The Order of Time
Ratings56
Average rating3.8
15
Ratings56
Average rating3.8
'A dazzling book ... the new Stephen Hawking' Sunday Times The bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics takes us on an enchanting, consoling journey to discover the meaning of time 'We are time. We are this space, this clearing opened by the traces of memory inside the connections between our neurons. We are memory. We are nostalgia. We are longing for a future that will not come.' Time is a mystery that does not cease to puzzle us. Philosophers, artists and poets have long explored its meaning while scientists have found that its structure is different from the simple intuition we have of it. From Boltzmann to quantum theory, from Einstein to loop quantum gravity, our understanding of time has been undergoing radical transformations. Time flows at a different speed in different places, the past and the future differ far less than we might think, and the very notion of the present evaporates in the vast universe. With his extraordinary charm and sense of wonder, bringing together science, philosophy and art, Carlo Rovelli unravels this mystery. Enlightening and consoling, The Order of Time shows that to understand ourselves we need to reflect on time -- and to understand time we need to reflect on ourselves. Translated by Simon Carnell and Erica Segre
Reviews with the most likes.
Physics, Metaphysics, and Poetry. I read the Audible version of this while driving to my hometown in another State (a solid book for such a mid-distance, 6 ish hr drive) and thus had the unique pleasure of having Alan Turing himself (as played in The Imitation Game and read here by Benedict Cumberbatch) lecture me on theoretical physics, metaphysics, philosophy, and poetry. If you're looking for a more concrete look at the exact theoretical physics at hand... this isn't the book you're going to want to pick up. If you're looking for more of an easy-read, high-level, pop science level look at whether or not time exists... this is a very good book from that perspective. And indeed, ultimately the text is all about perspective. At the most distinct levels, time simply does not exist, according to Rovelli. And yet obviously we humans experience time. So how can these two prior statements be resolved? Read this book for Rovelli's solid examination into the question and attempt at resolving this seeming paradox. Very much recommended. Particularly the Audible. :)
Wonderful book - Carlo Rovelli sure knows how to frame a narrative around serious contemporary physics concepts. Masterfully explained, very engaging. I picked this up from an art exhibition about Time, was quite a random buy but one of the most surprising reads.
My bad for expecting more from a physicist. The limits of science as only measuring the portion of reality that can be measured is a massive constraint and no more so than for physicists. Expecting a revolutionary insight on time from one is hopeful but dumb.
Carlo Rovelli first takes apart our Newtonian and instinctual concept of time, and then builds it back up based on quantum and thermal time. He shows us how time is not (necessarily) a variable in our world, but how time -and space- emerge from the relations between quantum events. There are some hard to grasp metaphysical leaps once in a while, but mostly the book is beautifully written, philosophical and lyrical exploration of time.
There's a special kind of magical state one enters when listening to a metaphysical book on audio on headphones, while walking through our world full people and objects and all its mundanities. Especially when the audiobook is narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch with a beautiful voice and much grace.
I did listen to the audio book twice, attempting to pay better attention to the details on the 2nd time around, but all the metaphysical talk really invites me to get distracted with daydreaming. I was very intrigued with thermal time but won't even attempt to describe it here. I might have to get a hardcopy to be able to fully dig my teeth into that.
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