In prehistoric times, not much needed to be measured. You ate what you found and lived where you could. The advent of agriculture and civilization, however, necessitated a way for people to measure ...

“Beyond Measure,” by James Vincent, tells the story of human civilization through its systems of measurement, showing how they have promoted knowledge, social control and ongoing conflict. By Jennifer ...

WE TAKE the certainty of measurements for granted, but their story is as complicated and changeable as any other part of human culture. Journalist James Vincent makes this clear in his new book, which ...