Einstein's Dreams

One of my all time favorite books

I've read this book four times now over the past few years. There's nothing to compare it to--it's a fascinating treatment of time, dimension, illusion, and much more.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Amazing

This book really makes me think about time and what it really is. Its eye opening and really makes you think.:)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Fascinating And Eye Opening Views About Time

Einstein's Dreams was a very interesting book to read. Lightman wrote the book in a way that was very easy to understand but it also kept you thinking a lot about the way we view the world. The layout is unique because each chapter is its own individual story. There isn't a flowing plot but all the chapters are about the same subject: different ways to view time. I find this type of format easier to read than a normal layout and it allows the reader to be surprised about what the next chapter will be about.

Each individual chapter peered into different ways to view time. Some of the chapters talked about time being a circle, flowing like water, the dimensions of time, cause and effect, and even the fact that in the end, everyone is alone. It was so intriguing to read about time in so many different ways. The book really made you realize how much the average person depends on time to live their lives.

This book made me think of the question, "Can we ever live life without keeping some sort of time?" Sure we don't have to look at the clocks, keep a schedule, or even know what day it is. But things like night and day will always be a factor in keeping time. Reading Einstein's Dreams made me realize that no matter what way you think time is, people are always going to be paying attention to it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Einstein's Dreams captures the essence of time in a series of dreams.

Alan Lightman's Einstein's Dreams captures the essence of time in a series of dreams. Lightman challenges the average person's way of life. He questions our understanding using illusions from the past and present that were captivated in dreams that Einstein had when he was an adolescent.

The stories were short and sweet. They revolved around the absence and presence of time, each with a new twist that only Albert Einstein could have dreamed of. They were concise and easy to read and had me sitting on the edge of my chair, not knowing what will come next. Every story became more interesting and more in depth than the last and each continued to fascinate me.

One story stood out. In this story, Einstein imagined a world in which people lived just one day, only saw one sunrise, one sunset. Everything we experienced in our lives was smashed together and experienced within twenty four hours. It made me think, what if our lives were as short as a day? What if our lives were meaningless compared to the length of time of our universe? I started to question similarly to what Einstein questioned about our everyday lifestyles. This book brought new ideas and insights to my life and every page was a blast to read.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

a mind-stretching sensory paradise

A beautiful novel and one I continue to fall in love with whenever I read it. It¿s the inspired story of young Albert Einstein working in 1905 as a patent clerk in Switzerland. Einstein¿s Dreams is an imaginary recreation of the muse within Einstein¿s genius. He dreams of time: circular, flowing backwards, slowing down - all compelling, brilliant, fresh possibilities of what time may consist of, here and perhaps in other worlds. These dreams have taken hold of Einstein¿s own research and fostered his theory of relativity. Through Lightman¿s poetic writing, we too begin to see how romantic and creative the nature of time really is. Alan Lightman is a professor of humanities, creative writing and physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His writings about science (as opposed to his scientific writings) have appeared in every prestigious magazine throughout North America. Einstein¿s Dreams was an international bestseller when it was first published and since then has been translated into more than thirty languages as well as into theatrical and musical productions across the United States. Extraordinarily clever, although more a philosophical, meditative, playful journey than a plot-driven novel, Einstein¿s Dreams is not easily forgotten. Thirty dreams on variations of time are received by the reader as a mind-stretching sensory paradise.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent

This book was absolutely amazing! It was beautifully written. I loved how the book showed all of the different perspectives of time, the way Einstein dreamed them up. It was totally awesome. You don't have to be into Einstein or physics to really enjoy this wonderful book. I would highly recommend it to everyone out there. It is well worth the time to read. I promise.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Absolutely amazing... Ironic how the book relates to time and I

Absolutely amazing... Ironic how the book relates to time and I was so engrossed that I missed my stop on the train. Time really stood still for this literary genius..

Makes you think

It's a good book to read along with another book. It just gives you a lot to think about with how life would be if time worked this way or that way.

Kelsey

Im bored already lol hate school. *leans in back in the desk*

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Alex

Me

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Tempo

*punches Specs*

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Science meets Dal¿

Beautiful piece of work.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Makes+you+think%2C+

Every+chapter+puts+you+in+a+new+hypothetical+situation+in+which+time+and+consequences+for+actions+behave+in+different+ways.+One+chapter+places+all+if+one%27s+life+in+a+day%2C+and+another+makes+time+go+backwards.+Many+chapters%2C+like+these%2C+leave+the+reader+wondering%3A+how+would+I+lead+my+life+under+these+conditions%3F+If+it%27s+characters+you+want%2C+however%2C+you+will+not+find+it+in+this+thought-provoking+novel.+The+intrigue+and+descriptions+of+time+changes%2C+and++Einstein%27s+interpretation+of+things%2C++however%2C+more+than+makes+up+for+this+lack+of+protagonists.+

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Extraordinary.

I read this one for english class, and I was surprised to find that it really interested me. Every chapter is a new beginning, each one describing the world with a different concept of time. In one, for instance, time moves slower towards the center of Earth and eventually stops. In another, cause and effect are erratic, making every choice of action one without consequence. How strange would life be if time was reversed, controllable, or completely nonexistent? All of these questions are answered in these fascinating pieces of fiction that make up Einstein's Dreams.

Excellent easy read with a great thought provoking premise.

Fascinating study on how different people experience the passage of time!

Lightman's dreams not necessarily Einstein's

Imaginative but also kind of annoying/silly to me. Just cashing in on the famous Einstein name.

0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Awakens definition

This book is number two on my favorites list (The confessions of Max Tivoli is number one). It has that special ability of melting my heart into a slop of wet puddy on the floor. The bulk of it, I would assume, is mostly poetry, but it rubs off of elements of physics and theories. Nonetheless, it's something like cream cheese, something you have to savor. I'd say the best way to read this is to read one entry every day, no more. Any more and you might forget something.

Mastered novel on creativity and perception of time.

I started reading this book this morning a few minutes before leaving to work. Now, every minute I can sneak to read, I indulge myself in the insight of creativity. I'm not an avid reader, but I suffer every minute I'm not reading more of this book. This book is a necessity in anyone's library.

The Perfect Gift

This book continues to be the gift I give to anyone who expresses an interest in reading. Pick up a copy for yourself and anyone else who enjoys a thought provoking, intellectual, yet easy and fun read.

Great book

Einstein's dreams is a Very inspiring book that deals with the concept of time and it's meaning. I went into a book store today and the title captured my eye so I sat down to read a few pages and the next thing I know I've gone through the entire book. Im planning on buying it next time to add to my collection. I can honestly say I've never read a book like it and I dont think I ever will. The only disappointment I found was that it wasn¿t longer. -V.E.,15