Uncle John's Presents Necessary Numbers: An Everyday Guide to Sizes, Measures, and More

By Mary Blocksma

Do numbers leave you feeling -- well, numb? This compendium of fascinating data will bring figures to life while answering lots of questions you've wondered about. Discover which is higher in sodium:... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1571458662
• ISBN13: 9781571458667
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Portable Press
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

How many jacks or jills are in a pail of water?

One of the most basic ways to describe something in terms of quantity. In fact, it may be THE most basic way: before color, temperature or anything else. Mary Blocksma's Necessary Numbers provides brief introductions to the many ways numbers are in our lives. Even in my first paragraph, numbers - either describing something in terms of magnitude or order - are mentioned or implied: one, most, many. You can read pages of material without other types of adjectives, but numbers are always there lurking in the background (or sometimes, foreground). With Blocksma, the first item she describes is for age: in particular, how it is measured for older objects through radioactive dating. Other ways that numbers are in our lives include annual percentage rates, bar codes, clothing sizes, firewood and paper clips. Blocksma helps interpret these numbers: one example would be egg sizes. A dozen eggs are considered jumbo if their combined weight is over 30 ounces; extra large is 27 ounces, and so on down to peewee which have a minimum weight of 15 ounces. We are also introduced to some obsolete measures. Did you know that there are two jills to a cup, and two jacks to a jill (and a pail of water would be four gallons)? I don't know if I'd categorize this as one of those books you would read end-to-end in a couple sittings, but it is an entertaining - if rather erratic - reference guide to the ways we measure the world. Like everything described in this book, even its review must come down to a number, in this case, a solid four stars.

Provides Great Information

I bought this book on a whim because I absorb tons of useless information. However, this book is a guide to guide to explaining a lot of everyday things we encounter; what they mean, determined, or why. I learned how to actually decipher my electric bill, or that fish inspection is voluntary (unlike other meats) and is not regulated by the USDA. This book is extremely useful in explaining everyday numbers that we are so accustomed to seeing! Great read and definitely something to keep around as a reference tool!