Determination In The Book Longitude By Dava Sobel

636 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: About determination

Shaping the world The secret to massive riches and power is simple. Throughout human history, we have heard stories of common people like you or me elevated to the highest levels of enterprise, government, and wealth. Many people got there in many different ways,, but one thing is always present: determination. Determination is the will to keep going in the face of adversity, to fight for an end goal no matter what. It is what the world was and is made with. From Rome to enlightenment, from Yorktown to Stalingrad, determination to shape the world as we wished has shaped all aspects of humanity. Determination has shaped life in broad strokes, like the tale of John Harrison, as found described in the book Longitude by Dava Sobel, who devoted his life to aiding the navigation of war ships and traders when ships’ captains couldn’t find longitude, and hence launching the British control of the seas for centuries. Determination has also shaped every individual life, like mine, as I am frantically determined to finish this essay on time despite having waited until the very last …show more content…

Will for something to happen, rooting for it, isn’t determination. Take the servants in the Odyssey. Homer describes them only sitting around, waiting for Odysseus to return. They aren’t determined, they’re only waiting for something to happen, and Homer describes The way they accepted being ruled by the suitors. It can be easily mistaken for determination because it took so long and wanted it so bad, but they did nothing. A better example of determination would the creation of facebook. I’ve been reading an article titled only “Facebook” detailing the many challenges Mark Zuckerberg had to navigate past to see facebook come to the public with being sued or worse. Now net worth is estimated at $19 billion (according to the same article from Britannica). All this due to his

Show More
Related

  • 19th Century's Industrialists: Robber Barons or Industrial Statesmen?

    1060 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...interpretations of their assumption of millions of dollars. Due to their appropriation of godlike fortunes, and numerous contributions to American society, they simultaneously displayed qualities of both aforementioned labels. Therefore, whether it be Vanderbilt’s greed, Rockefeller’s philanthropy, or Carnegie’s social Darwinist world view, such men were, quite unarguably, concurrently forces of immense good and evil: building up the modern American economy, through monopolistic trusts and exploitative measures, all the while developing unprecedented affluence. Simply, the captains of late 19th century industry were neither wholly “robber barons” or “industrial statesmen”, but rather both, as they proved to be indifferent to their “lesser man” in their quests for profit, while also helping to organize industry and ultimately, greatly improve modern American society.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Low Class In America By Gregory Mantsios

    955 Words  | 2 Pages

    America has always seen as the symbolic ideal country of prosperity and equality. This is the reason why people come to America hoping to become successful, but in matter of fact we all have an equal plan field to be successful is not entirely true. For there are social boundaries that keep use limited based upon our own status. Whether we are born of a low class or of a high class the possibility of economic mobility in a sense are predetermined by two factors of social class and success together they both affecting one’s another opportunity of success. In order to achieve success, we must know that it is made up of two main concepts and they are fortune and position.

    Read More

  • Longitude: A Lone Genius Who Solved The Greatest Scientific Problem Of His Time

    806 Words  | 2 Pages

    Dava Sobel’s novel, Longitude: The True Story Of A Lone Genius Who Solved The Greatest Scientific Problem Of His Time is a history of the scientific battle to obtain a method of finding the exact longitude of a specific location. Knowing the longitude of a location may seem unimportant, but in fact it is vital. To fully understand the work that went into this effort, first, one must understand the basic principles for determining location on Earth.

    Read More

  • Comparing American Slavery and the Holocaust

    1005 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rubenstein Richard, The Cunning of History. Harper and Row, 1975. Retrieved on December 04, 2013.

    Read More

  • Wealthy or Rich in Andrew Carnegie's Essay, Wealth

    959 Words  | 2 Pages

    Carnegie’s essay contains explanations of three common methods by which wealth is distributed and his own opinions on the effects of each. After reading the entire essay, readers can see his overall appeals to logos; having wealth does not make anyone rich, but using that wealth for the greater good does. He does not force his opinions onto the reader, but is effectively convincing of why his beliefs make sense. Andrew Carnegie’s simple explanations intertwined with small, but powerful appeals to ethos and pathos become incorporated into his overall appeal to logos in his definition of what it means for one to truly be rich.

    Read More

  • The Character Kevin in Freak the Mighty

    361 Words  | 1 Pages

    Kevin displays great determination in this novel. Near the beginning of this narrative, Kevin is playing with a mechanical bird and flies it up into a tree. He repeatedly tries to free it from the tree, even though he seems to be getting nowhere. He had his mind set on it, so he wouldn't stop until it was in his hands. This section of the story shows that if Kevin sets a goal for himself, he’ll do almost anything to achieve it. Another example is that when Kevin helps the cops look for Max when he’s reported missing Kevin never gives up looking for Max, even when the cops want to give up. This example is yet another form of great determination. All of these points help indicate that Kevin displays great determination through the novel by Rodman Philbrick.

    Read More

  • The Story of Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt

    592 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 19th century was a time of prosperity and adversity; there was a great deal of accomplishments in the 1800s, such as steamboats being introduced as a new technology and creation of railroads. Despite the growth during this period, it contained innumerable hardships; the introductions of new technologies continued, ultimately leading to increased competition. Competition played an enormous part in the success and downfall of many people during the 19th century, such as Cornelius Vanderbilt, who thrived in competition. Vanderbilt was not born with the skills and abilities to succeed in a field where many fell, he learned from the people he worked under and the conflicts he encountered during his apprenticeships. Those quarrels taught him the skills necessary to be the best in the steamboat trade as well as the railroad industry later in his life. Vanderbilt’s wealth was greatly associated with competing for business with individuals and companies. Cornelius Vanderbilt was truly one of a kind; he dominated many companies and people. It ultimately brought him to the pinnacle ...

    Read More

  • The Enlightenment and a Desire for a Free Market

    1442 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gaynor Ellis, Elisabeth, and Anthony Esler. ""New Economic Thinking"" World History: The Modern Era. Prentice Hall. 186. Print.

    Read More

  • What Is Determination In Psychology Essay

    1229 Words  | 3 Pages

    Determination is a positive emotional feeling that involves persevering towards a difficult goal in spite of obstacles. Determination occurs prior to goal attainment and serves to motivate behavior that will help achieve one’s goal. Empirical research suggests that people consider determination to be an emotion; in other words, determination is not just a cognitive state, but rather an affective state. In the psychology literature, researchers have studied determination under other terms, including challenge and anticipatory enthusiasm; this may explain one reason for the relative lack of research on determination compared to other positive emotions.

    Read More

  • The Power of One

    426 Words  | 1 Pages

    Determination is shown in many different characters, but mainly in Peekay. For example, Peekay was determined to become an extravagant boxer just like Hoppie. He had to overcome many childhood fears that he had. He was determined to be a great boxer just like Hoppie. Determination brought Peekay to becoming the champion boxer of South Africa.

    Read More

  • Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

    1039 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the book “Think and Grow Rich,” the author, Napoleon Hill, provides a set of principles that he calls the key to financial success. The idea at the center of these principles is that one becomes what he or she frequently thinks about, in this case success (i.e. rich). Hill lays out a method he created to translate one’s thoughts into reality, creating an insatiable hunger and drive within an individual to succeed. Using the examples of his son and some of America’s legendary iconic business leaders, of which Hill studied and interviewed, including Edwin C. Barnes, he demonstrates that anything one puts his or her mind to can be produced and conceived.

    Read More

  • The Ascent of Money Has Lead to the Ascent of Man

    1287 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...and invention, As a result money like man is more powerful than when it was born, this power is only growing. I believe this growth will lead to many solutions for the problems we face today. The problems seem so impossible to solve, but history speaks for herself. She is indifferent, she is the same, man has to adapt man, has to conform.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Then Later His Ghost

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    A determination is a driving force that helps people through rough times in their lives. Without determination, people would no longer strive for their goals. Throughout the short story, ‘Then Later, His Ghost,’ Sarah Hall shows how strength and determination can get you through these tough times. This theme is made clear through the severe setting the characters are faced with and her use of symbolism.

    Read More

  • Unification of Germany

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    Menning, Ralph. 1996. The Art of the Possible: Documents on Great Power. New York: Mcgraw-Hill College.

    Read More

  • The Characteristics of My Strong Ego

    559 Words  | 2 Pages

    My strong determination and tenacious will power are demonstrated on a daily basis. It is displayed in every aspect of my life. Strong determination is displayed in my school, in just the sole basis of me coming back to school and wanting to do better in my life. It’s also displayed in home life, in ways like creating the best possible environment for me along with my family.

    Read More

More about Determination In The Book Longitude By Dava Sobel

Open Document