I first read longitude, by dava sobel, just after i finished high school, and i devoured it in a sitting or two. Sobel attended antioch college and the city college of new york before receiving her bachelor of arts degree from the state university of. But its real strength lies in sobels ability to bring galileos conflicts. His story was the subject of dava sobels bestseller longitude in 1995. I finished reading this book while trying to watch star trek the original series at the same time. Smartselltm the new way to sell online we wont be beaten by anyone. She is the main character in sobels most recent book, the glass. Simon singhs fermats last theorem had also proved to be an unlikely no1 bestseller.
Author dava sobel, however, cuts through all the more complicated principles like a good precalculus teacher. The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time topics for discussion dava sobel this study guide consists of approximately 25 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of longitude. This loudly expressed interest in illustrations led to the illustrated longitude, published simultaneously in england and the united states in 1998, with 180 images selected and captioned by my. The only other book i read by dava sobel was her longitude book which i also enjoyed. Dava sobels account of the struggle to accurately measure. Oct 11, 2005 an exciting scientific adventure from the days of wooden ships and iron men, longitude is full of heroism and chicanery, brilliance and the absurd.
The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time kindle edition by sobel, dava. Dava sobel is a former science writer for the new york times, as well as contributor to audubon, discover, life, and omni magazines. The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time. She really is a wonderful writer who makes reading about these men of science interesting. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading longitude. Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the kindle edition of this book. Sobel attended antioch college and the city college of new york before receiving her bachelor of arts degree from the state university of new york at binghamton in 1969. The assignment for harvard magazine morphed into a book project for a new. Sobel has done the impossible and made horology sexy no mean feat new scientist anyone alive in the 18th century would have known that the longitude problem was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day and had been for centuries. Dava sobel is the author of longitude and galileos daughter. Sobel s longitude, the story of a littleknown geographical pioneer and a prime exemplar of the style, turned publishing on its ear when it became a big seller worldwide, but it wasnt exactly. Andrewes, the man who first invited her to write about the longitude symposium he was hosting in 1994 and thereby inspired what proved to be a surprisingly popular book. Jan 08, 2017 the glass universe by dava sobel is published by fourth estate. The tenth anniversary edition of the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. There is an immense drama in the stars, in the way the planets swing around one another. Longitude does not seem to be a topic that would set the readers interest and imagination racing, but dava sobel manages to make what is a seemingly boring topic into a tale that is gripping, exciting and educational. There was poor john harrison played by the versatile sir michael gambon, in. The washington post praise for a more perfect heaven ms. Longitude by dava sobel, 9780802715296, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time by dava sobel. Dava sobel s longitude tells the story of how 18thcentury scientist and clockmaker william harrison solved one of the most perplexing problems of historydetermining eastwest location at sea. Former new york times reporter sobel coauthor, arthritis. Describes the fortyyear effort of john harrison to invent the chronometer.
It consists of dava sobels original text, this time swaddled in 178 illustrations intended to supplement sobels prose with. Rarely have i enjoyed a book as much as dava sobels longitude. The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time is a bestselling book by dava sobel about john harrison. This lush, colorfully illustrated edition adds lots of pictures to the story, giving readers a more satisfying sense of the times, the players, and the puzzle. The drama had been head to head with bbc twos gormenghast in six categories, with longitude nominated for a recordbreaking eight awards. This lush, colorfully illustrated edition adds lots of pictures to the story, giving readers a more satisfying sense of the times, the players, and the. The science writer says that while researching her new book, the glass universe, she read fiction about the time period, such as the custom of the country and o pioneers. Dava sobel has written a gem of a bookone of the best reads for the nonscientific writing to come along for many a moon.
After the sucess of longitude and galileoss daughter, dava sobel tells the human story of the nine planets of our solar system. April 4, 2020 popular download longitude by dava sobel pdf ebook free. Longitude 10th anniversary edition by sobel, dava 2005 paperback paperback january 1, 1709 4. The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time chapter 1. Books by dava sobel featured in the 1870s, before women had the right to vote or a firm standing in the workplace, a lucky few found employment at the harvard college observatory.
Dava sobel, a former new york times science reporter, is the author of longitude walker 1995 and 2005, penguin 1996, galileos daughter walker 1999 and 2011, penguin 2000, the planets viking 2005, penguin 2006, a more perfect heaven walker bloomsbury 2011 and 2012, and the sun stood still bloomsbury, 2016 and the glass universe viking, 2016. Because sequels and adaptations infest publishing as they do moviemaking, please note that the illustrated longitude is neither. Couldnt get too far that way though, so i now all thats stopping me from watching star trek is writing this blog post and the fact that its past 2 am. Her books include longitude, about english clockmaker john harrison, and galileos daughter, about galileo s daughter maria celeste, and the glass universe. I enjoyed this book immensely and i found galileos life fascinating. Sobel is an elegant stylist, a riveting and efficient storyteller, a writer who can bring the dustiest of subjects to fullblooded life. Longitude 10th anniversary edition by sobel, dava 2005. Daily mail rarely have i enjoyed a book as much as dava sobels longitude. The greek astronomers could measure latitude as early as the third century b. During the great ages of exploration, the longitude problem was the gravest of all scientific challenges.
Buy by dava sobel longitude hardcover by dava sobel isbn. The concluding chapter of longitude is a very touching account of her personal visit to zero longitude in greenwich where this writer also straddled that magic line embedded in the pavement. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. The true story of a lone genius who solved goodreads. Longitude by dava sobel, 9780007214228, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
But an equally intriguing drama existed in the discovery of that swing. This loudly expressed interest in illustrations led to the illustrated longitude, published simultaneously in england and the united states in 1998, with 180 images selected and captioned by my coauthor, william j. She has an extraordinary gift of making difficult ideas clear. Get free shipping on longitude by dava sobel, from. The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time 1995. Study questions, project ideas and discussion topics based on important themes running throughout longitude.
The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time is a bestselling book by dava sobel about john harrison, an 18thcentury clockmaker who created the first clock chronometer sufficiently accurate to be used to determine longitude at seaan important development in navigation. This book should be required reading for all schools. Roughly onequarter of the many letters i received after the publication of longitude complained that the book contained no pictures, maps, or diagrams. The publication of longitude taught me that a book can actually improve by virtue of being read. Longitude an adaptation of dava sobels book starring jeremy irons and michael gambon won prizes for production design, photography and lighting and original television music. With a new foreword by the celebrated astronaut neil armstrong. Dava sobel born june 15, 1947 is an american writer of popular expositions of scientific topics. Dava sobel is an accomplished writer of popular expositions of scientific topics. The subtitle here tells the reader exactly what the book is about. Oct 30, 2007 roughly onequarter of the many letters i received after the publication of longitude complained that the book contained no pictures, maps, or diagrams. She ranges from each planets discovery, both mythic and historic, to the latest data from robotic space probes and images from the hubble space telescope.
For example, the typesetter had inexplicably swapped. Full of heroism and chicanery, it is also a fascinating brief history of astronomy, navigation, and clockmaking, and opens a new window on our world. The new york times a simple tale, brilliantly told. It didnt matter that the subject might be arcane or abstruse. Youve done something quite unconventional with this book, putting a twoact play right in the center. The lost pages of longitude by dava sobel financial times. With new material from dava sobel and william andrewes, and illustrated with over 200 integrated photographs, the illustrated longitude is the essential book for everyone who fell in love with john. The book is factual and very chronological, taking the reader on a tour of galileos revolutionary ideas regarding space, gravity, and philosophy. Dava sobel explores the life and times of galileo galilei in her partly epistolary, partly historic book galileos daughter.
Dava sobels longitude had sold more than a million copies. Numerous attentive readers took the trouble to write to me to point out typos or other errors in the text, which the publisher then corrected in subsequent editions. The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time is an engaging overview of the solution to the longitude problem. When, some years ago, and in the wake of dava sobels bestseller, longitude 1995, the bbc decided to make a docudrama on the life of john harrison, the inventor of the marine chronometer, the us and them school of historical popularising was much in evidence. Astronomer dava sobel on why the 2017 eclipse was the perfect time to pay tribute to the heroine of her new book. Merseyside quiz leagues questions set by wirral quiz.
How the ladies of the harvard observatory took the measure of the stars. Nov 08, 2007 dava sobel is the author of longitude and galileos daughter. Jul 05, 2010 longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of harrisons fortyyear obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. Well researched and refreshingly written, it is a must read book. It is also a captivating brief history of astronomy, navigation and clockmaking. In some respects, therefore, the exhibition represents a familiar tale widelyknown in recent years from dava sobels highlysuccessful longitude. Apr 22, 2001 longitude an adaptation of dava sobel s book starring jeremy irons and michael gambon won prizes for production design, photography and lighting and original television music. The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time audiobook by dava sobel. Channel 4 comics have last laugh at baftas telegraph. When longitude first appeared in 1995, sobel s lucid, insightful little book had a single imperfection.
Sobel attended antioch college and the city college of new. The author elegantly fashions the life of copernicus as a twoact play bracketed by historically documented narratives that cover the periods before and after the arrival of georg joachim rheticus at copernicuss polish doorstep in 1539. The end of the 20th century was a time when books such as dava sobels longitude were topping the bestseller lists, and the public wanted more of these strange but true yarns. Dava sobel, a former new york times science reporter, is the author of longitude, galileos daughter and letters to father. A 1964 graduate of the bronx high school of science, ms. Sobels longitude, the story of a littleknown geographical pioneer and a prime exemplar of the style, turned publishing on its ear when it became a big seller worldwide, but it wasnt exactly. The book celebrates earth and her nearest neighbors at this unique moment in history, when the old familiar solar family yields to a new definition of the word planet, and thousands of recently discovered exoplanets orbiting stars beyond the sun hold out the tantalizing possibility of extraterrestrial life. Dec 08, 2016 the science writer says that while researching her new book, the glass universe, she read fiction about the time period, such as the custom of the country and o pioneers. The illustrated longitude was published in 1998, with 180 images selected and captioned by coauthor william j. The true story of a lone genius who solved the greatest scientific problem of his time, dava sobel writes that the trick for. Great supplemental information for school essays and projects. Bbc news tv and radio longitude wins bafta hattrick. May 14, 2001 channel 4 comics have last laugh at baftas. In her 30 years as a science journalist, she has written for many magazines, and coauthored six books, including is anyone out there.
Longitude is the dramatic human story of an epic scientific quest and of harrisons fortyyear obsession with building his perfect timekeeper, known today as the chronometer. It was the first nonfiction book, i think, that i really. Nov 11, 2005 dava sobel has written a gem of a bookone of the best reads for the nonscientific writing to come along for many a moon. The people who strove to understand longitude were amazing pioneers, and this book explains why. Financial times a true life thriller, jampacked with political intrigue, international warfare, personal feuds and financial skullduggery. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. If you enjoy detective mysteries, you would love rummaging through archives the author on the researching the lives of pioneer female astronomers who worked at harvard. Her books include longitude, about english clockmaker john harrison, and galileos daughter, about galileos daughter maria celeste, and the glass universe. It reminds us all that technology which we take for granted in the last 30 years was not always available.
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