Zanimatel'naia istoriia mer izmerenii, ili Kakogo rosta diuimovochka - Stoletov Fedor

From ancient times until the 19th century, the same unit of measurement could have different values not only in different countries, but also in different cities of the same country! Thus, in Austria in the 15th century almost every city and even every significant market had its own measures. In Germany, attempts to streamline the system of measures began in the early Middle Ages, but never came to anything until the end of the 19th century. In France in the 14th century, the attempt to introduce the same measures throughout the state failed because of the resistance of the masterprinces and bishops. Neither Louis XI in the 15th century nor Louis XVI in the late 18th century also failed to lead to uniformity... It was not until 1875 that an international agreement, the "metric convention" to ensure international unity of measurement and the improvement of the metric system of measures, was finally signed in Paris.
Порой, читая книги или статьи в Интернете, мы сталкиваемся с непонятными нам единицами измерения разных стран и времен. У любознательных сразу возникают вопросы: Пират выпил пинту пива — это сколько в литрах? Дюймовочка получила имя от слова «дюйм», так какого роста была эта сказочная малышка? Снежный человек — Бигфут получил название за огромный размер ноги, а каков он, простой фут? Как морская миля отличается от сухопутной? Сколько это — косая сажень в плечах? Чем она отличается от сажени маховой? Съесть пуд соли — это How many? And a bunch of other questions about the measurement smeasures you'll find in this book.