The Time Book: a brief history from lunar calendars to atomic clocks

Martin Jenkins (author)

Richard Holland (illustrator)

Walker Books, UK: 2009

ISBN: 9781406304060

Genres: factual, history, information text, maths, non-fiction, picture book, science

A conversational introduction to the many and varied ways in which time has been measured by mankind over the millennia, this is a book to be shared and explored by those who like to ask ‘how?' and ‘why?'

For example why 10,080 minutes in a week rather than 10,000, given that human beings generally like nice, round numbers like 1000g in 1kg? And why do we measure time in the first place? And why have there been so many different calendars and which one (if any) actually works? And why do we need artificial ways of keeping time when honeybees can do amazing things like time their own flights and humans actually have a pretty good circadian rhythm of their own? And who decided how clocks should be designed and how have they changed our lives?

These and many other really interesting and thought-provoking ideas are explored. Richard Holland's multimedia illustrations support the connections made in the text - links between historical discoveries and modern inventions, between nature and ancient tools. Although it's text heavy, the tone of the work makes it quite readable. A teacher could easily read it to a class to extend concepts investigated in maths, for example. It's a great book to share within the family as adults and children alike will find it stimulating.