One of Dave's recent posts, about the time warp that is the MBA application process, struck a chord with me. At times, it feels like I've been at this forever. Time slows to a crawl when awaiting a decision. Yet it also feels like only yesterday I was starting apps and arranging visits.
Dave's post also resonnated with me because of the book I'm currently reading. Einstein's Dreams, by Alan Lightman, has been out for over a decade, but I only recently discovered it. I wouldn't call it a novel so much as a collection of short stories, which makes it a nice book to read in small doses whenever you have a few minutes to spare. Even if you only spend a few minutes reading each story, the ideas linger with you much longer. Each story is one of Einstein's dreams as he works on his theory of relativity, each dream an alternative idea of the nature of time, either in this world, or in other worlds. Time stands still, moves in reverse, is slower at higher elevations, is circular, moves in fits and bursts. Wonder what people would do if everyone knew the exact date that time & the world would end? Lightman has a great take on that scenario.
Fantastic book. My favorite quote: "I want to understand time because I want to get close to The Old One."
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2 comments:
Thanks for the comment. I'm glad I'm not alone in feeling the way I do. By the way, are those Einstein stories true or alternative theories?
No, it's a novel/fiction. It's the author's take on what kind of dreams/ideas Einstein might have been kicking around.
If you want something non-fiction somewhat related to really advanced science/time/string theory, I'd suggest the Elegant Universe.
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