Time in History: Views of Time from Prehistory to the Present Day

by G.J. Whitrow

Never before has time obsessed humanity as much as now. The more accurately we measure it, the more it worries us. Although we complain that it passes too quickly, we seldom question its fundamental characteristics or the methods we use to measure it.
Having grown so accustomed to the ideas of time, history, and evolution, we find it hard to imagine that these concepts were not always considered important. If, however, we wish to understand why time dominates our way of life and thought, we must examine the role it has played throughout
history.
G.J. Whitrow provides just the study we need. His compelling, groundbreaking volume traces the evolution of our general awareness of time and its significance from the dawn of history to the present day. He examines not only the development of our methods of measuring time, but also
discusses how changing concepts of time have influenced history itself. From prehistoric times to the twentieth century, and ranging from Ancient Egypt, Greece, Israel, the Islamic World, India, and China, to Europe and America, Whitrow presents an absorbing account of the different ways that
various civilizations throughout history have perceived time.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Philosophy, History Of Science

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Gerald James Whitrow was a British mathematician, cosmologist and science historian.

Reviews

[Guady]

This book is part of the mandatory bibliography in one of my uni classes, I was supposed to read just one part of it but it was so interesting and entertaining that I just read the whole thing. I actually really really enjoyed it.

[Lubo]

Whitrow has conducted a vast amount of research for this book; chock-full of trivia and obscure information you would have a hard time finding elsewhere. If you're researching the history of clocks or calendars from antiquity through medieval times, this is an invaluable read. A bit brief and short, I wish it expanded more on certain subjects, but at least it gives you the basic information. If you want to, you can always research deeper into the topic yourself, so I guess this book is an invaluable 'exposure' to various themes and facts in the field.

[Robbie Bruens]

G.J. Whitrow's historical survey is a somewhat dry but thoughtful series of anecdotes illustrating changing conceptions of time over the course of recorded human history. Due to its subject matter, it gestures at a recursive profundity especially as it winds to a close. I find the subject matter fascinating and Whitrow's treatment of it is highly informative if not astonishingly graceful.

[Allen]

this is a Barnes & Noble edition, probably cheap therefore. it is a treatise on time, on how people view time. it seems well researched, has a lot of information in its 200 or so pages. I think the 1st take away of the book is just how much an assumption our ideas of time are.

[V+V MERCURII]

A history of human perception of time, devices to measure time and calendars. Quite interesting.

[Millanen]

Laaja koonti ajasta kulttuurin ja aikakautensa käsitteenä. Kuivahkosti kuvailtua ja tarvisi rinnalleen toisen kirjan selityksineen, mutta ei kuitenkaan hukkaan heitetty lukukokemus. Opin paljon.