About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks

I have to declare an interest since I know the author and went on some of the field trips for his research. What he has done with the information gathered is nevertheless astonishing. Rooney’s career has involved the constant re-examination of the wide varieties of timekeeper his work has involved, always asking new and provocative questions of those objects, teasing out the stories they can tell us, often about ourselves. The book takes the reader on an astonishing historic journey from ancient times, through the present, to the future, along the way highlighting the potential threats to current society imposed by a reliance on highly precise and accurate timekeeping technologies, inbuilt and unseen. There is an implicit challenge in urging us to recognise those threats, and to consider what we might do to reduce them. Rooney has succeeded in providing a highly accessible and enjoyable account of the measurement of time as a constant thread through the history of civilization, always allied to the imposition of order and control. A fascinating and engaging read, very thoroughly recommended.

Very happy

Bought as a present. Envelope too small caused it to open in transit resulting in glue on book sleeve. To tacky to give as a present now. Also would expect higher quality photos/ pictures in a hardback book.

From sundials to atomic clocks, Rooney has looked at their purpose in a different light. He is an entertaining and thought-provoking writer and I recommend this book.

Hands down, one of the most enjoyable, informative, addictive history books I've ever had the pleasure to read. David Rooney is not a historian who has just picked the topic of clocks to write about but he is a life long expert and enthusiast for every topic surrounding time. The mechanical pieces that count seconds and hours, right from sand dials to the fraction of a second time stamps used on the internet stock exchanges, the political and social effect that living to a clock organised life has, and ranging through such diverse topics as art, books, war, astronomy, astrology, train time tables and drinking up times in pubs. I could not begin to describe how much I loved every minute of reading this book. Although there are 12 main clocks, David just uses these as a spring board for each chapter's delights and even as changing locations and centuries are crafted into a magical story it never feels disjointed and always gives just enough information to leave the reader satisfied. I only had a vague passing interest in clocks, but this isn't really for people interested in the physical pieces, though it has some beautiful descriptions of mechanical clocks, such as al-Jazari's Castle clock. It is more about how the awareness of time has altered history and been used for good and evil. I read the audio version, which David reads himself with his lovely gentle North East accent.Since finishing reading the book, I keep thinking about all the different parts of it and going back to look up various facts or just to reread sections. It will be one of my most treasured books and I wish I could force everyone to read it too so they don't miss out on such a wonderful experience.

A great book about the subject is "Hands of Time: A Watchmaker's History of Time. ', by Rebecca Struthers. I have bought it because Rooney's book was simply useless: just a blatantly biased rant against whatever, even the public clocks. Pathetic having to jump on a obtusely and critic bandwagon just to be published.

really interesting

This book is very well documented. It is thought provoking and instructive. David Rooney shows us how clocks have influenced ( and continue to do so ) every aspect of our lives!Thank you for writing this book, David Rooney!