#1747

Mentioned in 18 episodes

Longitude

The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time

Book • 2007

In 'Longitude', Dava Sobel narrates the epic scientific quest to determine longitude at sea, a problem that had plagued navigators for centuries.

The story centers around John Harrison, a self-educated clockmaker from Yorkshire, who devoted forty years to developing a series of precise chronometers that could accurately measure time even on long and rough sea voyages.

By comparing the chronometer's time to local sun time, navigators could precisely measure longitude, a breakthrough that significantly improved maritime navigation and saved countless lives.

The book also delves into the historical context, including the establishment of the Board of Longitude and the scientific and political rivalries of the time, making it a compelling tale of human ambition, science, and innovation.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 18 episodes

Recommended by

Andrew Huberman

as a wonderful story about the discovery of timekeeping devices at sea.

8,340 snips

A Process for Finding & Achieving Your Unique Purpose | Robert Greene

Mentioned by

Andrew Huberman

as a book he often gifts to others.

2,549 snips

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Recommended by

Andrew Huberman

for its explanation of the development of reliable timekeeping devices for sea navigation.

525 snips

Charting the Architecture of the Universe & Human Life | Dr. Brian Keating

Mentioned by

Andrew Huberman

as a favorite book he often gifts.

347 snips

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Mentioned by

Derek Thompson

as one of his favorite science books.

230 snips

Why Do Americans Pay So Much for Drugs?

Recommended by

Emily Kwong

as a great read about the longitude problem and the creation of the marine chronometer.

44 snips

The Great Space Race ... With Clocks

Mentioned by

Emily Kwong

as a book about the longitude problem and the creation of the marine chronometer.

32 snips

The Great Space (Clock) Race

Mentioned by

Tom Kalil

as a book about the British Parliament's prize for Longitude.

31 snips

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Mentioned by

Neil deGrasse Tyson

Dava Sobel

's book that details the story of John Harrison and his invention of the first seaworthy chronometer.

24 snips

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Mentioned by

Willa Paskin

as a book about John Harrison and his invention of the marine chronometer.

19 snips

How Books About Things That Changed the World… Changed the World

Mentioned by Parul as the bestselling author of Longitude, Galileo's Daughter, and The Glass Universe.

19 snips

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Recommended by Guy Swan for its fascinating story of John Harrison's chronometer and its impact on navigation.

16 snips

Read_860 - Stone Ridge 2024 Investor Letter

Mentioned by

Neil deGrasse Tyson

as a famous book that popularized the history of finding longitude.

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Mentioned by

Massimo Pigliucci

as a book about the discovery of a method to determine the longitude of a ship at sea.

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Recommended by

Mike Rowe

Philip Diehl

as the story of the search for a simple calculus for longitude.

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Recommended by

Matt Ridley

in relation to the Longitude Prize and John Harrison's invention.

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Mentioned by

Willa Paskin

as a book about John Harrison's invention of the marine chronometer.

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Mentioned by

Kenzie Cooperrider

as a book about calculating longitude.

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Mentionné par

Gérard Berry

comme une source pour son chapitre sur l'histoire de la mesure du temps.

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Mentioned by

Dava Sobel

as a book she read to prepare for writing her own book on Marie Curie.

Dava Sobel with Angela Saini: The Elements of Marie Curie

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