The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure
US $3.99US $3.99
Sat, May 31, 05:22 PMSat, May 31, 05:22 PM
Picture 1 of 1
Gallery
Picture 1 of 1
Have one to sell?
The Glass Universe: How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure
US $3.99
ApproximatelyC $5.50
Condition:
Very Good
A book that does not look new and has been read but is in excellent condition. No obvious damage to the cover, with the dust jacket (if applicable) included for hard covers. No missing or damaged pages, no creases or tears, and no underlining/highlighting of text or writing in the margins. May be very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover. Very minimal wear and tear. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections.
Oops! Looks like we're having trouble connecting to our server.
Refresh your browser window to try again.
Shipping:
Free USPS Media MailTM.
Located in: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Delivery:
Estimated between Fri, Aug 15 and Thu, Aug 21 to 94104
Returns:
30 days return. Seller pays for return shipping.
Payments:
Shop with confidence
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:297344138880
All net proceeds will support More Than Words Inc.
- Official eBay for Charity listing. Learn more
- This sale benefits a verified non-profit partner.
Item specifics
- Condition
- Narrative Type
- Nonfiction
- Intended Audience
- Adult
- Inscribed
- NO
- ISBN
- 9780670016952
About this product
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Penguin Publishing Group
ISBN-10
0670016950
ISBN-13
9780670016952
eBay Product ID (ePID)
224487516
Product Key Features
Book Title
Glass Universe : How the Ladies of the Harvard Observatory Took the Measure of the Stars
Number of Pages
336 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
2016
Topic
Modern / 20th Century, Women's Studies, History, Astronomy, Science & Technology
Illustrator
Yes
Genre
Social Science, Science, Biography & Autobiography, History
Format
Hardcover
Dimensions
Item Height
1.1 in
Item Weight
20 oz
Item Length
9.3 in
Item Width
6.3 in
Additional Product Features
Intended Audience
Trade
LCCN
2016-029496
Dewey Edition
23
TitleLeading
The
Reviews
"[Sobel] soars higher than ever before...[continuing] her streak of luminous science writing with this fascinating, witty, and most elegant history of the women who worked in critical positions at the Harvard Observatory... The Glass Universe is a feast for those eager to absorb forgotten stories of resolute American women who expanded human knowledge." -- Booklist, starred review "This is intellectual history at its finest. Dava Sobel is extraordinarily accomplished at uncovering the hidden stories of science and conveying complex information with ease and grace. In The Glass Universe , she brings to the foreground the glittering brilliance of five 19th-century women whose work at the Harvard Observatory changed the history of astronomy." --Geraldine Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Chord and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March "Like the women of the Harvard Observatory, Dava Sobel reveals worlds to us. The Glass Universe is sensitive, exacting, and lit with the wonder of discovery." --Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction Praise for The Planets "[ The Planets ] lets us fall in love with the heavens all over again." -- The New York Times Book Review "[Sobel] has outdone her extraordinary talent for keeping readers enthralled. . . . Longitude and Galileo's Daughte r were exciting enough, but The Planets has a charm of its own. . . . A splendid and enticing book." -- San Francisco Chronicle "An incantatory serenade to the Solar System." -- Entertainment Weekly "[ The Planets ] combines masterful storytelling with clear, engaging explanations of the essential scientific facts." -- Physics World "A sublime journey. [Sobel's] writing . . . is as bright as the sun and its thinking as star-studded as the cosmos." -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Praise for Galileo's Daughter "Sobel is a master storyteller. . . . She brings a great scientist to life." -- The New York Times Book Review "Innovative history and a wonderfully told tale." -- Newsweek Praise for Longitude "This is a gem of a book." -- The New York Times "A simple tale, brilliantly told." -- The Washington Post Book World "As much of a tale of intrigue as it is of science . . . A book full of gems for anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and--not the least--plain old human ambition and greed." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer "Intricate and delicate . . . No novelist could improve on the elements of Dava Sobel's Longitude ." -- Newsweek Praise for A More Perfect Heaven "Ms. Sobel is an elegant stylist, a riveting and efficient storyteller, a writer who can bring the dustiest of subjects to full-blooded life--poignant, in the case of Galileo; cautious but also loving, loyal and feisty in the case of Copernicus." -- The New York Times "Lively, inventive . . . a masterly specimen of close-range cultural history. Ms. Sobel certainly brings Copernicus to life, perhaps better than any other author. Ms. Sobel presents a thoroughly researched and eminently readable account of a major scientist who celebrated the sun yet lurks in the shadows." -- The Wall Street Journal, Like the women of the Harvard Observatory, Dava Sobel reveals worlds to us. The Glass Universe is sensitive, exacting, and lit with the wonder of discovery. --Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction Praise for The Planets "[ The Planets ] lets us fall in love with the heavens all over again." -- The New York Times Book Review "[Sobel] has outdone her extraordinary talent for keeping readers enthralled. . . . Longitude and Galileo's Daughte r were exciting enough, but The Planets has a charm of its own. . . . A splendid and enticing book." -- San Francisco Chronicle "An incantatory serenade to the Solar System." -- Entertainment Weekly "[ The Planets ] combines masterful storytelling with clear, engaging explanations of the essential scientific facts." -- Physics World "A sublime journey. [Sobel's] writing . . . is as bright as the sun and its thinking as star-studded as the cosmos." -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Praise for Galileo's Daughter "Sobel is a master storyteller. . . . She brings a great scientist to life." -- The New York Times Book Review "Innovative history and a wonderfully told tale." -- Newsweek Praise for Longitude "This is a gem of a book." -- The New York Times "A simple tale, brilliantly told." -- The Washington Post Book World "As much of a tale of intrigue as it is of science . . . A book full of gems for anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and--not the least--plain old human ambition and greed." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer "Intricate and delicate . . . No novelist could improve on the elements of Dava Sobel's Longitude ." -- Newsweek Praise for A More Perfect Heaven "Ms. Sobel is an elegant stylist, a riveting and efficient storyteller, a writer who can bring the dustiest of subjects to full-blooded life--poignant, in the case of Galileo; cautious but also loving, loyal and feisty in the case of Copernicus." -- The New York Times "Lively, inventive . . . a masterly specimen of close-range cultural history. Ms. Sobel certainly brings Copernicus to life, perhaps better than any other author. Ms. Sobel presents a thoroughly researched and eminently readable account of a major scientist who celebrated the sun yet lurks in the shadows." -- The Wall Street Journal, "This is intellectual history at its finest. Dava Sobel is extraordinarily accomplished at uncovering the hidden stories of science and conveying complex information with ease and grace. In The Glass Universe , she brings to the foreground the glittering brilliance of five 19th-century women whose work at the Harvard Observatory changed the history of astronomy." --Geraldine Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Chord and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March "Like the women of the Harvard Observatory, Dava Sobel reveals worlds to us. The Glass Universe is sensitive, exacting, and lit with the wonder of discovery." --Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction Praise for The Planets "[ The Planets ] lets us fall in love with the heavens all over again." -- The New York Times Book Review "[Sobel] has outdone her extraordinary talent for keeping readers enthralled. . . . Longitude and Galileo's Daughte r were exciting enough, but The Planets has a charm of its own. . . . A splendid and enticing book." -- San Francisco Chronicle "An incantatory serenade to the Solar System." -- Entertainment Weekly "[ The Planets ] combines masterful storytelling with clear, engaging explanations of the essential scientific facts." -- Physics World "A sublime journey. [Sobel's] writing . . . is as bright as the sun and its thinking as star-studded as the cosmos." -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Praise for Galileo's Daughter "Sobel is a master storyteller. . . . She brings a great scientist to life." -- The New York Times Book Review "Innovative history and a wonderfully told tale." -- Newsweek Praise for Longitude "This is a gem of a book." -- The New York Times "A simple tale, brilliantly told." -- The Washington Post Book World "As much of a tale of intrigue as it is of science . . . A book full of gems for anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and--not the least--plain old human ambition and greed." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer "Intricate and delicate . . . No novelist could improve on the elements of Dava Sobel's Longitude ." -- Newsweek Praise for A More Perfect Heaven "Ms. Sobel is an elegant stylist, a riveting and efficient storyteller, a writer who can bring the dustiest of subjects to full-blooded life--poignant, in the case of Galileo; cautious but also loving, loyal and feisty in the case of Copernicus." -- The New York Times "Lively, inventive . . . a masterly specimen of close-range cultural history. Ms. Sobel certainly brings Copernicus to life, perhaps better than any other author. Ms. Sobel presents a thoroughly researched and eminently readable account of a major scientist who celebrated the sun yet lurks in the shadows." -- The Wall Street Journal, Praise for The Planets "[ The Planets ] lets us fall in love with the heavens all over again." -- The New York Times Book Review "[Sobel] has outdone her extraordinary talent for keeping readers enthralled. . . . Longitude and Galileo's Daughte r were exciting enough, but The Planets has a charm of its own. . . . A splendid and enticing book." -- San Francisco Chronicle "An incantatory serenade to the Solar System." -- Entertainment Weekly "[ The Planets ] combines masterful storytelling with clear, engaging explanations of the essential scientific facts." -- Physics World "A sublime journey. [Sobel's] writing . . . is as bright as the sun and its thinking as star-studded as the cosmos." -- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Praise for Galileo's Daughter "Sobel is a master storyteller. . . . She brings a great scientist to life." -- The New York Times Book Review "Innovative history and a wonderfully told tale." -- Newsweek Praise for Longitude "This is a gem of a book." -- The New York Times "A simple tale, brilliantly told." -- The Washington Post Book World "As much of a tale of intrigue as it is of science . . . A book full of gems for anyone interested in history, geography, astronomy, navigation, clockmaking, and--not the least--plain old human ambition and greed." -- The Philadelphia Inquirer "Intricate and delicate . . . No novelist could improve on the elements of Dava Sobel's Longitude ." -- Newsweek Praise for A More Perfect Heaven "Ms. Sobel is an elegant stylist, a riveting and efficient storyteller, a writer who can bring the dustiest of subjects to full-blooded life--poignant, in the case of Galileo; cautious but also loving, loyal and feisty in the case of Copernicus." -- The New York Times "Lively, inventive . . . a masterly specimen of close-range cultural history. Ms. Sobel certainly brings Copernicus to life, perhaps better than any other author. Ms. Sobel presents a thoroughly researched and eminently readable account of a major scientist who celebrated the sun yet lurks in the shadows." -- The Wall Street Journal, Named one of the best books of the month by Flavorwire, Bustle, Harper''s Bazaar, Real Simple, Men''s Journal, BBC , and The National Book Review "Ms. Sobel writes with an eye for a telling detail and an ear for an elegant turn of phrase. . . . [ The Glass Universe is] a joy to read." -- The Wall Street Journal "Sobel makes hard science palatable for the general audience. . . . [She] lucidly captures the intricate, interdependent constellation of people it took to unlock mysteries of the stars . . . The Glass Universe positively glows." --NPR "At once an exhaustive and detailed account of a breakthrough moment in the world of science, as well as a compelling portrait of pioneering women who contributed as much to the progress of female empowerment as they did to the global understanding of both astronomy and photography." -- Harper''s Bazaar "Sobel has distinguished herself with lucid books about scientists and their discoveries . . . [She] vividly captures how her brilliant and ambitious protagonists charted the skies, and found personal fulfillment in triumphant discovery." -- The National Book Review "A fascinating and inspiring tale of . . . female pioneers who have been shamefully overlooked." -- Real Simple "Sobel shines a light on seven 19th- and 20th-century women astronomers who began as ''human computers,'' interpreting data at Harvard Observatory, then went on to dazzle...An inspiring look at celestial pioneers." -- People "An astronomically large topic generously explored." -- O, The Oprah Magazine "It takes a talented writer to interweave professional achievement with personal insight. By the time I finished The Glass Universe , Dava Sobel''s wonderful, meticulous account, it had moved me to tears...Unforgettable." --Sue Nelson, Nature "A compelling read and a welcome reminder that American women have long desired to reach for the stars." -- Bookpage "Sensitive, exacting, and lit with the wonder of discovery." --Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction "This is intellectual history at its finest. Dava Sobel is extraordinarily accomplished at uncovering the hidden stories of science." --Geraldine Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Chord and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March "[Sobel] soars higher than ever before...[continuing] her streak of luminous science writing with this fascinating, witty, and most elegant history... The Glass Universe is a feast for those eager to absorb forgotten stories of resolute American women who expanded human knowledge." -- Booklist, Starred Review "Sobel knows how to tell an engaging story...With grace, clarity, and a flair for characterization, [she] places these early women astronomers in the wider historical context of their field for the very first time." -- Publishers Weekly, Starred Review Praise for The Planets "[ The Planets ] lets us fall in love with the heavens all over again." -- The New York Times Book Review "[Sobel] has outdone her extraordinary talent for keeping readers enthralled. . . . A splendid and enticing book." -- San Francisco Chronicle "An incantatory serenade to the Solar System." -- Entertainment Weekly Praise for Galileo''s Daughter "Sobel is a master storyteller. . . . She brings a great scientist to life." -- The New York Times Book Review Praise for Longitude "This is a gem of a book." -- The New York Times "A simple tale, brilliantly told." -- The Washington Post Praise for A More Perfect Heaven "Ms. Sobel is an elegant stylist, a riveting and efficient storyteller, a writer who can bring the dustiest of subjects to full-blooded life." -- The New York Times "Lively, inventive . . . a masterly specimen of close-range cultural history."-- The Wall Street Journal
Dewey Decimal
522/.19744409252
Synopsis
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Dava Sobel, t he inspiring ( People ), little-known true story of women's landmark contributions to astronomy A New York Times Book Review Notable Book Named one of the best books of the year by NPR, The Economist, Smithsonian, Nature, and NPR's Science Friday Nominated for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award A joy to read." -- The Wall Street Journal In the mid-nineteenth century, the Harvard College Observatory began employing women as calculators, or "human computers," to interpret the observations their male counterparts made via telescope each night. At the outset this group included the wives, sisters, and daughters of the resident astronomers, but soon the female corps included graduates of the new women's colleges--Vassar, Wellesley, and Smith. As photography transformed the practice of astronomy, the ladies turned from computation to studying the stars captured nightly on glass photographic plates. The "glass universe" of half a million plates that Harvard amassed over the ensuing decades--through the generous support of Mrs. Anna Palmer Draper, the widow of a pioneer in stellar photography--enabled the women to make extraordinary discoveries that attracted worldwide acclaim. They helped discern what stars were made of, divided the stars into meaningful categories for further research, and found a way to measure distances across space by starlight. Their ranks included Williamina Fleming, a Scottish woman originally hired as a maid who went on to identify ten novae and more than three hundred variable stars; Annie Jump Cannon, who designed a stellar classification system that was adopted by astronomers the world over and is still in use; and Dr. Cecilia Helena Payne, who in 1956 became the first ever woman professor of astronomy at Harvard--and Harvard's first female department chair. Elegantly written and enriched by excerpts from letters, diaries, and memoirs, The Glass Universe is the hidden history of the women whose contributions to the burgeoning field of astronomy forever changed our understanding of the stars and our place in the universe., From #1 New York Times bestselling author Dava Sobel, t he "inspiring" ( People ), little-known true story of women's landmark contributions to astronomy A New York Times Book Review Notable Book Named one of the best books of the year by NPR, The Economist, Smithsonian, Nature, and NPR's Science Friday Nominated for the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award "A joy to read." -- The Wall Street Journal In the mid-nineteenth century, the Harvard College Observatory began employing women as calculators, or "human computers," to interpret the observations their male counterparts made via telescope each night. At the outset this group included the wives, sisters, and daughters of the resident astronomers, but soon the female corps included graduates of the new women's colleges--Vassar, Wellesley, and Smith. As photography transformed the practice of astronomy, the ladies turned from computation to studying the stars captured nightly on glass photographic plates. The "glass universe" of half a million plates that Harvard amassed over the ensuing decades--through the generous support of Mrs. Anna Palmer Draper, the widow of a pioneer in stellar photography--enabled the women to make extraordinary discoveries that attracted worldwide acclaim. They helped discern what stars were made of, divided the stars into meaningful categories for further research, and found a way to measure distances across space by starlight. Their ranks included Williamina Fleming, a Scottish woman originally hired as a maid who went on to identify ten novae and more than three hundred variable stars; Annie Jump Cannon, who designed a stellar classification system that was adopted by astronomers the world over and is still in use; and Dr. Cecilia Helena Payne, who in 1956 became the first ever woman professor of astronomy at Harvard--and Harvard's first female department chair. Elegantly written and enriched by excerpts from letters, diaries, and memoirs, The Glass Universe is the hidden history of the women whose contributions to the burgeoning field of astronomy forever changed our understanding of the stars and our place in the universe.
LC Classification Number
QB34.5.S63 2016
Item description from the seller
Popular categories from this store
Seller feedback (478,023)
This item (1)
All items (478,023)
- u***a (432)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseAppreciate the prompt shipment and delighted with the excellent condition. of the new book Two thumbs up for the professional service.
- 0***0 (133)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseAnother wonderful transaction with this company! I believe this is my 3rd purchase with multiple books in each order and I’ve yet to be disappointed. Books arrived as described - great used condition. Packaging wasn’t great but it’s free shipping and they made it to me intact, so no complaints. The price is unbeatable. Will definitely continue to purchase from them! Highly recommend.
- .***m (86)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseFor some reason, the Postal Tracking stopped after the label was created, but I RECEIVED the book I ordered on August 2nd which was within the 7/31 to 8/6 projected delivery range. The sale price was lower than the competition why I chose this Seller. It was well packed, and arrived in the described condition. I would do business, again, with this Seller without hesitation. Thumbs UP!
- c***u (4322)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseSELLER SHIPS SAFE AND FAST. RECEIVED BOOK DOUBLE WRAPPED SAFE PROTECTED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED QUICKLY IN PUERTO RICO. THE BEST TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES. SELLER IS AN OUTSTANDING WORLD WIDE FIVE STARS EBAYER WITH GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE E-MAILS COMMUNICATION. BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, SUPPORT EBAYER’S STORE TODAY. GREAT SELLER 100% HIGHLY RECOMMEND ALL THE WAY !
Product ratings and reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Aug 17, 2020
Great
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: lionheartbookstore
- Jul 29, 2019
Like new
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: thrift.books
- Jan 27, 2017
Great history
Verified purchase: YesCondition: NewSold by: media256
- May 25, 2021
Haven't read enough yet but seems educational.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: second.sale
More to explore:
- Harvard Classics Set Antiquarian & Collectible Books,
- Ladies' Home Journal Magazines,
- James Howe Fiction Paperbacks Books,
- Fiction Books & James Howe Fiction,
- James Howe Action Fiction Fiction & Books,
- Health Ladies' Home Journal Magazines,
- Ladies' Home Journal Magazines 1900-1939,
- Ladies' Home Journal Monthly Magazines,
- Fashion Ladies' Home Journal Magazines,
- Celebrity Ladies' Home Journal Magazines
Popular categories from this store
Seller feedback (478,023)
This item (1)
All items (478,023)
- u***a (432)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseAppreciate the prompt shipment and delighted with the excellent condition. of the new book Two thumbs up for the professional service.
- 0***0 (133)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseAnother wonderful transaction with this company! I believe this is my 3rd purchase with multiple books in each order and I’ve yet to be disappointed. Books arrived as described - great used condition. Packaging wasn’t great but it’s free shipping and they made it to me intact, so no complaints. The price is unbeatable. Will definitely continue to purchase from them! Highly recommend.
- .***m (86)- Feedback left by buyer.Past monthVerified purchaseFor some reason, the Postal Tracking stopped after the label was created, but I RECEIVED the book I ordered on August 2nd which was within the 7/31 to 8/6 projected delivery range. The sale price was lower than the competition why I chose this Seller. It was well packed, and arrived in the described condition. I would do business, again, with this Seller without hesitation. Thumbs UP!
- c***u (4322)- Feedback left by buyer.Past 6 monthsVerified purchaseSELLER SHIPS SAFE AND FAST. RECEIVED BOOK DOUBLE WRAPPED SAFE PROTECTED EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED QUICKLY IN PUERTO RICO. THE BEST TERRITORY OF THE UNITED STATES. SELLER IS AN OUTSTANDING WORLD WIDE FIVE STARS EBAYER WITH GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE E-MAILS COMMUNICATION. BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, SUPPORT EBAYER’S STORE TODAY. GREAT SELLER 100% HIGHLY RECOMMEND ALL THE WAY !