Book Review: Longitude by Dava Sobel

Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
I just finished reading Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genious Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time.  A rather wordy title, I must admit.  It centered around the problem of determining longitude at sea, and how John Harrison developed the first clock that could keep accurate time at sea.  Keeping track of time is important in measuring longitude by knowing 1) The time at some location, 2) the longitude of that location, and  3) the time at your own location.  Using these 3 pieces of information, you can determine your current longitude, with each hour difference corresponding to 15 degrees of longitudinal separation.

I found the book fairly interesting, but was left wanting when it came for technical details concerning the clock.  If you're interested in a short (175 pages) historical read, I highly recommend it.
Post a comment Tags: book review, clocks, longitude

Book Review: Diaspora by Greg Egan

Diaspora
Diaspora

I just finished reading Greg Evan's epic novel Diaspora.  This is by far the most epic novel I've read and I was pleased by the amount of detail put into the science aspects of the novel.  The explanations were very well done and I found myself understanding (on some level) most of the finer details.  Many of the abstract physics concepts were understandable to me, as I have experience with the ideas from elsewhere, but this book did a beautiful job of painting the pictures.  Overall, I found myself jealous of polis citizens and their ability to visualize and manipulate anything they imagined.  It's not the first time I've felt held back by biology and my physical being.


I'd love to talk about some of the ideas presented in this novel, but I don't want to write any spoilers.  :)

Post a comment Tags: science fiction, book review, diaspora

... Finally

So I finally got around to it... I started a blog.  It happened as a promise to thatothermitch that I would start a blog and write a review of a book he loaned me: Diaspora.  As soon as I finish reading it, a review will come.

Post a comment