Reviews

Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants by James Vincent

ana_vl's review

adventurous informative medium-paced

4.5

rarara22's review

informative medium-paced

4.0

I really liked this book, I listened to the audiobook. I think in Modern Life I equate measurement with accuracy, and this book did a good job to remind me that measurement is an evolving tool. I found all of the chapters to be well researched and a good range of topics and perspectives. 

thequeenofsheba3's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

2.0

nsyapod's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

3.25

flexcent's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective slow-paced

2.5

Really interesting, but I didn't love the writing style. It is written as a compilation of examples throughout history, I'm not sure what I expected but this made it feel long and slow.

alskn's review against another edition

informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

emmagovan's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

3.75

mbrunk98's review

informative reflective slow-paced

4.5

chaifanatic18's review

funny informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

kinddog2073's review

adventurous informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

Read aloud to my partner.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation and Ableism

Minor: Rape and Forced institutionalization

The chapters dealing with land surveying and eugenics are appropriately dark. Vincent handels the subject matter well, but it is disturbing nonetheless. In particular the discussion of eugenics includes passing details of Carrie Buck's life which I knew about before and we just skimmed over. Buck v Bell is a horrifying story, but an appropriate and important one to tell in a book on the history of metrology.