- Decoding the Heavens
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Decoding the Heavens: A 2,000-Year-old Computer and the Century Long Search to Discover Its Secrets Author(s) Jo Marchant Language English Genre(s) Non-fiction Publisher William Heinemann Ltd. Publication date November 2008 Media type Print (Hardback) Pages 336 pp ISBN 043401835X OCLC Number 230989682 Decoding the Heavens: A 2,000-Year-old Computer and the Century Long Search to Discover Its Secrets by Jo Marchant is an exploration of the history and significance of the Antikythera Mechanism, (pronounced /ˌæntɪkɪˈθɪərə/ an-ti-ki-theer-ə), an ancient mechanical calculator (also described as the first known mechanical computer[1][2]) designed to calculate astronomical positions. Technological artifacts of similar complexity did not reappear until a thousand years later.
Marchant approaches the mystery of the mechanism in a narrative that begins with the discovery of the Antikythera wreck in 1901 and includes a primer on the development of scuba gear in the 19th century. Throughout the book, Marchant weaves ancient history with the lives and travails of the handful of contemporary scientists who bucked conventional wisdom with their belief that the mechanism embodied technological and mathematical expertise thought to be impossible for its time. It is believed to have been built about 150–100 BC and yet the delicate bronze clockwork it embodies would not be known to Europe until the Middle Ages.
The author acknowledges (p. 302) that none of the principal researchers [3] from the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project were involved "in any way" with the writing of the book. The project has published a commentary [4] that sets out problems with the book's account of their work.
The book's account of the collaboration between Mr Michael Wright and Dr Allan Bromley is disputed.[5]
Originally published November 2008 by William Heinemann Ltd., ISBN 043401835X. Republished 2009 by Da Capo Press, ISBN 9780306817427.
Reviews
- Anonymous. (January 26, 2009). "Decoding the Heavens: A 2,000-Year-old Computer and the Century Long Search to Discover Its Secrets" Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review (accessed 31 May 2009)
- Collins, P. (February 25, 2009). "Review: Decoding the Heavens by Jo Marchant" New Scientist (accessed 31 May 2009)
- Lake, E. (January 8, 2009). "Decoding the Heavens: Solving the Mystery of the World’s First Computer by Jo Marchant" The Telegraph (accessed 31 May 2009)
- Sims, M. (March 8, 2009). "'Decoding the Heavens' by Jo Marchant", Los Angeles Times (accessed 30 May 2009)
- Turney, J. (November 21, 2008). "Clockwork marvel before its time" The Independent (accessed 31 May 2009)
References
- ^ "The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project", The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project. Retrieved 2009-05-29
- ^ Washington Post Quote: Imagine tossing a top-notch laptop into the sea, leaving scientists from a foreign culture to scratch their heads over its corroded remains centuries later. A Roman shipmaster inadvertently did something just like it 2,000 years ago off southern Greece, experts said late Thursday.
- ^ "The academic team" The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project. Retrieved 2009-06-07
- ^ "Notes and Comments on Decoding the Heavens"
- ^ "Decoding the Heavens: Mistakes and Misinterpretations"
Categories: 2008 books | 21st-century history books | History books about Greece | Cultural studies books | Technology books
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