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5 comments about Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time.

1. A short but well written book that sheds light on an almost forgotten man who changed the world. Interesting and fun to read, worth checking out.



2. John Harrison completes his first pendulum clock in 1713 before the age of 20. He made the gears for this out of wood which was radical for such a use, but as a carpenter, perhaps not to him---which is a mark of genius, I'd say; to reach beyond accepted norms in this manner. This he did after borrowing a book on math and the laws of motion; which he copied word for word, making his own copy. He incorporated different varieties of wood into his clock for strength and later invented a bi-metal pendulum to counteract the expansion and compression of various individual metals. He also employed friction-free movements so as to do away with problematic lubricants. When intrigued by the puzzle of time at sea and the issue of longitude he contemplated substituting something not prone to gravity, as a pendulum of course is, to track times passing. In 1737 he creates a cantilevered clock 4 foot square. This the longitude board (which had offered a cash bonus to anyone who could devise a method in which time at sea could be kept) admired. Four years later he returns with an improved model; then starts on a 3rd model, like the previous two, also a fairly large sized clock.But there exists a problem within this book: An artisan freemason by the name of John Jefferys at the Worshipful Company of clockmakers befriends Harrison and then later presents to him a pocket watch in 1753. Then in 1755, while still working on his 3rd model, Harrison says this to the Longitude board: I have..."good reason to think" on the basis of a watch "already executed that such small machines[he's referring to pocket watches] may be of great service with respect to longitude." He then completes version 3 in 1759. His fourth version appears just a year later, however, and is a 5 inch wide pocket watch! The obvious inference made by the author is that after he received the pocket watch from Jeffreys he seemingly put his version #3 on the back burner and soon started on the pocket watch 4th version. The author does not claim Harrison copied anything from the Jeffreys model, but she certainly phrases this section so as to lend one to believe that this may have been the case; that Jefferys had a hand in the masterstroke invention Harrison eventually produced in version #4. This is not true. Harrison commissioned the watch he received from Jeffreys and was based on Harrison's specifications. It seems that Harrison simply asked Jeffreys to test an idea which he himself hadn't the time to attack just then; as he was still working on his 3rd version of a table-top prototype clock. Hence Harrison's above statement to the board in 1755 whence his ideas were validated by Jeffreys. In addition, the author plays up the part of the Astronomer Royal's part in attempting to impede Harrison from convincing the longitude board of the efficacy of a time-piece solution to this problem over a celestial answer to this conundrum. The author also jazzes up the issue of whether Harrison received the prize the board promised to pay for a successful solution herein; even though the board supported him for upwards of 20 years as he pursued this quest. It's as if the author intentionally omitted some facts (that the Jefferys was a Harrison commission), and pumped up others (of a rival/foil on the board trying to impede Harrison and the compensation issue; implying that Harrison was jipped) just to make the story more compelling. John Harrison's story, however, is extremely compelling as it is and didn't need this extra spice served up by the author.Do read this (very short) book on how this Mr. Harrison solved the problem of knowing where one is when at sea; and if you're in London, visit the Old Royal Observatory and the Clockmakers museum (in the Guildhall) where you can see Harrison's wonderful creations in person. Enjoy!



3. What do Galileo and John Harrison have in common? They both had run-ins with bureaucracies that impeded the acceptance of their breakthrough ideas. And they are both subjects of books by Dava Sobel. Longitude is second book by her that I have read, the other being Galileo's Daughter. As with the latter book, Sobel combines the science of the times with a lot of background on the politics and religion of the age. She weaves these together into a coherent story that is entertaining and informative. I had never even considered that there was a ever a problem in determining longitude, so this book opened my eyes. The book I had purchased contained color illustrations that helped bring the devices that are the subject of this book to life (more can be found at http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.132/chapterId/2685/Greenwich-and-the-story-of-time.html). These devices were one inventor's way of solving the problem of determining longitude at sea. Sobel covers her topic with a great deal of sympathy. Indeed, the blatant way in which the establishment hampered Harrison was very frustrating, meaning that the writing was very compelling. Interestingly it speaks to Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific revolutions, which pointed out the great steps forward in science can be accomplished by those newer to the field and that science doesn't really change until the older generation passes. I recommend this book to anyone interested in boating or science or anyone who uses a GPS device to have an appreciation for how difficult travel used to be.



4. One of the most pressing issues for early sailors was the problem of longitude. Because it was impossible to determine longitude, many ships and sailors died. Also, captains used the same routes as pirates or enemies of the state, which made it easy to lie in wait for your next victim. In 1714, English Parliament passed the Longitude Act which created an award for the first person to accurately determine longitude. Longitude, by Dava Sobel, explores the work of John Harrison, the man credited with accurately determining longitude for ships at sea.
   
   Contents:
   Acknowledgements
   Foreword, Neil Armstrong
   Chapter 1: Imaginary Lines
   Chapter 2: The Sea Before Time
   Chapter 3: Adrift in a Clockwork Universe
   Chapter 4: Time in a Bottle
   Chapter 5: Powder of Sympathy
   Chapter 6: The Prize
   Chapter 7: Cogmaker's Journal
   Chapter 8: The Grasshopper Goes to Sea
   Chapter 9: Hands on Heaven's Clock
   Chapter 10: The Diamond Timekeeper
   Chapter 11: Trial by Fire and Water
   Chapter 12: A Tale of Two Portraits
   Chapter 13: The Second Voyage of John Cook
   Chapter 14: The Mass Production of Genius
   Chapter 15: In the Meridian Courtyard
   Sources
   Index
   
   Today, ships have GPS to tell them where they are on the seas. But before John Harrison created his first sea worthy clock, sailors were pretty much lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Watches were not accurate and clocks worked on a pendulum, which didn't help on a rolling sea. Sobel weaves an interesting tale of John Harrison, a carpenter turned clockmaker, who created an extremely accurate clock for determining longitude. But this story isn't solely about Harrison. There are others that are attempting to do the impossible as well, using the heavens to find longitude. Harrison must battle prejudice, and himself, to get his timekeeper judged for the prize (£20,000 is the award). In the end, Harrison developed several chronometers, extremely accurate and able to withstand the seas and weather, that by the 1780's all log books had an entry for longitude readings by timekeeper.
   
   This is a topic that many may not find interesting. But Sobel hasn't written an academic dissertation on the subject, she has created a highly engaging study of a man dedicated to solving one of the greatest issues facing the world at the time. Her writing style makes this an easy book to read, as there are few technical details. However, for those that need more information, she provides a rather detailed source listing. I found the book to be a fascinating look at early sailing and the answer to a problem that plagued those sailors. Also, the background on Harrison adds to the story. While he worked as a carpenter, his knowledge of wood aided him in his quest for an accurate timekeeper. His chronometer was accurate to less than a second, in the 1700's, when other, more learned clockmakers could only be accurate to 15 minutes a day (plus or minus).
   
   This is a very good, enjoyable book on a fascinating subject.



5. Dava Sobel's Longitude manages to be both entertaining and enlightening. It's hard to imagine a book based on such a taken for granted historical landmark could prove to be such a good read. Personally, I must to confess a preference for historical issues, and John Harrison proved to be an engaging figure if for nothing else than his single mindedness to the task at hand. He spend the larger part of his life trying to solve a single riddle, and in the process, solved many others.

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5 comments about Farewell, Jackie: A Portrait Of Her Final Days.

1. My husband claims that I've never met a book I didn't like. But two Edward Klein books that I've recently read have to be the exceptions. The Kennedy Curse was bad enough, but Farewell, Jackie: A Portrait of Her Final Days is a true dog.
   
   Klein gives us the details of the diagnosis of Jackie's fatal illness and follows through to her death. In between, he regales us with short stories about her childhood, her lovers, her husbands, her children, her friends and her job. Jackie was fiercely protective of her privacy, and one thing that she demanded of her friends was complete loyalty. Edward Klein used to be a friend, until he wrote an article about her. After that, she cut him off completely. As a result, we're not really getting his "inside" story, but the story of dozens and dozens of Jackie's "anonymous" friends. I question how many would willingly provide him with intimate details of Jackie's deathbed scene (one that he called "her masterpiece").
   
   Farewell, Jackie isn't much of a book. Weighing in about just a little over 200 pages, the chapters are short, the pages are small, and there are often two or three blank pages between each chapter. I read Farewell in a little over two hours, and I'm not a speed reader. At least with The Kennedy Curse, Klein provided us with some interesting information about the little-known Kennedy-Fitzgerald patriarchs. Unfortunately, Farewell, Jackie has little to redeem it. I think Klein has milked this cash cow (the Kennedy's) to the extent that the cow has run dry. It's time for him to find some new material.



2. The author was once a friend of Jackie's, until he had the audacity to break one of her cardinal rules...writing an article on her for Vanity Fair in 1989. Like many people, he has cashed in quite nicely on noteriety of the Kennedy's, and Jackie in particular. Hence, Jackie banished Klien from her circle as she did with many people that she felt breached her privacy. You can hardly consider Klien a true insider, he is more like a vulture picking at scraps already chewed over by many, many other gossip columnists, writers, and fans like myself.
   This book is really just a re-hashing of many things that have already been published and little of it is new. I must add that most of the details in this book on her illness and treatment h were widely published in tabloids like "Enquirer" and "Star" when she died 10 years ago. The chapters on Jackie's private moments during the last months of her life-when she is in church, in the doctor's office, with her children, and even on her deathbed are hard to believe, if only because we know Jackie would not have allowed Klien within a block of her presence. Most of his sources for these are a "secret" and I really have to wonder if anyone that Mrs Onassis truly considered a friend would speak with Mr. Klien.
   
   This book, I hate to admit, is a guilty pleasure but one that I regret indulging in, knowing disgusted the subject would have been with it.



3. I enjoy reading books about the Kennedys and Jackie Onassis, but this book, which was supposed to give a chronicle of sorts of the last 10-11 years of Jackie's life, did not do a very good job of that. It was a cut-and-paste biography from previous books and interviews. I didn't learn anything new from this book, and that's the biggest disappointment. It will be a nice addition to my extensive library, but it won't be the first one I pull off the shelf for anyone who wants a good narrative of her life and on who Jackie really was. This is an "okay to read if you're lonely" kind of book.



4. I think that this book was a well writen portrail of Jackie's final days, with a moderate vocabulary it well conveys the beliefs of the author



5. Edward Klein needs to find a new family to write recycled books about. After peddling such ghastly books as "The Kennedy Curse" and "Just Jackie," Klein engages in literary graverobbing with the putrid "Farewell Jackie: A Portrait of Her Final Days."

   His primary focus is the final illness and death of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, of non-lymphoma cancer that seemed easily treatable. By this time, Ms. Onassis had transcended her tabloid-speckled former lives and had a good job, a man she loved, and grandchildren she adored. But when her cancer spread, Onassis tried to die with the illusion of dignity she had maintained in her life.

   Reading "Farewell Jackie" is a bit like watching someone break open a grave to frisk the bones of the dead. Padding the story of Jackie's illness and death are stories of her earlier life -- primarily her second marriage, and various love affairs she had (one of which has been denied by the man involved). Dirt-dishing, anyone?

   Jackie Kennedy Onassis is portrayed as downright saintly in this book; Klein glosses over the hypocrises and flaws in her personality, such as being "religious" yet ignoring tenets of that religion. Even the volatile nature of her relationship with her second husband. Oddly enough, this adoration doesn't extend far enough, especially at the end. Any semblance of dignity is shredded when Klein goes into grotesque detail about Onassis's final mental and physical deterioration.

   What's more, Klein's writing is deplorable. He transcribes private conversations and moments when Onassis was alone -- all obviously faked. Not to mention that Klein is in desperate need of an editor for this book's many errors. On one page, Klein informs us, "Jackie a wreck." Verbs? We don't need no stinkin' verbs.

   Farewell, Jackie. Too bad Klein had to write this book and peddle it as a memorial volume for you. "Farewell Jackie," thankfully, is clearly destined to sink into the mire of obsequious, poorly-written Kennedy books.

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2 comments about Lip Reading (Ulverscroft Nonfiction).

1. There's Maureen, named for Ms O'Hara; her rabbi, her family, co-star Hugh Jackman from "Oklahoma!" for whom all the females in her house put on eyeliner to see off to the airport at 5 AM, her acupuncturist, friendly stage-door street-people. She sings, dances, acts on the telly, movies, and stage, and writes about all of the above, usually simultaneously. All this in short paragraphs, frequently concluding with an unnanounced joke. And read all her others. You'll thank me.



2. The most recent and best of Maureen Lipman's autobiographies, Lip Reading is a hilarious ode to an unexpectedly unconventional family life. Lipman is well-known in Britain both for her acting talents and for her slightly neurotic, Jewish humour in the tradition of one her her favourite directors, Woody Allen. This book is a collection of anecdotes from her atypical life with her husband, playwrite Jack Rosenthal (Yentl) and their two children...I've been a fan of Maureen Lipman for some years, although I can't claim it hasn't lost me some friends- caused by my attacks of 'Maureen-itis' a seemingly incurable condition brought on by excessive consumption of her books, and invariably preceded by "You'll never guess what's happened now!" My only criticism would be that this book is now three years old- we addicts need another one, and soon!

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5 comments about Born to Fly: The Untold Story of the Downed American Reconnaissance Plane.

1. This book is a first-hand account of an actual event that took the life of one Chinese pilot and almost cost the lives of the 24-member crew of the plane he hit. Told by US Navy pilot Shane Osborn, the real-life hero who flew the American plane hit by the Chinese, the story follows the crew from preparations for take-off on that fateful day through their detainment in China and return to the US, weaving a history of the pilot's lifelong desire to fly through the narration. This is a fascinating story of patriotism and faith in God that every American should know about.
   
   There are glimpses into military life that were of particular interest to me, since my youngest son is in the Navy and is a crewmember on the same type plane, flying the same type missions. His training was very similar and many of the bases and experiences described in the book were the same ones that my son related to me.
   
   This book is one that anyone who is or has been in the military will identify with. And those of us who are not in the military will understand a little more about what our service men and women are doing out there to protect our rights and freedoms. A very entertaining read!



2. LT Osborne failed to follow established Navy protocols when intelligence aircraft are crippled in flight. Intel Naval aviators are instructed to ditch their aircraft in the sea to prevent the adversary from recovering the Top Secret equipment aboard. Instead of ditching after regaining control of the aircraft he flies 20 additional miles to make a safe landing on the adversaries military airfield. The Navy under the pressure of the American public could not court marshal him instead they awarded him the DFC however in a move behind the scenes he was quietly "forced-out" of the Navy after the incident for giving up our countries intelligence collection methods and capabilities causing grave damage to the security of our nation.



3. I had this book on vacation and found that I breezed right through it. The writing style is superb, it reads like a polished novel. Large amounts of dialogue and action that keep the story moving. I liked the interspersing of real-time action and author biography in the beginning, introducing the pilot but keeping the reader in the present.
   
   The story itself is almost too fantastic to be real: a devastating collision, gut-wrenching heroics by all aboard, good old American toughness and concern for fellow crew. Shane does a great job of keeping the story fresh and moving, emphasizing the exciting parts but ensuring the realism, this is definitely better than any Hollywood-writer could envision.
   
   My only complaint was that it ended! 250 pages but it only took two days due to exciting, readable material.



4. The contents of the books is outanding. Shane's writing style is excellent. However, the book cover was in poor condition. The top of the front cover appeared like an animal had chewed on it, and it was slightly soiled in that spot. I had ordered this book to give to my brother for Christmas, and it looked so bad, that I wouldn't give it to anyone! I sent it back to the distributor!



5. I am from Norfolk, Nebraska, the same hometown as Lt. Shane. I have had the pleasure of meeting him several times. The first time was after he came home from China in 2001. He was very handsome in his dress whites. He was gracious enough to sign autographs and take pictures for anyone who wanted them.
   
   The next time I met Shane, I bought my copy of this book. I stood in line for two hours to have him autograph it. After reading it, I e-mailed Shane and received a very prompt reply with the questions I had asked answered in full detail. Little did I know that Shane grew up a couple blocks away from me and I never knew it!
   
   Shane is a very down-to-earth man. He loves his family and loves his country. I recently saw him shopping at Wal-Mart and he came over to me to give me a hug. We are very close, and he is always gracious enough to talk to me.
   
   Now as our state treasurer, he has done a lot of good work for us, including signing my state tax refund checks! (Gotta love those!) If anyone has any doubts about Shane, they should ask someone like me, because I know him personally. I appreciate everything he's done and I love this book. Even though I've read it several times, it still stays on my nightstand table.
   
   Thank you Shane! Can't wait to talk to ya again soon! Love, Andrea

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