The story of mankind's struggle to measure time - and the stunning timepieces that have changed the way we do so. 'An edifying, readable book that will not only delight watch lovers but enrich the relationship they have with the timepieces they own... This book is not just a history of time-measuring instruments: it’s a history of humanity itself, of its desperate attempts to harness the forces around it and find its place in the cosmos... A Christmas-list perennial.'