THE ILLUSTRATED LONGITUDE, BY DAVA SOBEL

Since my fondest wish is to sail the high seas of the 19th century, I need to learn how to find myself without GPS. I also love this cover: a violent sea dashing ships to splinters, and, from on high, a man, in a wig, with a clock, come to deliver the poor dogs from ignorance.

Done

Interesting story, filled with many an odd character. Made me want an olde time pocket watch. I was actually constantly thinking of Hicksville while I was reading this book, and the Captain Cook / Hone Heke scenes in which they are lost at sea on a moving island. It’s strange that the sensation of being lost very often feels like falling out of reality. Even if you don’t know your exact location, you are still at a definable location, but it never seems to feel that way. Imagine a small, ticking watch being your only psycological anchor to the real world. Without it, you become unplottable.