Skip to main content
M:N4:20 3
Edit position
Edit position

Last set 5 days, 23 hours ago. Manual moves override automatic placement until the next shelfie/spine match.

Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China
Diagnose this book
Open in Vernon Browser

Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China

by Simon Winchester

A biography of Joseph Needham, a Cambridge scientist who documented China's history of innovation. The text explores his wartime research and his efforts to credit Chinese society with major global inventions, including printing and gunpowder.

Accession 19238 ISBN 9780141011585 Publisher Penguin
Book Images
Reference and live side by side Hover to see live images
Reference
Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China spine
Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China cover
Live
Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China live spine
No live
Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China spine Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China live spine
Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China cover
No live
TAGS
Curated Derived
Biography Culture History Invention Science
CONNECTIONS
No connections
State
on_shelf
True
position_updated_at
2026-06-04 14:35
orientation
vertical
Details

Physical

binding_type
Hard Back
dimensions
none captured
spine_text
none captured

Metadata

Book form
LOCATION HISTORY
M:N4:20 3 Current vertical
2 weeks ago
3 weeks, 6 days ago
Book Location
Updated 5 days, 23 hours ago
Vernon snapshot
View live

Frozen copy of Vernon's record from the last sync. Fields tagged flow back into the Pulse record.

Last synced 2026-05-21 01:25 (2 weeks, 6 days ago)

Identity

name→ title
Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China
vernon_id
29001
accession_no→ accession_number
19238
vernon_slug
bomb-book-and-compass-joseph-needham-and-the-great-secrets-of-china-simon-winchester

Drives Pulse state

curr_loc_status→ on_shelf
On Shelf
location_name
Zone N4/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA
location_reason
On Shelf
isbn_issn→ isbn (when valid)
9780141011585

Descriptive

production_date
2009
object_type
Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication
object_status
Accessioned
brief_description
This brief record was created for storage and loan purposes only.

Subjects & people

authors→ author (initial fill only)
Simon Winchester
tags→ tags
Science, History, Persons, Biography, Scholars, China -- History
subject_people
subject_objects

Cover image

vernon_cover_image_id→ cover_image
33806

Raw Vernon JSON

click to inspect

The source payload behind the snapshot above.

Use ⌘F to search once expanded.
{7 keys}
"slug": "bomb-book-and-compass-joseph-needham-and-the-great-secrets-of-china-simon-winchester"
"opacObjectId": "29001"
"opacCollection": {1 keys}
"opacCollectionId": "1"
"imagesCollection": {2 keys}
"images": [1 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"imageId": "33806"
"cssColors": [5 items]
"[0]": {9 keys}
"hex": "2f4f4f"
"hue": 180
"rank": 1
"presence": 26.82
"colorName": "darkslategray"
"lightness": 25
"colorGroup": "gray"
"saturation": 25
"formattedColorName": "dark slate gray"
"[1]": {9 keys}
"hex": "dc143c"
"hue": 348
"rank": 2
"presence": 15.19
"colorName": "crimson"
"lightness": 47
"colorGroup": "red"
"saturation": 83
"formattedColorName": "crimson"
"[2]": {9 keys}
"hex": "faf0e6"
"hue": 30
"rank": 3
"presence": 46.81
"colorName": "linen"
"lightness": 94
"colorGroup": "white"
"saturation": 67
"formattedColorName": "linen"
"[3]": {9 keys}
"hex": "20b2aa"
"hue": 177
"rank": 4
"presence": 2.86
"colorName": "lightseagreen"
"lightness": 41
"colorGroup": "green"
"saturation": 70
"formattedColorName": "light sea green"
"[4]": {9 keys}
"hex": "daa520"
"hue": 43
"rank": 5
"presence": 3.66
"colorName": "goldenrod"
"lightness": 49
"colorGroup": "brown"
"saturation": 74
"formattedColorName": "goldenrod"
"rawColors": [7 items]
"[0]": {6 keys}
"hex": "33464a"
"hue": 190
"rank": 1
"presence": 26.82
"lightness": 24
"saturation": 18
"[1]": {6 keys}
"hex": "ce1d38"
"hue": 350
"rank": 2
"presence": 15.19
"lightness": 46
"saturation": 75
"[2]": {6 keys}
"hex": "f3e8d4"
"hue": 38
"rank": 3
"presence": 46.81
"lightness": 89
"saturation": 56
"[3]": {6 keys}
"hex": "23a3b4"
"hue": 187
"rank": 4
"presence": 2.86
"lightness": 42
"saturation": 67
"[4]": {6 keys}
"hex": "ecb631"
"hue": 42
"rank": 5
"presence": 3.66
"lightness": 55
"saturation": 83
"[5]": {6 keys}
"hex": "b4987e"
"hue": 28
"rank": 6
"presence": 3.56
"lightness": 60
"saturation": 26
"[6]": {6 keys}
"hex": "95c4c4"
"hue": 180
"rank": 7
"presence": 1.1
"lightness": 67
"saturation": 28
"imageLabels": [9 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"count": 11760
"score": 88.16
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Poster"
"imageLabelId": 21
"[1]": {5 keys}
"count": 19411
"score": 83.76
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Font"
"imageLabelId": 12
"[2]": {5 keys}
"count": 19018
"score": 80.46
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Publication"
"imageLabelId": 23
"[3]": {5 keys}
"count": 5351
"score": 72.46
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Advertising"
"imageLabelId": 71
"[4]": {5 keys}
"count": 15171
"score": 71.3
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Book"
"imageLabelId": 67
"[5]": {5 keys}
"count": 2395
"score": 61.57
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Event"
"imageLabelId": 46
"[6]": {5 keys}
"count": 5931
"score": 55.68
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Illustration"
"imageLabelId": 25
"[7]": {5 keys}
"count": 10019
"score": 54.98
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Rectangle"
"imageLabelId": 11
"[8]": {5 keys}
"count": 11006
"score": 50.19
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Art"
"imageLabelId": 4
"imageDerivatives": [6 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/large/22148/85de19db32d0c028bdf1b31347f37fb052311b7d.jpg"
"width": "519"
"height": "800"
"identifier": "LARGE"
"[1]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/medium/22148/85de19db32d0c028bdf1b31347f37fb052311b7d.jpg"
"width": "260"
"height": "400"
"identifier": "MEDIUM"
"[2]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/nano/22148/85de19db32d0c028bdf1b31347f37fb052311b7d.jpg"
"width": "23"
"height": "35"
"identifier": "NANO"
"[3]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/small/22148/85de19db32d0c028bdf1b31347f37fb052311b7d.jpg"
"width": "97"
"height": "150"
"identifier": "SMALL"
"[4]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/tiny/22148/85de19db32d0c028bdf1b31347f37fb052311b7d.jpg"
"width": "49"
"height": "75"
"identifier": "TINY"
"[5]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/xlarge/22148/85de19db32d0c028bdf1b31347f37fb052311b7d.jpg"
"width": "779"
"height": "1200"
"identifier": "XLARGE"
"totalImages": 1
"objectSearchScore": 0.3118719
"opacObjectFieldSets": [40 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "accession_no"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "19238"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China / Simon Winchester"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "title"
"value": "Bomb, book and compass : Joseph Needham and the great secrets of China / Simon Winchester"
"[2]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "other_name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "artist_last_first"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Winchester, Simon"
"[4]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "2009"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [2 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "earliest_date"
"value": "2009-01-01Z"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"key": "latest_date"
"value": "2009-12-31Z"
"[5]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[6]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "edition"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[7]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "brief_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "This brief record was created for storage and loan purposes only."
"[8]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "measure_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[9]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "credit_line"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[10]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "On Shelf"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "curr_loc_status:"On Shelf""
"[11]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "ob_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Accessioned"
"[12]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "lender"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[13]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_owner"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[14]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[15]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_start"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[16]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_expiry"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[17]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[18]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone N4/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[19]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "object_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "object_type:"Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication""
"[20]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "collection"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Main Collection/Library"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "collection:"Main Collection/Library""
"[21]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Camberwell/Victoria/Australia"
"[22]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_publisher"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Penguin"
"[23]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "physical_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [2 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "317 pages : illustrations ; 20 cm."
"[1]": {1 keys}
"value": "Includes bibliographical references and index."
"[24]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "language"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "English"
"[25]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "isbn_issn"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "9780141011585"
"[26]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_1"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "509.2 WIN"
"[27]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "usual_loc_being"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone N4/Level 2 (Mezzanine)/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[28]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_class"
"opacObjectFields": [4 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Biography/History"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Biography/History""
"[1]": {2 keys}
"value": "China -- History"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"China -- History""
"[2]": {2 keys}
"value": "Scholars/Persons"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Scholars/Persons""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"value": "Science"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Science""
"[29]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_date"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[30]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[31]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_period"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[32]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[33]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[34]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[35]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[36]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[37]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[38]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[39]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_9"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"relationshipsCollection": {2 keys}
"relationships": [1 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"relatedRecords": [1 items]
"[0]": {3 keys}
"slug": "simon-winchester"
"title": "Simon Winchester"
"relatedRecordId": "12116"
"relationshipId": "object_prod_pri_person"
"relatedRecordType": "person"
"totalRelatedRecords": 1
"totalRelationships": 1
Topics and Themes