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Finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science & Technology
Named a Best Book of the Year by The New Yorker and The Economist
"Quietly thrilling.…The story of humans measuring things is no less than the story of civilization." —Jennifer Szalai, New York Times Book Review
A vibrant account of how measurement has invisibly shaped our world, from ancient civilizations to the modern day.
From the cubit to the kilogram, the humble inch to the speed of light, measurement is a powerful tool that humans invented to make sense of the world. In this revelatory work of science and social history, James Vincent dives into its hidden world, taking readers from ancient Egypt, where measuring the annual depth of the Nile was an essential task, to the intellectual origins of the metric system in the French Revolution, and from the surprisingly animated rivalry between metric and imperial, to our current age of the “quantified self.” At every turn, Vincent is keenly attuned to the political consequences of measurement, exploring how it has also been used as a tool for oppression and control.
Beyond Measure reveals how measurement is not only deeply entwined with our experience of the world, but also how its history encompasses and shapes the human quest for knowledge.
James Vincent
James Vincent is a Chicago-born guitarist, composer, and writer whose life has been shaped by a deep devotion to music, family, and faith. Over a rich, multi-decade career, James established himself as a versatile force in modern music, evolving from a sought-after session musician into an acclaimed solo recording artist. Rooted in the soulful foundations of the Chicago music scene, his dynamic style richly covered an expansive musical landscape. His lifelong immersion in rhythm, structure, and storytelling through sound ultimately served as the essential foundation for his later calling as an author.Today, James finds his greatest joy far from his past music endeavors and his writing, as he rests in the comfort of a 30+ year marriage to his loving wife, Brigitte, and cherishes his role as a patriarch, watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow into delightful, productive, and purposeful lives.Driven by a profound sense of mission, James dedicates his days to spiritual stewardship. For the past six years, he has shared daily, bible-based meditations with a wide community. These brief reflections are written with a simple, urgent hope: to offer daily encouragement to others and to help readers prepare their hearts for the second coming of Jesus Christ.
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