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decretaro's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
rowanntree's review
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
blaineduncan's review
4.0
This is an odd, little book, which made me think. Since that's likely its purpose, I'd say that it was worthy of reading. That, and it was quick to read and relatively enjoyable.
karenglez's review
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
andreajphillips's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
nancydavis's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.25
“The tragedy of this world is that everyone is alone. For a life in the past cannot be shared with the present. Each person who gets stuck in time gets stuck alone.”
A trip through some really compelling worlds and their radical exhibitions of time through the lens of Einstein’s dreams as he imagines his way to his theory of relativity.
Some of the worlds were less interesting however. And I also felt the author had a habit of ‘over-writing’ some of the more plaintive, profound moments, which would have been improved had he fully trusted the reader to philosophise and empathise without clear instruction. However, it was still a really enjoyable (and short) read!
4.25/5
A trip through some really compelling worlds and their radical exhibitions of time through the lens of Einstein’s dreams as he imagines his way to his theory of relativity.
Some of the worlds were less interesting however. And I also felt the author had a habit of ‘over-writing’ some of the more plaintive, profound moments, which would have been improved had he fully trusted the reader to philosophise and empathise without clear instruction. However, it was still a really enjoyable (and short) read!
4.25/5
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Alan Lightman is a physicist. In this fiction debut he imagines the kinds of dreams Einstein might have had in the spring and early summer of 1905, when he was a patent clerk in Switzerland, and working on his theory of relativity. Each chapter is a different flight of fancy. In one time is a circle bending back on itself, so that the world repeats itself precisely, endlessly. In another Time has three dimensions, so that there are three perpendicular futures; at every point of decision the world splits into three worlds, each with the same people, but different fates for those people. In one world Time is absolute, with clocks everywhere all in sync; in anther, Time is a local phenomenon, flowing at different speeds in different locations. In one dream people live for only one day – a baby born in December will never know daffodils or summer berries, while one born in July will never see snow. In another dream, people live forever.
This collection of essays on “relativity of time” is engaging, interesting, fascinating, and thought-provoking. The writing is beautiful, with an ethereal quality reminiscent of dreams.
Some examples:
On this late afternoon, in these few moments while the sun is nestled in a snowy hollow of the Alps, a person could sit beside the lake and contemplate the texture of time.
The tragedy of this world is that no one is happy, whether stuck in a time of pain or of joy. The tragedy of this world is that everyone is alone. For a life in the past cannot be shared with the present. Each person who gets stuck in time gets stuck alone.
Dawn. A salmon fog floats through the city, carried on the breath of the river. The sun waits beyond the Nydegg Bridge, throws its long, reddened spikes along Kramgasse to the giant clock that measures time, illuminates the underside of balconies. Sounds of morning drift through the streets like the smell of bread.
And from my favorite dream (because I have always visualized time, though not in the sense of foreseeing the future…)
In this world, time is a visible dimension. Just as one may look off in the distance and see houses, trees, mountain peaks that are landmarks in space, so one may look out in another direction and see births, marriages, deaths that are signposts in time, stretching off dimly into the far future.
There is no real plot to this work of fiction. So readers who need a strong story arc may not like it. But I loved it. The whole time I was reading I felt as if I had just awoken and could recall images but not quite grasp the full text of a dream.
This collection of essays on “relativity of time” is engaging, interesting, fascinating, and thought-provoking. The writing is beautiful, with an ethereal quality reminiscent of dreams.
Some examples:
On this late afternoon, in these few moments while the sun is nestled in a snowy hollow of the Alps, a person could sit beside the lake and contemplate the texture of time.
The tragedy of this world is that no one is happy, whether stuck in a time of pain or of joy. The tragedy of this world is that everyone is alone. For a life in the past cannot be shared with the present. Each person who gets stuck in time gets stuck alone.
Dawn. A salmon fog floats through the city, carried on the breath of the river. The sun waits beyond the Nydegg Bridge, throws its long, reddened spikes along Kramgasse to the giant clock that measures time, illuminates the underside of balconies. Sounds of morning drift through the streets like the smell of bread.
And from my favorite dream (because I have always visualized time, though not in the sense of foreseeing the future…)
In this world, time is a visible dimension. Just as one may look off in the distance and see houses, trees, mountain peaks that are landmarks in space, so one may look out in another direction and see births, marriages, deaths that are signposts in time, stretching off dimly into the far future.
There is no real plot to this work of fiction. So readers who need a strong story arc may not like it. But I loved it. The whole time I was reading I felt as if I had just awoken and could recall images but not quite grasp the full text of a dream.
thebugreadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
e_r_elmwood's review
5.0
an interesting read that really made me ponder the different aspects of time. definitely would recommend.