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Hands of Time
- A Watchmaker's History of Time
- Narrated by: Anna Ploszajski
- Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins
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Hands of Time
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Summary
A watchmaker's world is not much bigger than a thumbnail.
I spend whole days working on mechanisms which can contain hundreds of tiny components. Each of them has a specific task to perform. Every morning when I sit at my bench, it is an adventure into a new timepiece with its own history to lose myself in. And in their history, we can find the history of time itself.
Timepieces are one of humanity's most ingenious innovations. Their invention was more significant for human culture than the printing press, or even the wheel. They have travelled the world with us, from the depths of the oceans to the summit of Everest, and even to the Moon. They regulate our daily lives and have sculpted the social and economic development of society in surprising and dramatic ways.
In Hands of Time watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers welcomes us into the hidden world of watchmaking, offering a personal history of watches that spans centuries and continents. From her workshop bench, Rebecca explores the ways in which timekeeping has indelibly shaped our attitudes to work, leisure, trade, politics, exploration and mortality, and introduces us to some extraordinary and treasured devices, each with their own story to tell.
Hands of Time is an intricate and uniquely personal exploration of the history, science, philosophy, and craft of timekeeping.
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What listeners say about Hands of Time
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 01-06-23
Hugely Enjoyable
A perfect mix of history, social commentary and one persons personal journey in the world of horology.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- eleanor quinn
- 20-07-23
A great book the very best I have ever listened to
A wonderful book a real inspiration I cannot praise this book enough so much so that I have decided to buy the book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 17-07-23
A Fabulous Book
This is a fascinating read. I have rarely read anything that had so much in it of which I knew so little. This book is full of interesting details and many stories that spell out the author's huge interest for all details about the clock. It is written in a very accessible and clear style. We are often told we should find our passion. Few people show as clearly as Struthers that she has found hers. Plosajski reads it very well despite the very occasional word that she mispronounces. Unusual for someone who reads with her standard and clarity. The book comes across to me as a treasure trove of discovery and understanding. Read it!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 03-01-24
Enjoyed this book
I liked finding out about watches and the history of them there was nothing to dislike about the book
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Joshua Ashman
- 07-06-23
Fantastic! What a great way to tell the story of time and watches.
I have just started my watchmaking apprenticeship and found this book, incredibly interesting and entertaining. There is no pompousness or arrogance in the writing. It feels very honest and genuine. The narration is done incredibly well very nice tone to listen to. I will be listening to this book multiple times. Love it!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kindle Customer
- 08-02-24
Really loved this
Fantastic view back in time of watchmaking through the ages… forgive the pun! I only wish the book was longer and left me googling a thousand terms! Next stop up to Birmingham to see the shop and maybe maybe get my name down for an heirloom!
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- Baris Volkan Sara
- 20-05-23
Such a great audiobook.
I loved it. Strongly recommended to anyone interested in horology and time itself in general.
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1 person found this helpful
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- M. R. Lane
- 22-09-23
So interesting and equally enjoyable
So glad I stumbled across this audiobook - it’s really interesting on a topic I confess I’ve not given much thought to before. Well worth a listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Nyota
- 18-05-23
Entertaining, educational, excellent
One of the best books I have listened to in a long time - funny, personal, instructive.
I have no special relationships with watches, and still can’t really say how and why they work.
But hearing about them from someone who really, really cares is amazing, and makes me wonder why I did not become a watchmaker!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kim-John
- 26-08-23
Chiming?
Overall as a watch-repairer restorer of 49 years i realised just how much knowledge I’ve accumulated the only fault, and it is my biggest gripe, the author fell into the trap of referring to a striking clock as a chiming clock.
For those who don’t know the difference, a chiming clock plays a part of a tune on the quarters most famous being the westminster chime fitted (1858) into the clock of the westminster palace erroneously called big ben as the author explains whilst a striking clock will sound generally on the hour and half hour on a single gong or bell but will use two notes as in quarter striking with the hours on a single note gong and then quarters on both, also bim bam striking with the hours and half hours striking out on two different gongs or sometimes bells
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1 person found this helpful