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David S. Landes
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Revolution in Time: Clocks and the Making of the Modern World Hardcover – October 21, 1983

by David S. Landes (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 60
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Revolution in Time: Clocks and the Making of the Modern World
Revolution in Time: Clocks and the Making of the Modern World
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Discusses reasons why the clock was invented in Europe, traces the development of timekeeping technology, and describes how clocks and watches are made
Previous page
  1. Print length
    482 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Belknap Press
  4. Publication date
    October 21, 1983
  5. ISBN-10
    0674768000
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0674768000
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David S. Landes is Coolidge Professor of History and Professor of Economics, Emeritus, Harvard University, and the author of The Wealth and Poverty of Nations.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Belknap Press (October 21, 1983)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 482 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0674768000
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0674768000
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.07 pounds
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 60

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David S. Landes

David S. Landes

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
60 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Donna's Books
5.0 out of 5 stars A Clock?
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2023
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Does anyone ever consider what was needed if he (or she) didn't have a clock--or even a sundial? This book is a godsend for authors. It will always remain on one of my shelves.
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Alberto Vargas
5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for watch and clock lovers
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2016
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I read the second edition of the book, which extends into the 1980s and mentions Swatch and the nascent resurgence of Swiss mechanical watches as luxury pieces. Apparently the first edition ends on a dour note about the quartz watch as the end of time.

Some reviewers are right that this is a weighty tome and may not be fast reading for everyone. However, the level of detail and research is outstanding.

The author is a Harvard professor of economics and history, and as such applies intellectual rigor which you just don't find in online blogs, books written by journalists, or PR from the watch industry. At the same time he keeps the prose flowing and has plenty of funny bits thrown in as well.

The book covers the period of 1300 - 1980. It concerns itself with three things:

1. How was time measured? How did the devices used to measure time evolve? The quest for precision is here.
2. Why did we want to measure time? How did our culture evolve? This is very interesting: religion, industry, railroads, etc.
3. How did the timekeeping manufacturing and industry evolve? From ancient tower clock smiths to the modern Swiss conglomerates.

The author focuses on the most fundamental advances and trends in all of these areas. As a result, he actually omits some brands and personages which loom large for modern watch lovers, such as Rolex, or more surprisingly, Breguet (they are mentioned mostly in passing). However, there is plenty of detail around the quest to measure longitude and the invention of the marine chronometer, and the evolution of watch escapements (this all was a British tour de force). Or the larger trends and interplay between British, French, Swiss, and later American and Japanese watch industries. Even Patek and Vacheron are written about mostly in the early industry discussions rather than as contributors to horology because, as it turns out, the first perpetual calendar was made by Mudge in Britain, who also invented the level escapement which is in most watches to this day.

Very highly recommended!
14 people found this helpful
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Twhite99
4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating if you like clocks, watches, or time measurement
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2013
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This is the only book I've ever run across that covers horology (study of time measurement), and is therefore quite interesting. Covers time measurement three ways: (1) How did we get better and better at measuring time - how do mechanical clocks and watches work and what were the innovations that made them better? (2) Who made these devices and why - major clockmakers and 'houses', people who innovated, politics and national competition, rivalries, etc. and (3) Why did we decide to measure time at all, and what are many of the diverse impacts this has had on society, especially as we measure and control time and our own personal punctuality?
I've read this book several times, and enjoyed it each time.
Cons: It only really covers mechanical time measurement, although there is one chapter on modern timekeeping with quartz crystals, atomic clocks, and so on. This is history, not a study of the current state. But that's fine; no one but physicists really understands the frontier of current time measurement.
3 people found this helpful
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Gordon F. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful Book on the History of Clocks, Watches and How They Affected and Changed Societies (PLUS Diagrams and Geeky Stuff)
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2017
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"Revolutions in Time: Clocks and the making of the Modern World" by David Landes is a wonderful book on the history of clocks and watches and their impact upon modern day societies. The book is a mixture of history, discussions of why clocks were invented, how society changed clocks and how clocks changed society, why clocks/watches came to technological fruition on the European continent, and technological descriptions/diagrams of clock/watch movements and their advancement. It is easy to read, but be aware that this book has SO much information in it (the narrative portion of the book is 394 pages long with appendices and 73 pages of footnotes at the end) that it could be used as the textbook for a college level course on the History of Clocks. I do have two small quibbles:

1. The original publication date was 1983. As such, the Pictures in the book were good for that time. However, today a book of this type should have much better pictures, or better resolution pictures of the originals.

2. The book, at the end, roughly follows the making of clocks, then the making of chronometers, then a large portion of the book is on the making of watches. I think one area was woefully overlooked: the industrialization of clock making by American Companies in the 1800's (like Seth Thomas). This laid the groundwork for industrialization of the watch making trade which IS covered in the book.

But these are minor quibbles. Get the book, read it. Be aware that it may be a little dry at the start but stay with it and you won't be sorry. A recommended book
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Francesco
5.0 out of 5 stars top
Reviewed in Italy on December 27, 2023
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libro veramente interessante consiglio a tutti
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AXR Goon
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant overview of horology - technical and economic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 16, 2020
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The combination of a detailed explanation of the mechanism of clocks and watches with the economics of the industry from ancient times to the present.
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LORENZO PINNA
5.0 out of 5 stars La grande storia dell'orologio meccanico
Reviewed in Italy on February 1, 2023
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Libro arrivato molto prima del previsto . Il libro di David Land è uno dei grandi classici sulla storia dell'orologio meccanico e di tutta la sua evoluzione dal Medio Evo in poi. Per chi è interessato all'argomento un libro da leggere assolutamente.
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patrick oliver
5.0 out of 5 stars Time keeping and its history
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 27, 2016
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Fantastic book. A very good insight to horology in the round , of timekeeping and it's interaction with the world in general
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Luca N.
5.0 out of 5 stars Splendido !!!
Reviewed in Italy on July 17, 2017
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Ho cercato questo libro ovunque e l'ho trovato da un venditore che pare fosse in California.
Venditore gentilissimo nel seguirmi fino a che il libro non mi è arrivato.
Quest'opera, frutto del genio del Prof. Landes, merita ogni bene. Ogni riga trasuda la passione dell'autore e la sua competenza per la materia "tempo" in ogni sua declinazione.
Una lettura coinvolgente e appassionante che insegna mantenendo l'attenzione del lettore sempre al massimo.
CONSIGLIATISSIMO !
One person found this helpful
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