Mapping Time is an account for the general reader of the history and underlying basis of each of the most important calendars of the world, from antiquity to modern times. There are descriptions of prehistoric calendars, of those devised by the Egyptians, the Mayans, the Aztecs, and other civilizations, of the short-lived French Republican calendar, which introduced a ten-day week, and of our present-day Gregorian calendar. This fascinating and highly entertaining book is the perfect guide to understanding the background of time in the run up to the millennium. 'an easily accessible mine of material' TLS 'Richards makes even the most arcane complications arising from the accident of Earth's spin and orbit seem fascinating' New Scientist

"This is a work of enthusiastic research. Richards makes even the most arcane complications arising from the accident of Earth's spin and orbit seem facinating." - New Scientist Sat 28th November 1998.

"..a substantial work, perhaps more useful as a reference tool than David Ewing Duncan's more story-oriented Calender" - Library Journal

"This is a book full of fascinating snippets of information....a fascinating book to dip into, though not necessarily to read in one great gulp. This is a great buy for Christmas for that pedant in your life, who will enjoy explaining the origins and foundations of calenders and time itself" - Morning Star, Monday 14th December 1998

"...an easily accesible mine of material....the mathematics never obtrudes. It gives the book stiffening, and those who are tempted to skip it will be left with a rather weak medley of history...those who read his account carefully will emerge with a good idea of what a lunae-solar calender is....Richards does not flinch from some useful tabulations of his material, and he does grasp the underlying mechanisms" - Times Literary Supplement, Friday 11th December 1998

"....there could be no more timely book....a historical and multicultural over-view of calender making" - The Sunday Times

"This is a work of enthusuastic research.....Ricahrds makes even the most arcane complications arrising from the accident of the Earth's spin and orbit seem fascinating" - New Scientist