Les Arpenteurs du monde

by Daniel Kehlmann

book data

610 ratings, 3.66 average rating, 113 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		21%
4		38%
3		28%
2		8%
1		3%

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published

January 3rd 2007 by Actes Sud (first published 2005)

details

Broché, 298 pages

characters

Alexander von Humboldt, Carl Friedrich Gauss

isbn

274276545X (isbn13: 9782742765454)

description

Already a bestseller in Germany, this brilliant and gently comic novel chronicles the lives to two young geniuses who during the Enlightenment of the …more

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Feb 01, 2008

Oceana2602 rated it:

(review of isbn 3498035282)

bookshelves: 2008, biographies, german, male-writers, science

Read in January, 2008

recommended to Oceana2602 by: FAZ
recommends it for: everyone

Daniel Kehlmann's Measuring the World was one of my birthday presents last year, and I waited almost a year to finally read it. Even though it had been on my wishlist, when it suddenly sat there on my shelf, the idea of reading about pre-industrialization Germany, about Humboldt and Gauß, two boring old scientist, seemed rather dreadful.

I should have known better. Measuring the World is not a science book. It's not about two boring old men either, though it is about two old scientis...more

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1 comment

Jan 17, 2009

Andrea rated it:

(review of isbn 0375424466)

Read in January, 2009

this book was a fine and immensely fascinating and satisfying read!
i read it in one setting last nite, even stayed up late to finish it! it's that kind of book! you learn a lot about living 200 years ago, when there were no dentists, only sailboats and berlin a small town with mostly huts and dirty streets! and at the same time you are entertained! this book was a mega-bestseller in germany, he has a new book coming out called "fame", which deals with the protection of privacy in...more

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

3 comments

Jan 15, 2008

Kirsten rated it:

(review of isbn 3498035282)

Read in December, 2007

Zwei exzentrische Charaktere, die Interessantes entdeckt und faszienierend gelebt haben. Denen sehr zu empfehlen, die sich für Naturwissenschaften, Mathematik, das Nichtkonventionelle, andere Kontinente und die Welt im Allgemeinen interessieren.

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Jul 26, 2007

Desiree rated it:

(review of isbn 0375424466)

Read in March, 2007

"a real example of the pitiful arbitrariness of existence <is> that you were born into a particular time and held prisoner there ... It gave you an indecent advantage over the past and made you a clown vis-a-vis the future."

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Oct 07, 2007

Samuel rated it:

(review of isbn 0375424466)

Erzählt werden zwei Geschichten, zwei Lebensläufe. Der eine von Alexander Hum-boldt, der andere Carl Friedrich Gauß. Einfach gegen einandergeschnitten werden die Lebensentwürfe dieser beiden Wissenschaftler nebeneinander gesetzt. Der Weg zum Ziel – so wohl die Grundaussage – ist unterschiedlich. Während Gauß kaum etwas von der Welt sieht und sich jeder Veränderung verweigert, reist Humboldt durch die Welt, kein Berg zu hoch, kein Fluß zu breit.
Während Gauß sich den Freuden de...more

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Mar 12, 2009

Stephanie rated it:

(review of isbn 1847240453)

bookshelves: found-in-translation

Read in April, 2007

Admittedly, a novel starring two 19th century scientists might not sound like fascinating reading. However, in his first novel translated into English, German literary wunderkind Daniel Kehlmann, 32, has created a whimsical, diverting tale about two of Germany's -- and the world's -- most influential thinkers.

They are naturalist and georgrapher Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) and mathematician and physicist Carl Gauss(1777-1855). The two men first meet by the end of the first chap...more Admittedly, a novel starring two 19th century scientists might not sound like fascinating reading. However, in his first novel translated into English, German literary wunderkind Daniel Kehlmann, 32, has created a whimsical, diverting tale about two of Germany's -- and the world's -- most influential thinkers.

They are naturalist and georgrapher Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) and mathematician and physicist Carl Gauss(1777-1855). The two men first meet by the end of the first chapter, when an elderly and cantankerous Gauss reluctantly leaves his home town of Göttingen, at Humboldet's behest, to attend the German Scientific Congress in Berlin in 1828.

From the start their characters are clear -- Gauss is crotchety and cruel towards his less brilliant son, while Humbodlt is sprightly and ever-inquisitive as he urges Gauss to pose for a prototype photograph.

Then the rest of the book charts out the lives of either man up till that point, in alternating chapters which emphasis their portrayal as opposite poles.

Prussian aristocrat Humboldt was brought up in an encouraging, if somewhat cut-throat, intellectual environment competitive, learning everything to do with science while his more charismatic elder brother tackled the humanities. In contrast, Gauss was born into poverty, and is handed from mentor to mentor as his burgeoning genius proves too large for his provincial town.

Humboldt is depicted as small and celibate, while Gauss is handsome and promiscuous. Humboldt travelled the world to measure it, while Gauss shaped the way we measure it without even leaving the country.
Along the way, we get some lessons in mathematical theory and the foundation of modern ideas of space and time.

Humboldt's journey through Central and South America is obviously photogenic. Clad in a specially-made uniform, he climbed the mountains, forded rivers and crept through caves, relentlessly measuring everything as he went with an arsenal of chronometers, barometers, sextants and cyanometers (to measure the blue of the sky).
Semingly indestructable, Humboldt is not averse to mutilating his body in the name of science, zapping himself with electric eels to examine the nature of their power and tasting native-brewed poison to test its potency.

His unflapable attitude is perfectly captured by Kehlmenn's droll, understated prose. After the team has faced yet anoher mishap -- their boat nearly sinks when it is buffeted by the wind over the river -- Humboldt's sidekick, French botanist Aimé Bonpland, despairs that he will ever return home. Humboldt is less hysterical: "That was just being realistic, replied Humboldt, checking to see if any of the timepieces were damaged."

Menawhile, although Guass was rather less travelled, his journey of discovery is no less remarkable. He deduces that fire requires oxygen to burn aftre feeling faint when he walks into a room filled with candles, amd realises that space is curved and all parallel lines meet on his first hot-air balloon ride.

While his licentiousness provides for the usually bawdy comic relief, it does not prevent him from leaping out of bed on his wedding night to write down a suddenly-realised formula on correcting mis-measurements.

While the science is fascinating, those less mathematically-minded should not fear -- various theories and discoveries are mainly put to work in furthering what is a fascinating character study of two extraordinary people. In taking their measure, Kehlmann reminds us that as vast and unknowable as the universe is, Man is a no less complex -- and surprising -- creature himself.(less)

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Dec 09, 2008

Mukikamu rated it:

(review of isbn 0375424466)

Read in March, 2008

recommends it for: anyone

The reason why Daniel Kehlmann’s novel is listed on MUKIKAMU is because it is all about exploration. In every sense. It underlies the very essential of this blog, namely that you can travel and make discoveries even if you don’t leave your room. Naturally, the book is about so much more. Refreshing in every idea it presents, the characters (famous scientists Gauss and Humboldt) are charmingly passionate geniuses and the plots are really very funny. Humboldt travels to the New World to dilige...more

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Dec 27, 2009

R. rated it:

(review of isbn 2742780610)

Read in August, 2007

Ce livre relate la vie de deux grands savants allemands aux spécialités et profils bien différents. Le premier est le célèbre mathématicien Carl Friedrich Gauss. C’est un véritable génie précoce qui est tellement en avance sur son temps qu’il s’en rend lui-même compte. Il ne n’a de cesse de se lamenter en se demandant pourquoi il doit endurer le sort si cruel d’être né et de devoir vivre dans un monde si arriéré. Il pense plus vite que tout le monde et c’est principalem...more Ce livre relate la vie de deux grands savants allemands aux spécialités et profils bien différents. Le premier est le célèbre mathématicien Carl Friedrich Gauss. C’est un véritable génie précoce qui est tellement en avance sur son temps qu’il s’en rend lui-même compte. Il ne n’a de cesse de se lamenter en se demandant pourquoi il doit endurer le sort si cruel d’être né et de devoir vivre dans un monde si arriéré. Il pense plus vite que tout le monde et c’est principalement pour cette raison que les autres l’ennuient au point de presque tous les mépriser. Plus encore que les gens, il abhorre les voyages et ne quitte que bien malgré lui son domicile.
Les voyages sont la spécialité du second personnage principal de ce roman ; l’explorateur Alexander von Humboldt. En plus de la géographie, il étudie tout ce qui touche aux sciences de la vie, de la botanique à la géologie en passant par la zoologie et l’ethnologie. Il n’a ni le même profil ni les mêmes ambitions que son compatriote. C’est un savant plus besogneux à l’intelligence moins fulgurante mais aux plus grandes ambitions. Il souhaite devenir célèbre grâce à la science et y consacre chaque instant de sa vie.
Pourquoi ce titre : Les arpenteurs du monde ? C’est que les deux savants vont exercer de manière bien différente le métier d’arpenteur. Ce métier, proche de celui de géomètre, consiste à effectuer des mesures géographiques visant à évaluer la superficie de terrains et à établir des cartes.
Humboldt parcours l’Amérique du Sud, descends l’Amazone escalade la cordillère des Andes découvre des lieux, des espèces et des peuples jusqu’alors inconnus.
Pendant ce temps le génial Gauss doit parcourir les forêts de son Allemagne natale, négocier avec les vieux barons, partager le repas des paysans et dormir sur des paillasses malodorantes.
Que va-t-il se passer lorsque ces deux hommes que seule la science rapproche vont se rencontrer ?
C’est un très bon livre, les aventures du baron Humboldt son passionnantes. Totalement obnubilé par la science, il ignore tout les risques et va vivre des aventures extrêmes qui vont les mener, son infortuné assistant et lui, a leurs limites physiques et mentales. Le cas de Gauss est bien différent, il met en lumière l’inaptitude des génies à évoluer dans le monde des gens « normaux ». L’alternance du récit entre les deux personnages ajoute une touche d’originalité à un livre très bien écrit et documenté. http://aubonroman.blogspot.com/2007/08/l...(less)

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Feb 25, 2009

Cereza84 rated it:

(review of isbn 0375424466)

Read in February, 2009

recommends it for: anyone who is interested in the development of both science and literature

"Measuring the world" is an absorbing historical novel dealing with the lives and researches of the mathematician and physicist Carl Friedrich Gauß and the natural scientist and discoverer Alexander von Humboldt.

Experience for yourselves the caning of Gauß, son of a gardener, at school and the discovery of his unusual talent regarding Mathematics, and come along with von Humboldt through the vast jungles of the Amazon.

Alongside, you will meet and read about d...more

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Mar 05, 2010

Nuno Ribeiro rated it:

(review of other edition)

bookshelves: own

Read in March, 2010

"A Medida do Mundo" é um livro extremamente interessante na medida em que o autor provoca a reflexão do leitor sobre a natureza do ser humano ao descrever duas personalidades completamente distintas que se complementam numa busca por explicações racionais da natureza do mundo e mesmo do universo. Trata-se, no fundo, da história de dois sábios alemães que, no século XIV, tentaram, cada um à sua maneira, explicar o planeta e o cosmos, recorrendo ao pensamento científico e à su...more "A Medida do Mundo" é um livro extremamente interessante na medida em que o autor provoca a reflexão do leitor sobre a natureza do ser humano ao descrever duas personalidades completamente distintas que se complementam numa busca por explicações racionais da natureza do mundo e mesmo do universo. Trata-se, no fundo, da história de dois sábios alemães que, no século XIV, tentaram, cada um à sua maneira, explicar o planeta e o cosmos, recorrendo ao pensamento científico e à sua pedra basilar: a observação atenta e rigorosa, por meio de instrumentos, da Natureza, ou dito de uma forma sintética, através da medição ou medida. Por um lado, é-nos dada a apreciar a vida do barão Alexander Humboldt, o pai da Geografia, através de descrições das suas viagens, enquanto jovem, pela América do Sul e posteriomente pela imensidão do território russo. Humboldt é retratado como tendo um medo de morte da monotonia e um fanático pelas viagens, pela medida rigorosa e pela recolecção de infindáveis amostras de todas as coisas dignas de nota e observação que a Natureza tem para nos oferecer. Por outro lado, apreciamos a vida de Carl Gauss, um homem que começou por ser um Matemático genial, retratado como tendo aversão a toda e qualquer espécie de viagem, que dedicou a sua existência à introspecção e aos cálculos, à medição rigorosa das distâncias, terrestres e astronómicas, e à observação e descrição matemática dos campos electromagnéticos, em particular do campo magnético do planeta Terra, tendo acabado por se transformar num Físico. Na Física, a Lei de Gauss é a lei que estabelece a relação entre o fluxo eléctrico que passa através de uma superfície fechada e a quantidade de carga eléctrica que existe dentro do volume limitado por esta superfície. Na verdade, a Lei de Gauss é uma das quatro Equações de Maxwell, que são as leis fundamentais do campo electromagnético e descrevem a respectiva interacção com a matéria. À medida que o livro se vai aproximando do epílogo, concluímos que estas personalidades tão distintas, que no início chocaram entre si, acabaram por experimentar uma intensa amizade, que advém do facto de cada um compreender exactamente o que o outro sente na sua busca incansável pela razão de ser de tudo o que existe. No final, "quando Humboldt ía a atravessar os primeiros subúrbios de Berlim e imaginou Gauss nesse momento a observar com o seu telescópio corpos celestes cujas órbitas conseguia determinar em simples fórmulas, já não era capaz de dizer qual deles andara a correr mundo e qual permanecera sempre em casa". Esta afirmação resume a essência da mensagem veiculada por este livro: apenas nos encontramos a nós mesmos quando tentamos explicar o que nos rodeia, e no fundo o que somos, através de doses equilibradas de acção e de reflexão - o denominador comum é a nossa capacidade de observação da Natureza. Em essência, quanto mais "medirmos o mundo" mais nos medimos, e nos conhecemos, a nós mesmos. Aconselho a leitura deste livro a todos aqueles que apreciam a Ciência, a Matemática e a amizade entre seres humanos e racionais.(less)

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Dec 09, 2009

Petya rated it:

(review of isbn 3498035282)

Read in December, 2009

Oh, it couldn't have been easy to write this book!

There are many almost invisible subtleties about it that I noticed and certainly many more that I didn't - so from a literary point of view, I can appreciate why it is so highly praised. The language itself - the grammatical tense that Kehlmann used in German - supports the narrative wonderfully, it "sounds" like the reading of letters, and sometimes like the reading of thoughts, and underlines the importance of ideas and t...more

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Jul 05, 2007

David rated it:

(review of isbn 0375424466)

bookshelves: mind-numbingly-boring, read-in-2007

A huge success in Germany. For the life of me I can't figure out why. Which were more boring - the parts about Gauss, or the parts about Humboldt?

Trick question - they were equally soporific.

What in hell was the point of this book? if I hadn't been confined to an aeroplane, I'd never have finished it.

5 Yawns on the snoozometer.

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Sep 09, 2008

Stef rated it:

(review of isbn 0375424466)

bookshelves: non-fiction

Read in September, 2008

A fantastic book. I loved every page of it. It showed me that even geniuses are only human. It is well written. Not only for people who are interested in Humboldt and Gauß. It gives a good inside into the society at the end of the 18th / beginning of the 19th century.

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Nov 20, 2009

Kiranerys rated it:

(review of isbn 3499241005)

bookshelves: books-i-ll-most-likely-never-finish, read--don-t-have

Read in November, 2009

I don't quite remember why I wanted to read it, I must have heard something about it somewhere. The blurbs from reviews are all glowing recommendations.

The novel is a fictionalized biography of Alexander Humboldt and Carl Friedrich Gauss. It doesn't really have a plot per se, it chronicles, I don't know how truthfully, the lives of these two men. They both have strong personalities and I wasn't really uninterested in reading more about them.

However, the style irritated t...more

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Feb 14, 2009

Claire S marked it as to-read (review of isbn 0375424466)

bookshelves: a-we-ll-see, earthly, fiction-not-at-all, form_complexia, f_truth-mixt-q, global, g_cmfrm_deutschland, historical, indexia, language, science, to-read

Ok, I understand that for some this book is very very boring and likely missed some in the translation, but it's a subject I'm interested in and perhaps I'll read this in German someday (like a thousand years, the rate I'm going, but still), plus it is very popular there. I was just reading somewhere (I thought on TPMCafe, but can't find it there, perhaps just cause there's so much going on) about a book that says we need to learn from history, but only useful, valid history, for which one has t...more

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Aug 11, 2009

Roberta rated it:

(review of isbn 0375424466)

Even though measuring the world is a dry subject, this story was not. It's a fictionalized account of two world-famous scientists, Humboldt and Gauss, meeting at a convention. Humboldt had traveled the world measuring and classifying everything; whereas Gauss, The Prince of Mathematics, never left his hometown until this "convention". Humboldt seemed almost robotic. He had no use for women; whereas Gauss was a letch. Both were arrogant, Gauss more so than Humboldt. I can't decid...more

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Oct 05, 2008

Muphyn rated it:

(review of other edition)

bookshelves: audiobook, fiction, germany, historical

Owns a copy — Read in November, 2008

Fiction and non-fiction are cleverly interwoven in this story about two of Germany's great scientists. Kehlmann narrates a story where the lives of the explorer Alexander von Humboldt and the mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauß intersect and diverge again. I found it really fascinating, and while I can imagine it might bore some people, it did not bore me in the slightest. And there's enough sly and witty humour in it to keep you, well me, entertained!

Some of the mathematics stuff was...more

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Jan 15, 2008

Sarah rated it:

(review of isbn 0375424466)

I was a bit wary of this book going in, being that 1. it's a translation and 2. it's historical fiction. Sometimes those two things (especially combined ) mean that the book might be boring, poorly written and/or awkwardly translated. This book was none of those things. I can't say with certainty that all the jokes delivered in the English version (being as I didn't read the German), but it was funnier than most books I read in their original language, so that impressed me.

I must sa...more

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Nov 20, 2007

Sarah Sammis rated it:

(review of isbn 0307277399)

bookshelves: pc

Read in June, 2008

How does one measure the world? Daniel Kehlamnn's novel, Measuring the World offers diametrically opposed answers: one theoretical and one empirical. Representing the theory is mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss and representing the experimental is explorer Alexander von Humboldt.

Kehlmann alternates his narrative between Gauss's life and Humboldt's exploration of South America and into New Spain (modern day Mexico). Both men wish to describe the world as elegantly as possible. For Ga...more

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Oct 17, 2008

Hanne rated it:

(review of isbn 184724114X)

bookshelves: naturalists, read-in-2008

Read in October, 2008

recommended to Hanne by: Esteven

Sooo.... I've just finished Daniel Kehlmann's "Measuring the World", because it would seem I am back on my naturalists kick.

It's so interesting to see bits of Humboldt's "Personal Narrative" fictionalised in this and then in Aire Libre as well, and to see how differently things get interpreted.

Anyway, in this Gauss is an crotchety old bastard even when he is young, Humboldt is a freak in every possible way, and Bonpland is the only one with any common...more

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