LongitudeThe True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
Dava Sobel - 2005-10-01 (first published in 1995)
Discover the thorniest scientific dilemma of the eighteenth century in this suspenseful tale. With thousands of lives and the fortunes of nations at stake, follow one man's forty-year obsession with building a perfect timekeeper to solve the "longitude problem" and keep sailors from getting lost at sea. Full of heroism, chicanery, and fascinating glimpses into astronomy, navigation, and clock-making, this epic quest will leave you rethinking our world.