American
statesman and inventor Benjamin Franklin first advocated
changing the hours of human activity to make the best use
of daylight. But it was an Englishman, William Willett,
who had the grand idea of accomplishing this objective by
putting the clocks forward for several months each year.
Many
luminaries play a part in the story. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
was an early endorser of daylight saving time. A young Winston
Churchill campaigned vigorously for it. Kaiser Wilhelm first
employed it. Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt fought
for it. Such proponents of DST have proclaimed its benefits,
including saving energy (especially during wars and energy
crises), reducing deaths from automobile accidents, providing
more daylight for outdoor activities, and many others. But
DST also has had many detractors—from Scottish farmers
to parents of schoolchildren—who have waged contentious
battles against it.
For
several months every year, daylight saving time affects
a good portion of the world. And yet most people switch
their clocks forward and back without ever understanding
where the idea came from and without ever realizing that
DST affects everything from Mid-East terrorism to the attendance
at London music halls, voter turnout to street crime, gardening
to the profits of radio stations. SAVING THE DAYLIGHT
tells all of these tales and a great deal more.
REVIEWS
"A
fascinating and unusual book. It contained points
I didn't know, and I enjoyed it immensely."
—SIR PATRICK MOORE, astronomer, author, and presenter
of BBC's The Sky at Night
"Entertaining history ... Prerau's
book is up there among the best of them. ... Don't
hit the snooze button if Saving the Daylight
is on the bedside table."
—SUNDAY
EXPRESS
"Saving the Daylight is a fast-paced history ... With efficient detail
and an eye for telling anecdote, David Prerau gallops through more than a century of social
upheaval ... Well worth the time of day."
—THE TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT
"This
book is a revelation. ... The next time the subject
raises its head, I look forward to putting my
oar in with words gleaned from this book. I heartily
recommend it."
—MORNING
STAR
"David
Prerau takes us on a fascinating journey through
the byways of history as he explorers daylight
saving. Some compelling characters and unusual
anecdotes inhabit this enjoyable book."
—BRIAN
FAGAN, author of The Long Summer
"This
entertaining book is likely to make your head
spin ... There are plenty of hilarious anecdotes
here about the chaos that followed most attempts
to save daylight around the world."
—NEW
SCIENTIST
"A
surprisingly absorbing book ... The author has
an inexhaustible supply of stories about torn
cities, confused bus passengers and other oddities
that he delivers in crisp, no-nonsense prose."
—BLOOMBERG
NEWS
"Relevant
to everyone and anyone ... Impressively researched
... Not just an enjoyable read but a learning
experience with unexpected twists around every
corner."
—CLOCKS
MAGAZINE
"David
Prerau describes the history of changing the clocks
in his entertaining new book, Saving the Daylight."
—THE
TIMES
"Chatty
and great fun."
—VENUE
"A
well-targeted gift or two of Saving the Daylight
could ease the [daylight saving time] transition."
—FINANCIAL
TIMES
"Lively,
funny book. "
—THE
INDEPENDENT
"The surprisingly fascinating history
of daylight saving time. ... [A] delightfully
brisk narrative ... The best kind of history:
rigorous and academically informed, but chock-full
of lively anecdotes."
—KIRKUS
REVIEWS
"In this absorbing book, ... Dr.
Prerau gives us the story of ... how 'daylight
saving' came about and why."
—CONTEMPORARY
REVIEW
"A
lively and fascinating read. ... Prerau's book
is an example of the best kind of historical
narrative, emphasising colourful storytelling
and snappy prose."
—BRISBANE
(AUSTRALIA) COURIER-MAIL
"Informed
and lively history"
—SUNDAY
BUSINESS POST (IRELAND)
"A
delightfully detailed look at a familiar but
underappreciated subject. Who knew it required
two centuries [and] a couple of world wars
... to make daylight saving time a reality?
After reading David Prerau’s enjoyable
and revealing account, you’ll hope we
never ‘fall back’ to the dark
days before daylight saving time again."
—GERARD
HELFERICH, author of Humboldt’s
Cosmos
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For
further information on Saving the Daylight, email
info@savingthedaylight.com.
Media contact: prerau@savingthedaylight.com
All
material © David Prerau 2016
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