Entry tags:
2015 Book Review #43: Einstein's Dreams
Title: Einstein's Dreams
Author: Alan Lightman
Genre: Metaphysical thought experiments
Thingummies: 4
Synopsis: A series of lyrical thought experiments on the nature of time.
Thoughts: I read this years ago, and found it beautiful and profound. Each chapter is a gem--a few pages musing on what life would be like in a Swiss town if time moved differently than it does for us.
In the interim, I read Lightman's frankly terrible Mr g. Unfortunately, going back, it's colored my opinion. I can see the cracks--Lightman thinks he's cleverer than he is (he is very clever, but he's in love with his own cleverness). Some of the chapters don't really hold together at all if you think about them too much.
But it's still an interesting set of thought experiments, and beautiful if you don't poke too hard.
Author: Alan Lightman
Genre: Metaphysical thought experiments
Thingummies: 4
Synopsis: A series of lyrical thought experiments on the nature of time.
Thoughts: I read this years ago, and found it beautiful and profound. Each chapter is a gem--a few pages musing on what life would be like in a Swiss town if time moved differently than it does for us.
In the interim, I read Lightman's frankly terrible Mr g. Unfortunately, going back, it's colored my opinion. I can see the cracks--Lightman thinks he's cleverer than he is (he is very clever, but he's in love with his own cleverness). Some of the chapters don't really hold together at all if you think about them too much.
But it's still an interesting set of thought experiments, and beautiful if you don't poke too hard.