Longitude

The story of John Harrison's lifelong quest to solve the greatest scientific problem of the 18th century—how to determine longitude at sea. Dava Sobel turns what could be dry history into an utterly gripping tale of obsession, genius, and one man's battle against the astronomical establishment. It's part detective story, part underdog triumph, and completely unputdownable. Perfect for anyone who loves narrative non-fiction that reads like a thriller, or sailors who appreciate how close we came to never finding our way home.