give the French due credit!! These complaints are purely academic and, in my mind, do not detract one iota from what is an excellent piece of work. Well done, Mr Alder. If my next book is half as good as this, I shall be satified. Edwin Danson, author of Drawing the Line: How Mason and Dixon Surveyed the Most Famous Border in America (another excellent book!!!)
Rating:  Summary: Fascinating! I want to hear it again! Review: I just finished the abridged audiobook, and even though I don't normally like abridgments, this was phenomenal. Rich in detail and well-researched, it tells the story of two French savants who tried to measure the world during the Revolution. The author makes good use of their own writings to make the characters come alive. He goes beyond mere recounting of events to give a real sense of the impact and meaning of what happened. It also opened a window onto another time and place that we Americans don't hear much about. I would recommend this to francophiles and anyone interested in science, astronomy, history, or mathematics. So, that's just about anybody!
Rating:  Summary: Fascinating Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in science or history. This book gives an excellent helping of both as you follow the path of two French astronomers trying to overcome one obstacle after another in the pursuit of perfection. I was initially hesitant to read this work, but the fact is that anything well written can be fascinating, and this one does not disappoint. I do disagree with the last reviewer on one point, and that is the issue of the importance to the book of the decompensating mental health of Mechain. It is absolutely critically important to the narrative, and for me the most compelling and human part of this story. It clearly underscores the philosophical and psychological differences between Delambre and Mechain as they cope very differently with the disappointments and struggles of their undertaking. It is what elevates this book above and beyond mere textbooks on the subject.
Rating:  Summary: A Poorly-Written Book Review: It seems that a lot of effort has gone into writing this book. The author spent years researching the topic, and as we are told in the preface, he biked through France. What is a reader supposed to do with such information? Does biking through a country teach you about the history of science? Probably not much. The author's style is arrogant and faux-literary. This is not a good style for science books. It may work with novels (and we are told the author has written one), but it does not resonate with science readers. Furthermore, this story is made much more complicated and involved than it needs to be, with too many details, too many side issues that have little or nothing to do with the story at hand. I found the book hard to read, and I found the style so irritating that I had to put it down every time I tried to read the book. It's a shame, since in its essence this is a good story. Perhaps it should have been written by a scientist and not by a professor of history with novelistic aspirations.
Rating:  Summary: Interesting but not very exciting scientific history Review: Ken Alder's "The Measure of All Things" follows two French scientists as they traverse France over the course of years in the 1790's. Their goal was to accurately measure the distance from Dunkirk to Barcelona, triangulating from mountaintops and cathedrals, so that the size of the earth could be extrapolated from their calculations. Then they hoped to have a precise figure for the length of the meter, the new unit of measurement defined as being one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. My favorite aspect of the book was how the measurement expedition was tied to the French Revolution. The decision to switch to the meter, intended to be a gift to the world, was a consequence of the era of rationality in France that led to the Revolution. However it was the Revolution that almost derailed the men. The scientists, rather suspicious when setting up their arcane instruments on top of local high points, were repeatedly detained by locals who mistook them for spies. The extreme political chaos is contrasted nicely with the high-minded goals of the Scientific Academy, seeking to replace France's hodge-podge of measurement systems with a rationally defined and scientifically determined unit. Unfortunately the senior of the two scientists, Méchain, suffers from a crisis of confidence throughout the narrative, and ended up fudging his results a bit to reduce the appearance of error in his numbers. (Their calculation was off a bit anyway because the curvature of the earth is less uniform than was thought at the time.) Méchain's dawdling and despair take up a rather unenjoyably large amount of the book. One certainly feels sorry for his partner, Delambre, who has to cajole the reluctant Méchain into finishing his part of the expedition and getting all of his results tabulated. I was glad to learn about the origins of the metric system, and the story of performing ground-breaking science in the middle of revolutionary turmoil was fascinating. The politics of the Scientific Academy and the details about the scientific giants of the time also fleshed out the context well. Méchain's dilly-dallying is the center of my disenchantment with the book. I really grew to hate this guy! Admittedly, he was understandably plagued with doubt after discovering a major discrepancy in his calculations, and techniques of understanding and resolving scientific error were not well-developed at the time. Still, Méchain should have just sucked it up and gotten the job done -- if not for the duty to his country, or for the wife and children he left behind for several years, then to make the book about his journey flow better. There is a lot of interesting history in this extensively researched book; it's too bad you have to plow through page after page on Méchain's mental distress to get to the good stuff.
Rating:  Summary: Interesting but not very exciting scientific history Review: Ken Alder's "The Measure of All Things" follows two French scientists as they traverse France over the course of years in the 1790's. Their goal was to accurately measure the distance from Dunkirk to Barcelona, triangulating from mountaintops and cathedrals, so that the size of the earth could be extrapolated from their calculations. Then they hoped to have a precise figure for the length of the meter, the new unit of measurement defined as being one ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the North Pole. My favorite aspect of the book was how the measurement expedition was tied to the French Revolution. The decision to switch to the meter, intended to be a gift to the world, was a consequence of the era of rationality in France that led to the Revolution. However it was the Revolution that almost derailed the men. The scientists, rather suspicious when setting up their arcane instruments on top of local high points, were repeatedly detained by locals who mistook them for spies. The extreme political chaos is contrasted nicely with the high-minded goals of the Scientific Academy, seeking to replace France's hodge-podge of measurement systems with a rationally defined and scientifically determined unit. Unfortunately the senior of the two scientists, Méchain, suffers from a crisis of confidence throughout the narrative, and ended up fudging his results a bit to reduce the appearance of error in his numbers. (Their calculation was off a bit anyway because the curvature of the earth is less uniform than was thought at the time.) Méchain's dawdling and despair take up a rather unenjoyably large amount of the book. One certainly feels sorry for his partner, Delambre, who has to cajole the reluctant Méchain into finishing his part of the expedition and getting all of his results tabulated. I was glad to learn about the origins of the metric system, and the story of performing ground-breaking science in the middle of revolutionary turmoil was fascinating. The politics of the Scientific Academy and the details about the scientific giants of the time also fleshed out the context well. Méchain's dilly-dallying is the center of my disenchantment with the book. I really grew to hate this guy! Admittedly, he was understandably plagued with doubt after discovering a major discrepancy in his calculations, and techniques of understanding and resolving scientific error were not well-developed at the time. Still, Méchain should have just sucked it up and gotten the job done -- if not for the duty to his country, or for the wife and children he left behind for several years, then to make the book about his journey flow better. There is a lot of interesting history in this extensively researched book; it's too bad you have to plow through page after page on Méchain's mental distress to get to the good stuff.
Rating:  Summary: The search for precision Review: Since the book 'Longitude', by D. Sobel, was published and became a best seller, there have been a number of books that have tried to follow the same lines. Some of these efforts have been successful. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that this book lived up to the task.
This story involves the quest for an accurate all encompassing unit of measure that can be agreed upon. During this period of time, the world does not have a standard unit of measure. Each town of province would have it's own standard for a unit of length, weight, and volume. Trade in that area would be based on this standard. This concept worked well until you left the area and tried to trade goods with a aneighboring town.
The neighboring town would have a different set of standards, which caused problems with setting unitary costs for goods. What a trader would pay per bushel of goods wouldn't mean very much when the size of the bushel changed from town to town.
The book goes into detail of the events regarding the determination of the standard meter. I enjoyed the race between the differnet countries, including the French trying to get the United States involved. Another interesting point was how the French Revolution played into the process. It was such a turbulent time and anyone hwo was part of the 'official' King's business were the enemy to the citizens.
The book gets a little long and drawn out regarding the measurements taken. It gets a little dry and, at times, difficult to keep ones interest. Not a bad book, but when compared to some of the better books, this one falls a little short.
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