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Revolution in Time: Clocks and the Making of the Modern World, Revised and Enlarged Edition Paperback – April 21, 2000
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length544 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateApril 21, 2000
- Dimensions6.14 x 1.36 x 9.21 inches
- ISBN-100674002822
- ISBN-13978-0674002821
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Probably the most widely praised book ever written about the history of timekeeping, this book offers an encyclopedic and colorful account of time measurement from the first weight-driven clocks of the Middle Ages to the atomic clocks of today.”―American Time
“The book is a pleasure to read, for the quality of the author's thinking, for the slightly acid perceptiveness of his observations, and for the often enchanting aptness of his quotations and examples.”―E. J. Hobsbawm, New York Review of Books
“Stunning...Revolution in Time fairly radiates the author's own delight. Like the classic clocks it so lovingly describes, it is an exhilarating monument to human ingenuity.”―Jim Miller, Newsweek
“[Landes] has an eye for the odd, amusing detail and manages to convey a great enthusiasm for his subject...His book contains a wealth of piquant information that left me musing when I closed it.”―Tracy Kidder, New York Times Book Review
“The text scintillates with wise and witty aphorisms...Landes notes that clocks are the product of "ingenuity, craftsmanship, artistry and elegance": so is this book.”―David Cannadine, London Review of Books
“David Landes is a splendid storyteller...The book abounds with anecdotes about people, not only those who made the clocks and watches but also those who bought and used them...Without doubt, this book will become a standard work in the history of timekeeping--and it's also fun to read.”―Derek Howse, Washington Post
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Belknap Press; 2nd edition (April 21, 2000)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 544 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0674002822
- ISBN-13 : 978-0674002821
- Item Weight : 1.5 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.14 x 1.36 x 9.21 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #777,002 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #322 in History of Engineering & Technology
- #714 in History of Technology
- #1,316 in History of Civilization & Culture
- Customer Reviews:
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Top reviews from the United States
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Some reviewers are right that this is a weighty tome and may not be fast reading for everyone. However, the level of detail and research is outstanding.
The author is a Harvard professor of economics and history, and as such applies intellectual rigor which you just don't find in online blogs, books written by journalists, or PR from the watch industry. At the same time he keeps the prose flowing and has plenty of funny bits thrown in as well.
The book covers the period of 1300 - 1980. It concerns itself with three things:
1. How was time measured? How did the devices used to measure time evolve? The quest for precision is here.
2. Why did we want to measure time? How did our culture evolve? This is very interesting: religion, industry, railroads, etc.
3. How did the timekeeping manufacturing and industry evolve? From ancient tower clock smiths to the modern Swiss conglomerates.
The author focuses on the most fundamental advances and trends in all of these areas. As a result, he actually omits some brands and personages which loom large for modern watch lovers, such as Rolex, or more surprisingly, Breguet (they are mentioned mostly in passing). However, there is plenty of detail around the quest to measure longitude and the invention of the marine chronometer, and the evolution of watch escapements (this all was a British tour de force). Or the larger trends and interplay between British, French, Swiss, and later American and Japanese watch industries. Even Patek and Vacheron are written about mostly in the early industry discussions rather than as contributors to horology because, as it turns out, the first perpetual calendar was made by Mudge in Britain, who also invented the level escapement which is in most watches to this day.
Very highly recommended!
I've read this book several times, and enjoyed it each time.
Cons: It only really covers mechanical time measurement, although there is one chapter on modern timekeeping with quartz crystals, atomic clocks, and so on. This is history, not a study of the current state. But that's fine; no one but physicists really understands the frontier of current time measurement.
1. The original publication date was 1983. As such, the Pictures in the book were good for that time. However, today a book of this type should have much better pictures, or better resolution pictures of the originals.
2. The book, at the end, roughly follows the making of clocks, then the making of chronometers, then a large portion of the book is on the making of watches. I think one area was woefully overlooked: the industrialization of clock making by American Companies in the 1800's (like Seth Thomas). This laid the groundwork for industrialization of the watch making trade which IS covered in the book.
But these are minor quibbles. Get the book, read it. Be aware that it may be a little dry at the start but stay with it and you won't be sorry. A recommended book
Top reviews from other countries
Venditore gentilissimo nel seguirmi fino a che il libro non mi è arrivato.
Quest'opera, frutto del genio del Prof. Landes, merita ogni bene. Ogni riga trasuda la passione dell'autore e la sua competenza per la materia "tempo" in ogni sua declinazione.
Una lettura coinvolgente e appassionante che insegna mantenendo l'attenzione del lettore sempre al massimo.
CONSIGLIATISSIMO !