Traces the history of need to derive longitudinal locations on seas to correctly identify /plot location. Interesting tidbits of life in the seventeenth and eighteenth century.
In 1707, though underlings onboard were not supposed to track location, one brave guy did and came and told his Admiral they were heading for disaster. The Admiral hanged him first and then led four battleships aground with only two survivors. Nobody left to say – I told you so.
The politics and intrigue involved in assessing various methodologies to figure out the longitude on sea is amazing and entertaining. The fight put up by the first watchmaker of the world John Harrison to get his due reminds you that the best minds are not always recognized (often for private petty reasons)
An excellent history- for- the- common- man book. simplifies but does not dumb it down.
Another major positive – 12pt font and 175 pages. Could finish it in one sunday afternoon.