Summary of The Measure of All Things

"The Measure of All Things" by Ken Alder is a non-fiction book that tells the story of two 18th-century French astronomers, Jean-Baptiste-Joseph Delambre and Pierre-François-André Méchain, who embarked on a mission to measure the distance between the North Pole and the Equator in order to accurately define the meter. The book explores their challenging journey across France and Spain, their personal struggles, and the political and social context of the time. Through their scientific endeavor, Delambre and Méchain ultimately contributed to the development of the metric system and the standardization of measurement worldwide. The book also delves into the broader themes of scientific discovery, collaboration, and the quest for precision in measurement.