Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time

Today we don't consider longitude a problem. Unless you make your living on the sea, chances are it's just another number, half of the answer to where am I? after we drive off the beaten path.

This book is the fascinating account of the struggle to find a method for calculating longitude at sea and the bounty paid by the British government to anyone who could do so. With a blend of timekeeping nerdery, scientific theory, ocean exploration, and human conflict, it's an entertaining read.