About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks

About Time: A History of Civilization in Twelve Clocks is David Rooney's exploration of how timekeeping has shaped human society. Rather than a conventional chronology, Rooney traces the development of civilization through twelve significant clocks - from sundials and water clocks to atomic timepieces - each marking a turning point in how humans organized work, commerce, science, and daily life.

The book argues that our relationship with time is not inevitable but constructed. Each clock represents a leap in precision and standardization that reshaped entire cultures. Rooney examines how the mechanical clock enabled the Industrial Revolution, how synchronized time made railways possible, and how atomic clocks underpin modern telecommunications. He also explores the human cost of acceleration - the ways precise timekeeping has demanded ever more efficiency from workers and society.

Published in 2022, this work combines history, philosophy, and technology to show that understanding clocks is understanding ourselves. Rooney draws on museum collections, historical documents, and interviews with clockmakers to bring each artifact to life. The result is a densely researched yet accessible narrative about power, progress, and the price of living by the clock.

• 12 iconic clocks spanning from ancient Egypt to the present day
• Explores links between timekeeping, industrialization, and social change
• Combines museum curation, historical scholarship, and philosophical reflection
• Published 2022

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