From the Bookshelf of Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library…

[close] At around 150 pages, this is a quick read, and an absolutely fascinating book.

Most people don't realize how difficult navigation was at sea centuries ago. While it was easy to determine latitude, a way of accurately determining longitude had eluded the greatest scientific minds of Europe for centuries. This led to many shipwrecks which cost the lives of countless sailors as well as profits. "Longitude" is the story of the race to find the answer to the elusive longitude question, the results of which would revolutionize sea travel, clock making, and astronomy. I highly recommend it.