Longitude

Have you ever faced a problem so monumental it seemed impossible to solve? Imagine needing to pinpoint your exact location in the middle of a vast, featureless ocean. This was the deadly challenge of the 18th century, and its solution changed the world forever. Discover the incredible story of John Harrison, a self-taught clockmaker who defied the scientific establishment. You'll learn how his relentless pursuit of a perfect marine chronometer, a clock that could keep precise time at sea, solved the longitude problem and saved countless lives.

Dava Sobel is a former New York Times science reporter and acclaimed author whose work illuminates the human stories behind scientific history for a global audience. Her unique background in science journalism allowed her to uncover the dramatic, little-known story of clockmaker John Harrison. By transforming a complex piece of scientific history into a compelling narrative of human ingenuity and perseverance, Sobel brought Harrison's revolutionary achievement out of obscurity and onto the bestseller lists, solidifying her reputation as a master storyteller.