Includes index.

pt. 1 The Babel behind us: profusion of confusions and contradictions.Why in the world make much of measurement? Varieties of volumes. Curiosities of capacity. How far from here to there? More lore of length. Covering the subject (area and surface). Wayward weights. pt. 2 Times in turmoil and the origins of the metric system. Keeping track of time. Revolution and measurements. Changing times in France. Clock corrections of limited life. Calendric curiosities. Celestial clocks that can't keep step. The great sky clock by day and night. Paths toward precision: departure from the day to year in defining the basic time unit (the second). The limits of precision in our time. pt. 3 The international system in action. Linking lengths with light. Meaningful lengths measured by the meter.