I haven't actually read this cover to cover -- it is on my "to be read" shelf, as a matter of fact, but I have picked it up often enough to know that it's gonna be great. It's laid out in such a charming manner, and the chapter notes and bibliography already tell me that much fun awaits. I'll update this after I finish it, but I'm trying to finish just listing that which I have and wish to be quit of first.

Later ... I've read it twice!

This is the story of the two main surveyors (and thinkers, scientists, astronomers and unbelievably courageous optimists in the truest sense of the word) who eventually gave us the "metre". It is downright adventurous history, complete with a bit of intrigue, a lot of politics and ultimately a scientific "cover-up". (Wonder if anyone thought of calling it "METREGATE"?) The actual science is carefully explained (not to the point that I necessarily "get it" all, but enough to appreciate the efforts of early surveyors.

The only reason this book doesn't get a "ten" is because I knock off two points for the absolutely slovenly method of just listing the text reference notes in the back by page, rather than actually notating them withing the text itself. (I'm trying to do my fair share to return to righteous annotation.)

But ... it's a fine book, well-researched and includes a good bibliography and a fine index. The diagrams are expecailly clear and the few included pictures are very good.