In 'The Order of Time', Carlo Rovelli invites readers to explore the profound and enigmatic nature of time, challenging conventional perceptions of past, present, and future. With poetic prose and thought-provoking insights, he delves into the realms of physics and philosophy, revealing how time is not a linear progression but a complex interplay of moments. As Rovelli intertwines scientific theories with human experience, he forces us to reconsider our understanding of reality and existence. This journey into the heart of time captivates both the curious mind and the avid reader, unlocking mysteries that linger in the corners of our consciousness. Prepare to have your perspective transformed in an elegant dance of ideas that echoes through the fabric of the universe.
By Carlo Rovelli
Published: 2019
"Time is not a line, but a network of relationships that connect us to the universe."
One of TIME’s Ten Best Nonfiction Books of the Decade "Meet the new Stephen Hawking . . . The Order of Time is a dazzling book." --The Sunday Times From the bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics, Reality Is Not What It Seems, Helgoland, and Anaximander comes a concise, elegant exploration of time. Why do we remember the past and not the future? What does it mean for time to "flow"? Do we exist in time or does time exist in us? In lyric, accessible prose, Carlo Rovelli invites us to consider questions about the nature of time that continue to puzzle physicists and philosophers alike. For most readers this is unfamiliar terrain. We all experience time, but the more scientists learn about it, the more mysterious it remains. We think of it as uniform and universal, moving steadily from past to future, measured by clocks. Rovelli tears down these assumptions one by one, revealing a strange universe where at the most fundamental level time disappears. He explains how the theory of quantum gravity attempts to understand and give meaning to the resulting extreme landscape of this timeless world. Weaving together ideas from philosophy, science and literature, he suggests that our perception of the flow of time depends on our perspective, better understood starting from the structure of our brain and emotions than from the physical universe. Already a bestseller in Italy, and written with the poetic vitality that made Seven Brief Lessons on Physics so appealing, The Order of Time offers a profoundly intelligent, culturally rich, novel appreciation of the mysteries of time.
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“Time is not a line, but a network of relationships that connect us to the universe.”
The Order of Time
By Carlo Rovelli
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Carlo Rovelli is an Italian theoretical physicist and author celebrated for his contributions to the field of quantum gravity and the philosophy of science. He is best known for his popular science books, including "Seven Brief Lessons on Physics," which introduces complex scientific concepts in an accessible manner, and "Reality Is Not What It Seems," which explores the nature of reality through the lens of modern physics. Rovelli's writing is characterized by its clarity, poetic style, and ability to juxtapose scientific rigor with philosophical reflections, making profound ideas accessible to a broad audience.
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