The Clock We Live on

When you look at a clock or calendar, do you ever stop to think about the years of human effort that have gone into the science of telling time? Most people take clocks and calendars for granted—yet to understand them, one must know something of astonomy, geography and history. Psychology also plays a part.
Isaac Asimov has gathered his facts from many different fields of knowledge. In this revised and expanded edition, he presents a comprehensive story of time, describing the complications that can arise from such simple things as the earth’s rotation on its axis. He explains why the moon was the basis for the first year, why the lunar year doesn’t match the seasons and the problems mankind has faced in trying to make the phases of the moon come out evenly with planting and harvest time.
The numbering of years, naming of days of the week, vagaries of Easter, and calendar reform are but a few of the fascinating topics covered. Written in the same informal, entertaining style that has won acclaim for Dr. Asimov’s other books, readers will find this adventure in time-telling stimulating and absorbing.