Rebecca Struthers is an antiquarian horologist, that is, an expert maker of antique timepieces. She and her husband founded Struthers Watchmakers in 2012. This, most interesting book, covers not only the history of watchmaking but talks about the artistic part of making watches, and our relationship with time. We have based our working hours and thoughts about our work, on keeping time. Almost our whole existence is based on time. Fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable reading.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of Hands of Time by Rebecca Struthers!

History can sneak up on you. For instance, I had no idea I would read a book about watchmaking this year. I am equally as surprised that I loved it.

Hands of Time by Rebecca Struthers seems like the type of idea which is not going to work unless it's thousands of pages. After all, how do you write about how humans deal with keeping time? It's inconceivable that a narrative can discuss the origins of Rolex and Swatches. And yet, here we are. Struthers approaches this history with an eye for interesting stories which sum up large portions of the human relationship with time. And yes, you do learn about both Rolex and Swatch. Long live terrible fashion choices from the 80s and 90s.

The one criticism I have is actually a compliment. Struthers points out how particularly "uncool" her choice of profession is. She has quick asides about her own journey, but she often pivots back to the main story. I disagree with her "uncoolness." Her passion for what she is doing alongside her husband is exceedingly cool and I would have loved a bit more on her own journey to being a master watchmaker. However, if she was trying to leave the reader wanting more, then she nailed it.

(This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Harper Books.)

Truly charming book about history of clocks. You don't have to be a watch collector or aficionado to enjoy this book. It is the personality of the author and her tone that will hook you into reading it. Rebecca Struthers is one of the disappearing breed, she is a watchmaker. She is the first person to obtain a PhD in antiquarian horology (a study and measurement of time). The book isn't large but it's full of clocks and watches trivia. The most interesting part of the book is the stories of how out treatment of time transformed throughout the history and how historical events affected development of watches. Author's personal stories and observations add a poignant note to the book. She talks about the watches she and her husband make for other people as children "going off to college.” She shares that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and how it changed her view of time. When Rebecca quips, "“You might think ‘no moving parts’ was my idea of hell, but I still genuinely love digital watches,.” you appreciate her bravery, humor and her special relationship with watches. The book is highly recommended. It is a perfect read for the summer when one can take time to savor and enjoy this very special book.

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Harper for an advance copy on this book about time, what we make of it, how we tell it, and what our knowledge of time tells about about us.

As a child, and still as an adult I am a hard person to get gifts for. I'm not much on receiving gifts, and will not give hints to what I want, as this changes almost all the time. Watches though I am a sucker for. Though not the kind of watches that the author of this book would ever have to repair. I like watches with batteries, watches that need to be wound, or solar watches. I love weird watches, Star Wars watches, watches with calculators, altimeters, flashlights and recorders. My favorites are a set of Simpson watches from Burger King, and Jurassic Park watches from Taco Bell. All still work, all get batteries when needed, though some like the Burger watches were never meant to last. I love them so. Probably as much as Rebecca Struthers loves the watches that Struthers keeps working, the classic pieces, the rare and the expensive. One of the few who continues in the watch trade, repairing classic timepieces for creating new works from devices that have literally run out of time In Hands of Time: A Watchmaker’s History Struthers writes about time, watches, how humans tell time, and why they care using as examples some of the fine watches that have crossed her path.

The book begins with a tour of Struthers's workspace, located in a very old building in England. The place has a rich history in crafting and design, and is where Struthers and her husband labor to save watches, or build new timepieces from older parts. Oh and there is a dog, Archie, who is a good fellow, and appears throughout the book. Struthers gives a history of watchmakers, and a description of what drew Struthers to watches, and not clocks. From here the book looks at how man has tried to keep track of the time, the days, the months, and how this helped in our development. Struthers's uses watches that she has worked on, examples from the natural world along with art, history and more.

I enjoyed the book quite a bit, expecting almost a how to about watches and their history, but learning a whole lot more. Struthers is a very good writer, mixing Struthers's own life and experiences with science, art, a bit of history, and some mechanical learning. The book does not feel like a waste of time, there is quite a bit to be learned on each page, which also features illustrations from Struthers's husband Chris, who is also a watchmaker. The descriptions are very good, there are some tense scenes when talking about repair jobs, and a lot of humor also. Horology is the name for the study and measurement of time, and I learned quite a bit from this book.

Recommended for history readers, as some of the chapters detail how time and timepieces made a difference and is an interesting way of looking at certain events. All this is an interesting sort of memoir, that many people would enjoy. Perfect gift for Father's Day.