Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time Paperback – January 1, 1995

This is one of the best books I've read in ages. Beautifully written with all the real-life drama and tragedy that this supposedly unsolvable naval problem has caused through the ages, it explains the mechanical solution clearly - so clearly, in fact, that the reader will understand and be able to explain to others. John Harrison brought singular vision and unparalleled skill toward solving the problem of determining longitude at sea. Despite saving countless lives, he was denied the promised reward as well as the recognition due him for many years. Loved this book!

The story of the goal to be able to calculate longitudinal location is one few think of in the age of GPS. John Harrison’s lifelong passion to build a maritime chronometer that is both accurate and resilient enough to stand up to the rigors of 18th century sea travel unfolds over the better part of a century. Dava Sobel’s account is riveting and beautifully written. My only desire would have been to illustrate with photos and engineering drawings the amazing instruments that are still in operation today. One of the best scientific/historical accounts of passion and persistence I have ever read. Highly recommended.

Very well written, really captures what a great accomplishment it was solving the problem of longitude

Could not go to bed until I saw the end. Even if you are not a boater this historical drama draws you in. After seeing the movie I had to see the traveling exhibit of the replica H1, H2, H3, and H4 clocks when they were in Mystic, CT. Worth watching again and again. And the exhibit was worth the 3 hour trip.

Dr. Sobel's book caught my attention years ago, but I had lent my copy of _Longitude_ to a friend and it never returned. Whether paid forward or simply purloined, my loss tells me another found the book as excellent as I did.So I bought a copy from Amazon and enjoyed it again. My own writing is much more fiction than non-fiction, but as an author, I recognize how difficult it is to write prose that is both correct and intriguing. Sobel has a gift honed by practice. She exemplifies all three of Sir Francis Bacon's prescriptions: reading has made her full of ideas, conference has made her ready, and writing has made her exact.

I was aware of Harrison's solution to the problem of longitude, but I still found this book fascinating. It wasn't just the outstanding story of how this particular obstacle to sound navigation was solved, but also the author's talent in providing a viewpoint that is timeless - one that applies to our era as today's innovators struggle to break through conventional wisdom and sometimes malicious competition.I bought four additional copies to send to my sons and other relatives and have already received appreciative comments. While this book will have wide appeal, those readers interested in science and sailing will especially enjoy it.

Terrific book--about an important story in the history of technology or science. How to navigate on the open oceans before satellites--the bulk of time that mariners have sailed the earth's seas.Description of the copy I purchased was "right on"--book in great shape, as promised; and delivery quite quick as well. Thank you.

This is so very interesting and well-written. Great book for STEM lovers. It also clearly indicates the prejudice of scientists against a clock builder who got it right. There is also a companion movie on Amazon.

A fantastic read, one of the greatest books I have read.

A simply brilliant book. If you never realised what a really big deal longitude is, you should read this. It's not overly technical, and a very accessible piece of written history that isn't even a tiny bit as dull as the title might seem to suggest. I can recommend the companion piece, which is a beautiful book with illustrations and detailed pictures of Harrison's amazing and beautiful machines. You can see these things for yourself in the Royal Observatory at Greenwich in London, the home of the prime meridian.

This book should be required reading for all schools. It reminds us all that technology which we take for granted in the last 30 years was not always available. The people who strove to understand Longitude were amazing pioneers, and this book explains why. Well researched and refreshingly written, it is a must read book!

Tiny print difficult to read

An interesting historical account with insight into the personalities and prejudices involved. I would have liked some more technical explanations about the engineering difficulties overcome in the design of H1, H2 and H3.