Beyond Measure

When I introduce measurements to my students, I talk about “an exciting adventure across centuries.” I love this book because it tells the long history of measurement, starting from prehistory and arriving at our days as if it were a true, fantastic adventure humankind has lived since the beginning of its existence.

This is not a technical book, nor a book of history, in a strict sense. It is written by a journalist as an adventure novel, telling the story of a fantastic journey across generations to build our present knowledge.

I read it as a novel, eager to discover… show more.

I like books that change the way I see the world, and this is that kind of book.

We tend to think about units like kilograms and inches as things that are both mundane and objective. In compelling prose, this book shows they are neither: not only is measurement a product of human experience, but it also has profound social ramifications.

From ancient Egypt to the French Revolution and from the Food and Drug Administration to Fitbit, measurement has been used as a tool for social influence, control, liberation, and oppression.