World in the Balance
The Historic Quest for an Absolute System of Measurement
16 November 2012
Description
“Shows that the story of metrology . . . can in the right hands make for a riveting read.”—The Economist
Millions of transactions each day depend on a reliable network of weights and measures. But achieving such a network was anything but easy, as Robert P. Crease, physicist and philosopher, demonstrates in this endlessly fascinating, always entertaining look at just how this international system evolved. From the link between musical pitch and distance in the dynasties of ancient China and the use of figurines to measure gold in West Africa to the creation of the French metric and British imperial systems, Crease takes readers along on one of history’s greatest philosophical and scientific adventures.
Reviews
"By any measure, this book is a delight." — Natural History
"[A] fascinating book." — New Scientist
"A colorful tale of global conquest driven by kings, revolutionaries, polyglots and privateers." — Science News
"Takes the seemingly mundane questions we unthinkingly ask dozens of times a day and reveals them to be thrillingly profound." — Richard Panek, author of The 4% Universe
Also By: Robert P. Crease 
The Workshop and the World: What Ten Thinkers Can Teach Us About Science and Authority
Hardback, 2019
A fascinating look at key thinkers throughout history who have shaped public perception of science and the role of authority.
The Workshop and the World: What Ten Thinkers Can Teach Us About Science and Authority
E Book, 2019
A fascinating look at key thinkers throughout history who have shaped public perception of science and the role of authority.
The Quantum Moment: How Planck, Bohr, Einstein, and Heisenberg Taught Us to Love Uncertainty
Paperback, 2016
The fascinating story of how quantum mechanics went mainstream.
The Quantum Moment: How Planck, Bohr, Einstein, and Heisenberg Taught Us to Love Uncertainty
E Book, 2014
The fascinating story of how quantum mechanics went mainstream.
The Great Equations: Breakthroughs in Science from Pythagoras to Heisenberg
E Book, 2012
"Any reader who aspires to be scientifically literate will find this a good starting place." —Publishers Weekly
