In 'Einstein's Dreams', Alan Lightman weaves a tapestry of imaginative stories that explore the nature of time through the dreams of a young Albert Einstein. Each dream presents a unique and captivating reality where time is experienced differently, challenging our conventional understanding. From a world where time is reversible to one where it stands still, these narratives provoke profound reflections on life, love, and the human condition. As Einstein grapples with the implications of his groundbreaking theories, readers are invited to contemplate their own relationships with time. This thought-provoking novel blends science, philosophy, and art into a mesmerizing exploration of existence itself.
By Alan Lightman
Published: 2004
"Time is a river that flows in many directions. We are all travelers, navigating the currents of our own dreams and realities."
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A modern classic explores the connections between science and art, the process of creativity, and ultimately the fragility of human existence. “A magical, metaphysical realm ... Captivating, enchanting, delightful.” —The New York Times Einstein’s Dreams is a fictional collage of stories dreamed by Albert Einstein in 1905, about time, relativity and physics. As the defiant but sensitive young genius is creating his theory of relativity, a new conception of time, he imagines many possible worlds. In one, time is circular, so that people are fated to repeat triumphs and failures over and over. In another, there is a place where time stands still, visited by lovers and parents clinging to their children. In another, time is a nightingale, sometimes trapped by a bell jar. Now translated into thirty languages, Einstein’s Dreams has inspired playwrights, dancers, musicians, and painters all over the world. In poetic vignettes, it explores the connections between science and art, the process of creativity, and ultimately the fragility of human existence.
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“Time is a river that flows in many directions. We are all travelers, navigating the currents of our own dreams and realities.”
Einstein's Dreams
By Alan Lightman
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Alan Lightman is a renowned physicist, novelist, and essayist, widely recognized for seamlessly blending science and the humanities in his work. He is the author of several notable books, including 'Einstein's Dreams,' a fictional exploration of the nature of time, and 'The Diagnostic,' a poignant reflection on the intersection of science and personal experience. Lightman's writing style is characterized by its lyrical prose and contemplative depth, often provoking thought on existential themes and the mysteries of human existence. A recipient of numerous awards, he has also served as a professor of the practice of natural sciences at MIT and as a senior lecturer at MIT's Writing Department.
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