Time in History: Views of Time from Prehistory to the Present Day [Paperback]

G. J. Whitrow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 7, 1989

Never before has time obsessed humanity as much as now. The more accurately we measure it, the more it worries us. Although we complain that it passes too quickly, we seldom question its fundamental characteristics or the methods we use to measure it.
Having grown so accustomed to the ideas of time, history, and evolution, we find it hard to imagine that these concepts were not always considered important. If, however, we wish to understand why time dominates our way of life and thought, we must examine the role it has played throughout history.
G.J. Whitrow provides just the study we need. His compelling, groundbreaking volume traces the evolution of our general awareness of time and its significance from the dawn of history to the present day. He examines not only the development of our methods of measuring time, but also discusses how changing concepts of time have influenced history itself. From prehistoric times to the twentieth century, and ranging from Ancient Egypt, Greece, Israel, the Islamic World, India, and China, to Europe and America, Whitrow presents an absorbing account of the different ways that various civilizations throughout history have perceived time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Whitrow's staightforward approach guides the reader with equal ease through the mathematical complexities of measuring time and intricate philosophies that have been inspired by it.' Books

`fascinating survey of "time" as it has been seen throughout history ... This history of time is both authoritative and thought-provoking, and essential reading for anyone fascinated by time.' New Scientist

'No one is better qualified than G.J. Whitrow to review ideas of time down the ages. His book is well written and judiciously selective. This is an admirable survey, authoritative and readable, of the evolution of our awareness of time and our methods of measuring it.' Times Literary Supplement

'If you have any interest in time ... buy it:it's not expensive. Then read it;scientist or non-scientist, you'll enjoy it and probably learn quite a lot.' Derek Howse

'sober but intriguing book' Sunday Correspondent

'this paperback version offers very good value' David Penney, The Antiquarian Horological Society

`Whitrow's staightforward approach guides the reader with equal ease through the mathematical complexities of measuring time and intricate philosophies that have been inspired by it.' Books

`fascinating survey of "time" as it has been seen throughout history ... This history of time is both authoritative and thought-provoking, and essential reading for anyone fascinated by time.' New Scientist

`No one is better qualified than G.J. Whitrow to review ideas of time down the ages. His book is well written and judiciously selective. This is an admirable survey, authoritative and readable, of the evolution of our awareness of time and our methods of measuring it.' Times Literary Supplement

`If you have any interest in time ... buy it: it's not expensive. Then read it; scientist or non-scientist, you'll enjoy it and probably learn quite a lot.' Derek Howse

About the Author

About the Author:
G.J. Whitrow is Emeritus Professor at the University of London and Senior Research Fellow of the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. He is the author of The Natural Philosophy of Time.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; First Edition edition (December 7, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0192852116
• ISBN-13: 978-0192852113
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,568,469 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great survey of the way Time is thought of in the West, November 10, 2002

By 

Robert Moore (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Time in History: Views of Time from Prehistory to the Present Day (Paperback)

This is a fascinating history of time and the way we measure it in the West. Whitrow covers just about every topic one would expect connected to our concepts of time beginning with the evidence of Prehistory and extending to contemporary physics and philosophy.

My favorite parts are those dealing with the creation of the calendar and the ways that were developed for dividing up the day in the Hellenistic world. I had always taken the names of the months and the length of days in each pretty much for granted, but Whitrow goes into detail about how the egos of the Roman Emperors forced a renumbering of the months so that Augustus could have his month on the calendar have as many days as any other. I had never realized that July was named for Julius and August for Augustus. Whitrow also covers the development and refinement of the calendar over the centuries, and why their was the need for the Gregorian calendar to replace the Julian, and the former's gradual acceptance by all the world.

There is also discussion of the problems of clocks, of the various types, and their development. And special kinds of clocks are covered as well, such as John Harrison's that was recounted in greater detail in Sobel's LONGITUDE.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in how the Western world has developed its ways of thinking about time and how to measure it. Since these concepts undergird virtually everything that happens in our culture, it deals with exceedingly fundamental concepts indeed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent overview on the history of time., November 8, 1997

By 

C. Justiniano "CJB" (Chile) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Time in History: Views of Time from Prehistory to the Present Day (Paperback)

I had always been curious as to the origin of our calendar, our timing system etc. This book presents a very good introduction to this, and also to the changes in the perception and importance of time to different societies throughout history. It is a good introduction though, and not a book for academic research.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time and History, April 2, 2006

By 

Steve Jackson "stevejackson100atyahoocom" (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Time in History: Views of Time from Prehistory to the Present Day (Paperback)

Many important questions in history and philosophy implicate some conception of time. Likewise, the study of historical events requires some background knowledge of calendars, seasons and holidays. Perhaps for this reason I find myself picking up G. J. Whitrow's TIME IN HISTORY every couple of years and rereading all or part of it. It serves as an admirable refresher to issues that keep popping up.

Whitrow starts with a general discussion of time. Children develop a sense of time gradually. Many primitive cultures have not developed a vocabulary that allows them to distinguish periods of time with any precision.

Whitrow next surveys conceptions of time in various cultures and historical epochs. The creation accounts in different religions all contain some conception of time. Although Western Civilization is generally forward looking, there is a strong conservative tendency as well. As Whithrow points out, the Romans looked with suspicion on something that was a "novelty."

At the end of the book he reviews theories of progress and change, such as those advanced by Bury, Spengler and Toynbee. He also discusses the scientific theories of Leibniz, Newtown and Einstein and the various theories of time involved with each.

For a moderately sized book it is quite comprehensive. To take just one example, Whitrow provides an overview of the controversy surrounding New Testament scholar Oscar Cullman's theory of time in the Judeo-Christian world.