A Metric America: A Decision Whose Time Has Come examines why a coordinated move to the metric system could matter for the United States.
This nonfiction overview analyzes the arguments for metric and the potential costs of converting work, industry, and education. It presents how benefits and costs were considered in a national study, and what a planned transition might look like compared with changing on a slower, uncoordinated path.
The book frames the topic with chapters on perspectives, the history of the debate, technical standards, and the practical meaning of going metric. It discusses what happens during the transition, where costs come from, and where benefits could appear over time. The material is grounded in survey data, government documents, and examples from industry and education.
- Learn how a national plan could change costs, timelines, and outcomes during a metric transition
- Understand the kinds of benefits that researchers and policymakers expect, from education to industry efficiency
- See how international standards and compatibility with allies factor into the shift
- Explore how authors frame the data and what it could mean for policy decisions
Ideal for readers interested in policy, economics, engineering, and the history of measurement in the United States.