About Time

A horological history of human civilisation, told through twelve world-changing clocks

Since the dawn of civilization, we have kept time. But time has always been against us. From the city sundials of ancient Rome to the era of the smartwatch, clocks have been used throughout history to wield power, make money, govern citizens and keep control.

In About Time, time expert David Rooney tells the story of timekeeping, and how it continues to shape our modern world. Over twelve chapters we discover how clocks have helped us navigate the world, build empires and even taken us to the brink of destruction.

This is the story of time. And the story of time is the story of us.