Time (chronology), time systems and standards Books

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Book SynopsisOne 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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Book SynopsisWith a Foreword by Steven WeinbergIn this richly illustrated book, Nobel Laureate Gerard 't Hooft and Theoretical Physicist Stefan Vandoren describe the enormous diversity of natural phenomena that take place at different time scales.In the tradition of the bestseller Powers of Ten, the authors zoom in and out in time, each step with a factor of ten. Starting from one second, time scales are enlarged until processes are reached that take much longer than the age of the universe. After the largest possible eternities, the reader is treated to the shortest and fastest phenomena known. Then the authors increase with powers of ten, until again the second is reached at the end of the book.At each time scale, interesting natural phenomena occur, spread over all scientific disciplines: orbital and rotation periods of planets and stars, decay times of elementary particles and atoms, biological rhythms and evolution processes, but also the different geological time scales. remove

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Book SynopsisWith a foreword from Jean-Marie Schaller, founder and creative director of Louis Moinet, this book introduces some of the most elegant watches the horological world has to offer, including several one-of-a-kind pieces that have never before appeared in print. Many of these ateliers handcraft both the watches and their complicated mechanical movements in-house. The level of expertise and craftsmanship involved is truly dazzling. Featuring such stunning timepieces as the 15.48 Driver Watch, the Andreas Strehler Time Shadow and the Antoine Preziuso Chronometer, Tourbillon of Tourbillons, this expertly curated collection of watch profiles will catch the eye of any true enthusiast. Steve Huyton looks beyond the price tag, featuring affordable options of particular artistic merit as well as pieces from the luxury end of the scale. Discover the hidden gems of the watchmaking business - 60 independent artisans counted among the finest makers in the world. Includes the work of: Hajime Asaoka, Felix Baumgartner (Urwerk), Aaron Becsei, Vincent Calabrese, Konstantin Chaykin, Bernhard Lederer (BLU), Masahiro Kikuno, Vianney Halter, Antoine Preziuso and Andreas Strehler, among others.Trade Review'The book... was drawn from an initial list of about 150 watchmakers that Mr. Huyton said were chosen for their originality and included his personal favorites. Of those who made it into the final volume, some follow family tradition, like Aaron Becsei of Bexei, a third-generation watchmaker based in Budapest who creates tourbillon designs. Others decided to go solo after working for large brands, like Remi Maillat, 35, who left Cartier and created his own Swiss brand, called Krayon.' Melanie Abrams, The New York Times

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Book SynopsisJohn Harrison and the Quest for Longitude is a fascinating account of one man driven by the need to solve one of the greatest practical problems of his time. Following one of the most intriguing and fascinating stories linked to the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the book centres on the life and achievements of John Harrison - designer and builder of the first accurate marine chronometers. Inspired by the official prize offered in 1714 to anyone who could solve the problem of finding longitudinal position at sea, Harrison produced his four famous 'H' timepieces. In doing so, he helped revolutionise navigation at sea, saving many thousands of lives. This new edition contains beautiful technical drawings of the mechanisms of clocks and the technology involved in Harrison's creations, bringing to life this inspiring story.

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Book SynopsisTime is central to our lived experience of the world. Yet, as this book reveals, it is startlingly difficult to reconcile the way we seem to experience time with many of the theories presented to us in physics and metaphysics. This comprehensive and accessible introduction guides the unfamiliar reader through difficult questions at the intersection of the metaphysics and physics of time. It starts with the assumption that physics and metaphysics are inextricably connected, and that each can, and should, shed light on the other. The authors explore a range of views about the nature of time, showing how different these are from the way we typically think about time and our place in it. They consider such questions as: whether time travel is possible, and, if it is, whether we can change the past; whether there is a single moment that is objectively present; whether time flows or is static; and whether, ultimately, time exists at all. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Time will appeal to students of physics and philosophy who want both a comprehensive overview of the area and enough depth to allow for rigorous discussion. The book’s detailed readings and exercises will challenge students and provide a clear roadmap for further study.Trade Review‘The metaphysics of time can be a tough nut to crack. Using down-to-earth language and highlighting important concepts, this highly readable book does an admirable job of giving students the tools they need to understand the field.’Craig Callender, UC San Diego ‘A simply excellent book that deserves to be read and is, I think, the best introduction to the topic of the philosophy of time on the market.’Jonathan Tallant, University of NottinghamTable of ContentsList of Figures Introduction 1. Dynamic and Static Theories of Time 2. The Passage of Time 3. The Experience of Time 4. Time and Physics 5. Temporal Asymmetries 6. Time and Causation 7. Persistence through Time 8. The Paradoxes of Time Travel Conclusion Index

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Book SynopsisHow old is Earth? Can we look back in time? How long is a light year? How short is a femtosecond? What is Greenwich Mean Time? How did astronauts tell the time on the Moon? When did time begin? It's high time you knew the answers to these and many more intriguing questions, so why not pass the time reading this lighthearted, illustrated miscellany, packed with hundreds of amazing facts from the time experts at the Royal Observatory. In less than no time, you'll have discovered the myriad of influences that time has on our daily lives.

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Book SynopsisBuild your child's reading confidence at home with books at the right levelHow do we measure time, and where does it come from? How do clocks work and what happened before they were invented? Find out the fascinating answers inside.Ruby/Band 14 books give increasing opportunities for children to develop their skills of inference and deduction.Text type An information book.The book is organised into short chapters to help children practise the skills of locating and identifying important information.The glossary and index on page 44 can be used to develop children''s information retrieval skills further.Curriculum links Mathematics measurement; History chronological understanding

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Book SynopsisIn About Time: Einstein''s Unfinished Revolution Paul Davies confronts the puzzles and paradoxes of time that have bemused the world''s greatest thinkers throughout the ages.When Albert Einstein formulated his theory of relativity it brought about a revolution in our understanding of time, yet also presented a new set of mysteries. Einstein''s time can be warped, leading to bizarre possibilities such as black holes and time travel, while making a nonsense of our perception of a ''now'' or a division of time into past, present and future.In About Time Paul Davies tackles the tough questions about time, including the strange relationship between physical time and our psychological perception of it. He gives straightforward descriptions of topics such as the theory of relativity, the relation between time dilation and the speed of light and Hawking''s ''imaginary time''. He concludes that, despite decades of progress in unravelling the mysteries of Table of ContentsA very brief history of time; time for a change; timewarps; black holes - gateways to the end of time; the beginning of time - when exactly was it?; Einstein's greatest triumph?; quantum time; imaginary time; the arrow of time; backwards in time; time travel - fact or fantasy?; but what time is it now?; experimenting with time; the unfinished revolution.

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Book SynopsisGod and Time is a collection of previously unpublished essays written by leading philosophers about God''s relation to time. The essays have been selected to represent current debates written between those who believe God to be atemporal and those who do not. The essays highlight issues such as how the nature of time is relevant to whether God is temporal and how God''s other attributes are compatible with his mode of temporal being. By focusing on the metaphysical aspects of time and temporal existence, God and Time will make a unique contribution to the current resurgence of interest in philosophical theology within the analytic tradition.Trade ReviewExibits a rich spectrum of argument concerning the many-faceted issue of God's relation to time...I found no essay in this anthology that lacked intellectual rigor. Accordingly, the volume should serve as an excellent ancillary text for courses in philosophy of religion that focus on divine attributes...I recommend this collection, and must confess that I cannot begin to do justice to its rich argumentation in such a brief review. * The Journal of Religion *

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Book SynopsisAn up-to-date and accessible selection of some of the most important writings on the philosophy of time, including work by David Lewis, Michael Dummett, and Anthony Quinton.Trade ReviewNow the definitive collection. * E.J. Lowe, Durham University *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION ; PART 1: TIME AND TENSE ; PART 2: RELATIONISM ABOUT TIME ; PART 3: THE DIRECTION OF TIME ; PART 4: THE TOPOLOGY OF TIME

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Book SynopsisModern physics has revealed the universe as a much stranger place than we could have imagined. The puzzle at the centre of our knowledge of the universe is time. Michael Lockwood takes the reader on a fascinating journey into the nature of things. He investigates philosophical questions about past, present, and future, our experience of time, and the possibility of time travel. And he provides the most careful, lively, and up-to-date introduction to the physics of time and the structure of the universe. He guides us step by step through relativity theory and quantum physics, introducing and explaining the ground-breaking ideas of Newton and Boltzmann, Einstein and Schroedinger, Penrose and Hawking. We zoom in on the behaviour of molecules and atoms, and pull back to survey the expansion of the universe. We learn about entropy and gravity, black holes and wormholes, about how it all began and where we are all headed. Lockwood''s aim is not just to boggle the mind but to lead us towards Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Michael Lockwood's book The Labyrinth of Time: Introducing the Universe has just appeared. I highly recommend it. It's a wonderful overview of the physics and philosophy of time, crafted extremely carefully and engagingly (yet without compromising any content) for the lay reader, superbly produced and illustrated. Oh, and it's true. * Professor David Deutsch, author of The Fabric of Reality *Michael Lockwood's book...is a model of balance and clarity....Lockwood's style is clear and straightforward * Paul Davies, Times Higher Education Supplement *Table of Contents1. Two Concepts of Time ; 2. Time and Space: a Marriage is Arranged ; 3. Taking Space-Time Seriously ; 4. From Flat to Curved Space-Time ; 5. Weaving the Cosmic Tapestry ; 6. Closed Timelike Curves: Science Fact or Science Fiction? ; 7. Classical Time Travel: the Toils of Paradox ; 8. Hamilton's Legacy: Physical Systems and their State Spaces ; 9. Time Asymmetry and the Second Law ; 10. Entropy, Electrodynamics and the Role of Gravity ; 11. 'Drawn Through Life Backwards' ; 12. The Unyielding Past ; 13. The Emergence of Order ; 14. From Quantum Leaps to Schrodinger's Cat ; 15. Schrodinger's Time Traveller ; 16. Space, Time, and Quantum Gravity: Physics at the Frontier ; 17. The Time of Our Lives ; 18. Epilogue

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Book SynopsisIn the late fifteenth century, clocks acquired minute hands. A century later, second hands appeared. Tracing debates about the nature of time, causality, and free will, as well as the introduction of modern technologies - telegraphy, photography, cinematography - this title locates the reverberations of this 'perceptual moment' throughout culture.Trade Review"A thoughtful look at the all-too-human perceptual complications facing objective observation." (New Scientist) "This is an interesting, entertaining, and well-written book." (Choice)"

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Book SynopsisIn the late fifteenth century, clocks acquired minute hands. A century later, second hands appeared. Tracing debates about the nature of time, causality, and free will, as well as the introduction of modern technologies - telegraphy, photography, cinematography - this title locates the reverberations of this 'perceptual moment' throughout culture.Trade Review"A thoughtful look at the all-too-human perceptual complications facing objective observation." (New Scientist) "This is an interesting, entertaining, and well-written book." (Choice)"

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Book SynopsisUp until the end of the eighteenth century, the way Ottomans used their clocks conformed to the inner logic of their own temporal culture. This book unravels the complexity of Ottoman temporal culture and tells the story of its transformation. It presents us with a new understanding of the relationship between time and modernity.

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Book SynopsisUntil the nineteenth century all time was local time. The invention of railways and telegraphs, however, created a newly interconnected world where, suddenly, the time differences between cities mattered. This book is an exploration of why we tell time the way we do, demonstrating that organizing a new global time system was no simple task.Trade Review“With the rising interest in doing away with summer time shifts, The Clocks are Telling Us Lies highlights some of the issues with converting back to standard time and provides readers with a better appreciation of how change in times will impact and be received by society. A valuable reference book on a challenging topic.” Randall C. Brooks, vice-president emeritus, Ingenium Canada

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Book Synopsis''An utterly dazzling book, the best piece of history I have read for a long time'' Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps''Not merely an horologist''s delight, but an ingenious meditation on the nature and symbolism of time-keeping itself'' Richard HolmesThe measurement of time has always been essential to human civilization, from early Roman sundials to the advent of GPS. But while we have one eye on the time every day, are we aware of the power clocks have given governments, military leaders and business owners, and how they have shaped our lives and our world?In this spectacularly far-reaching book, David Rooney narrates a history of timekeeping and civilization in twelve concise chapters. Over their course, we meet the most epochal inventions in horological history, from medieval water clocks to Renaissance hourglasses, and from stock-exchange timestamps to satellites in Earth''s orbit. We discover how clocks have helped people navigate the globe and build empires, but also, on occasion, taken us to the brink of destruction.This is the story of time, and the story of time is the story of us.Trade Review'About Time is an utterly dazzling book, the best piece of history I have read for a long time. From sundials in ancient Rome to astronomical, water-driven, mechanical and atomic timepieces used throughout history and across cultures, Rooney has written the definitive book on these remarkable objects that give order to everyday life. It is a moving and beautifully written book that even takes us 5,000 years into the future with plutonium clocks ticking away beneath our feet. There will be many puns about this as a timely book; in fact, it is timeless' -- Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps'Not merely an horologist's delight, but an ingenious meditation on the nature and symbolism of time-keeping itself. From the medieval hourglass to the Doomsday Clock, from Jaipur to Jodrell Bank, from GMT to GPS, Rooney ticks off time in a highly entertaining series of historical tales and parables which also give pause for thought and sometimes alarming reflections. I will never hear the pips, or ask 'what's the time?' in quite the same way again. A striking success' -- Richard Holmes'Fascinating... it's to Rooney's credit that although he clearly knows a colossal amount about clocks, he wears his learning very lightly' -- Dominic Sandbrook * Sunday Times *People say time is money, but David Rooney knows better. In this information-packed swoop through history and into the future, he exposes time's many identities along with the hidden agendas of clocks. Time is knowledge. Time is power. Time is faith. Time is destiny -- Dava Sobel, author of Longitude'Abundantly clever ... [Rooney's] notion is that time-noting instruments of one kind or another have been central to human endeavor, and he illustrates the power of such influence by scores of well-curated examples ... lovely and engaging, with myriad fascinations on every page' -- Simon Winchester * New York Times *'Enthralling and important, About Time takes us deep into the past and far into the future. With David Rooney as personable guide, we peer inside clocks from Kyoto to Cape Town, discovering what they meant to the diverse people who made them, used them, whose lives were ruled by them. . . . This is a gripping and revealing account of time, and humanity's changing relationship with it' -- Seb Falk, author of The Light Ages: The Surprising Story of Medieval Science'A fascinating volume on what clocks say both to us and about us ... full of riches ... a valuable intellectual journey at a moment ripe for contemplation' * Wall Street Journal *'David Rooney's passionate enthusiasm for everything clock-related leaps off every page. The vivid writing, engaging stories and autobiographical details combine to offer a rich and generous picture of the history of clocks, from China and Japan to Central Europe, the Middle East and outer space. In clear, pacey and evocative prose, Rooney's volume takes in ancient wonders and modern marvels, leaving us at once enlightened and moved' -- Ludmilla Jordanova, author of History in PracticeThe measurement of time is a convenience, a jailor, a tyrannical device. David Rooney's delightful and discursive work anatomises that tyranny. Page after page offers up instances of time's ubiquity and its mercurial power to get into the interstices of the everyday -- Jonathan Meades'About Time is startlingly original. Rooney is immensely knowledgeable and passionate about his subject. His engaging style should make this book, which carries valuable warnings about the future of humanity, a popular-science classic' -- Patricia Fara * Literary Review *'A fascinating and sometimes frightening story. Rooney weaves a convincing tale of the evil uses to which clocks have been put' * Daily Express *'Captivating ... a diverting way to spend a few hours of precious time' * The Economist *'About Time provides a fascinating look at timekeeping devices throughout history and the societal roles they've filled. A quick but thoughtful read ensuring you will never look at your alarm clock or smartphone the same way again' * Booklist *'Fascinating ... exposes the tyranny of clocks ... with [Rooney's] book in hand, and an eye on the world that sustains us, we might just save ourselves' * Forbes *'I've spent a lot of my life trying to reconnect with my experience of time before I learned to read a clock's three hands. Clock-time has always oppressed me, and Rooney's explorations of its use as a tool of power affirmed my unease about it in a spectacular fashion. His book is a great read, full of fascinating stories, histories and agendas' -- Jem Finer'The author knows his subject intimately ... a fascinating story about how clocks have not only kept the time for us but also defined the times we've lived in' * Washington Examiner *'Takes readers on a fascinating journey into the past and the future of time-keeping methods and technology ... [Rooney] reminds readers that clocks are not just critical to the progress of civilization but also in the waging of warfare' * Telegraph India *

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Book SynopsisA quirky, funny, and accessible blend of science and art that delves into the heart of Einstein’s theory of relativityTrade Review“What makes Reimagining Time unique is the complementary talents of its authors, a father-daughter team, who together create an enjoyable yet challenging exposition of [Einstein’s theory of relatvitiy].”—J. F. Burkhart, Choice“[This book’s] aim to provide a non-mathematical but quantitative description of SR—is as laudable as it is challenging. Just maybe it will appeal to enough readers to make it a cult classic.”—Peter Main, Physics Education“Hop aboard the relativity train with this lively and creative introduction to the most significant ideas of Einstein’s relativity. A spirited intellectual adventure!”—David Kaiser, author of Quantum Legacies: Dispatches from an Uncertain World“Understanding Einstein’s theory of special relativity can be hard. In the engaging and artfully illustrated Reimagining Time Tanya and Jeffrey Bub make the effort to understand it immensely enjoyable without compromising on correctness and rigor.”—Anil Ananthaswamy, author of Through Two Doors at Once“Tanya Bub and Jeffrey Bub have done it again! Reimagining Time is a delightful read, resulting in a conceptual understanding of one of the most important paradigm shifts in physics. Totally brilliant!”—Tiffany Nichols, Harvard University“Reimagining Time is a fascinating introduction to the core concepts of special relativity. The unique illustrated format and elegant writing will appeal to readers who have not encountered these ideas before.”—Chad Orzel, author of How to Teach Quantum Physics to Your Dog“Most introductions to Einstein's theory of special relativity teach one to accept its puzzling aspects. With clever narration and illustration, Reimagining Time helps you understand relativity.”—Craig Callender, author of What Makes Times Special?

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Book SynopsisAn engaging, encyclopedic account of the material world of early modern Britain as told through a unique collection of dated objects The period from 1500 to 1800 in England was one of extraordinary social transformations, many having to do with the way time itself was understood, measured, and recorded. Through a focused exploration of an extensive private collection of fine and decorative artworks, this beautifully designed volume explores that theme and the variety of ways that individual notions of time and mortality shifted. The feature uniting these more than 450 varied objects is that each one bears a specific date, which marks a significant momentfor reasons personal or professional, religious or secular, private or public. From paintings to porringers, teapots to tape measures, the objectsand the stories they telloffer a vivid sense of the lived experience of time, while providing a sweeping survey of the material world of early modern Britain. Distributed for the Yale CenterTrade Review"A change of focus reveals the design, the beauty, the meaning, and often the life stories, of this collection of bric-a-brac."—Historic House“The attention to detail, both in the archival research and the aesthetic presentation, make it a beautiful object and an impressive resource, one that at the present time, especially, stands as a fitting testament to the ongoing human determination to create, to mark time, and to endure.”—Christina J. Faraday, Apollo Magazine "The editors and authors are to be commended for the wonderful book they have written, and for the dedication, sensitivity, and nuance with which they have approached the humble yet delightful objects in their care.”—Francesca Kaes, Journal 18“. . . an ambitious exploration of a subject that has rarely—perhaps never—been addressed by design historians.”—Ellenor Alcorn, Magazine Antiques

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Book SynopsisTime is the one thing that is shared by all of humanity, irrespective of wealth, health, race or credo; and one of the things that makes us individual is how we choose to spend it. It is one of the commodities over which we have most control, yet it is the asset we value the least. Isn''t it time we took control over how we spend it, while we still can? Time will reward readers of lifestyle quests who seek a better, richer, slower, more fulfilling way of life. For anyone who has ever pondered the paradoxes of time and who is interested in looking at their world from a fresh perspective. Whether you want the encouragement to take time out on a life-scale or simply adjust your life to accommodate a timetable that suits you, this book will have plenty of inspiration, suggestions and tips to help you get the most out of your time.

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Book SynopsisA neuroscientist investigates how the architecture of the human brain shapes our understanding of the nature of time.Trade Review"Our experience of time is not the same as time itself; the former is largely our creation. French philosopher Henri Bergson once publicly debated this point with Einstein – and lost. If only he’d had recourse to this book, written by one of the first neuroscientists to ask how the human brain encodes time. Take that, Albert!" -- Science books we’re keen to read in 2017 - New Scientist"... a readable exploration of how the architecture of the human brain shapes our understanding of the nature of time." -- The Bookseller"Apparently elastic and possibly illusory, time is a puzzle to physicists and neuroscientists alike. Dean Buonomano straddles the divide, invoking cutting-edge theory and research as he wrestles with the often glaring mismatch between physical and 'felt' time. The result is immensely engaging..." -- Nature"Buonomano’s ambition is inspiring and his writing is rich, combining a readable style with illustrative examples... it [Your Brain is a Time Machine] hits the ambitious target of being both thorough and accessible." -- Chemistry World"... nothing if not an entertaining read." -- Nature Physics

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Book Synopsis“Now” is a simple yet elusive concept.Trade Review"Mind-blowing ideas demand to be shared.…[Muller] posits a theory that seems at once plausible and—surprisingly, for a book with equations—one worth not spoiling." -- Time"Richard Muller is a leading physicist, but he’s also intellectually restless. That’s a potent combination, with the power to generate transformative ideas about ourselves and our relationship to the universe. In Now: The Physics of Time, Muller hypothesizes how time itself might be created or destroyed. Maybe it’s right. Maybe it’s wrong. But along the way he’s given you a master class in what time is and how and why we perceive it the way we do." -- Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and host of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey"Muller has taken a remarkably fresh and exciting approach to the analysis of time. With his usual clarity and wit, he proceeds from solidly established principles—each a fascinating story in its own right—but when he gets to the meaning of the flow of time and now, he forges a new path. I expect controversy!" -- Saul Perlmutter, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics"Can science shed light on time’s dark mysteries? Richard Muller thinks it can, making his case in this clear, evocative, and wide-reaching investigation of how nature may generate the flow of time. Must-reading for all concerned with the why behind when." -- Timothy Ferris, author of Coming of Age in the Milky Way"A provocative, strongly argued book on the fundamental nature of time. As an experimental cosmologist who has initiated some of the most important experiments of our time, Muller knows well where the limits of science are, and he keeps us interested by his ability to work close to that edge." -- Lee Smolin, author of Time Reborn"The strength of this book lies in Muller’s experience as a lecturer and teacher, which has enabled him to describe and explain difficult concepts with simplicity.… [Now] provides a concise master class in understanding the essentials of physics." -- Science"Time spent with Muller will transform readers' understanding of time itself.…A mind-expanding venture to the frontiers of science—and beyond!" -- Booklist (starred review)"The kind of mind-expanding read that will give you something to think about late at night. Muller's passion for his topic shines through on every page." -- The Independent

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Book SynopsisThe history of the clock opens a window on how different cultures have viewed time and on Europe's path to industrialization.Trade Review"Cipolla has a sharp eye for the heaven in a grain of sand. He takes a prosaic piece of hardware and uses it as a path into some of the central themes of history.... Imaginative and wide-ranging." -- The Economist"Brilliant.... Demonstrates the economic and technological development by which the continent thrust into the forefront of civilization." -- The Listener

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Book SynopsisFrom the celebrated author of the best-selling Physics for Future Presidents comes “a provocative, strongly argued book on the fundamental nature of time” (Lee Smolin).Trade Review"Mind-blowing…[Muller] posits a theory that seems at once plausible and—surprisingly, for a book with equations—one worth not spoiling." -- Time"[A] concise master class in understanding the essentials of physics." -- Lisa Jardine-Wright - Science"Muller has taken a remarkably fresh and exciting approach to the analysis of time. With his usual clarity and wit, he proceeds from solidly established principles—each a fascinating story in its own right—but when he gets to the meaning of the flow of time and now, he forges a new path. I expect controversy!" -- Saul Perlmutter, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics"Can science shed light on time’s dark mysteries? Richard Muller thinks it can, making his case in this clear, evocative, and wide-reaching investigation of how nature may generate the flow of time. Must-reading for all concerned with the why behind when." -- Timothy Ferris, author of Coming of Age in the Milky Way"Richard Muller is a leading physicist, but he’s also intellectually restless. That’s a potent combination, with the power to generate transformative ideas about ourselves and our relationship to the universe. In Now: The Physics of Time, Muller hypothesizes how time itself might be created or destroyed. Maybe it’s right. Maybe it’s wrong. But along the way he’s given you a master class in what time is and how and why we perceive it the way we do." -- Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and host of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey"A provocative, strongly argued book on the fundamental nature of time. As an experimental cosmologist who has initiated some of the most important experiments of our time, Muller knows well where the limits of science are, and he keeps us interested by his ability to work close to that edge." -- Lee Smolin, author of Time Reborn"The kind of mind-expanding read that will give you something to think about late at night. Muller's passion for his topic shines through on every page." -- Dennis Green - The Independent"Entertaining and at times refreshingly idiosyncratic…Richard Muller’s new theory deserves a serious look, and his book presents important lessons in physics and beyond." -- Martin Bojowald - Physics Today"A thoughtful, thought-provoking and accessible book that blends concepts from relativity, thermodynamics and quantum theory to elucidate how physics got where it is, and the missteps that might have led it there." -- Richard Webb - New Scientist

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Book SynopsisOne of Smithsonian Magazine's Ten Best History Books of 2021 A captivating, surprising history of timekeeping and how it has shaped our world.Trade Review"Abundantly clever.... Lovely and engaging ... with myriad fascinations on every page." -- Simon Winchester - New York Times Book Review"Fascinating.... A valuable intellectual journey at a moment ripe for contemplation." -- Michael O'Donnell - Wall Street Journal"Insightful, globe-spanning." -- James Gleick - New York Review of Books"Fascinating.... with [Rooney’s] book in hand, and an eye on the world that sustains us, we might just save ourselves." -- Jonathon Keats - Forbes"People say time is money, but David Rooney knows better. In this information-packed swoop through history and into the future, he exposes time’s many identities along with the hidden agendas of clocks. Time is knowledge. Time is power. Time is faith. Time is destiny." -- Dava Sobel, author of Longitude"Not merely an horologist’s delight, but an ingenious meditation on the nature and symbolism of time-keeping itself. From the medieval hourglass to the Doomsday Clock, from Jaipur to Jodrell Bank, from GMT to GPS, Rooney ticks off time in a highly entertaining series of historical tales and parables which also give pause for thought and sometimes alarming reflections. I will never hear the pips, or ask ‘what’s the time?’ in quite the same way again. A striking success." -- Richard Holmes, author of The Age of Wonder"About Time is an utterly dazzling book, the best piece of history I have read for a long time. From sundials in ancient Rome to astronomical, water-driven, mechanical, and atomic timepieces used throughout history and across cultures, Rooney has written the definitive book on these remarkable objects that give order to everyday life. It is a moving and beautifully written book that even takes us 5,000 years into the future with plutonium clocks ticking away beneath our feet. There will be many puns about this as a timely book; in fact, it is timeless." -- Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in Twelve Maps"The measurement of time is a convenience, a jailor, a tyrannical device. David Rooney’s delightful and discursive work anatomizes that tyranny. Page after page offers up instances of time’s ubiquity and its mercurial power to get into the interstices of the everyday." -- Jonathan Meades"Enthralling and important, About Time takes us deep into the past and far into the future. With David Rooney as personable guide, we peer inside clocks from Kyoto to Cape Town, discovering what they meant to the diverse people who made them, used them, whose lives were ruled by them…This is a gripping and revealing account of time, and humanity’s changing relationship with it." -- Seb Falk, author of The Light Ages: The Surprising Story of Medieval Science"David Rooney’s passionate enthusiasm for everything clock-related leaps off every page. The vivid writing, engaging stories, and autobiographical details combine to offer a rich and generous picture of the history of clocks, from China and Japan to Central Europe, the Middle East and outer space. In clear, pacey, and evocative prose, Rooney’s volume takes in ancient wonders and modern marvels, leaving us at once enlightened and moved." -- Ludmilla Jordanova, author of History in Practice"Lovely, personal, idiosyncratic.... Throughout, Rooney entertains with witty clock trivia and anecdotes alongside illuminating sketches of famous horologists. Go slowly when devouring this charming, intelligent, highly informative history." -- Kirkus, starred review

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Book SynopsisLucid exploration of central themes from science, philosophy, literature and religious ideas. Accessible and provocative discussion of the imagination and time. Warnock is a leading public figure in the UK.Trade Review“Warnock cites philosophers next to poets, writers of literature next to writers of history, illuminating the ongoing discussion of imagination and the role that imagination plays in the human struggle to understand ourselves and the world around us.” (Resource Center Blog)Table of ContentsPreface. 1. Introduction: The Inner and the Outer World. 2. Imagination and the Idea of Genius. 3. Imaginative Interpretations. 4. The Symbolic. 5. Stories. 6. Personal Identity. 7. Autobiography. 8. The Future. 9. Consequences. Index.

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Book SynopsisThis ground--breaking book addresses transformations in the understanding of time and the generation and degeneration of value at the cutting edge of modernity and postmodernity.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Scott Lash, Andrew Quick and Richard Roberts (Lancaster University, UK). 1. Values in the Timescapes of Nature: Barbara Adam (University of Wales, Cardiff, UK). 2. Angels in the Archive: Lines into the Future in the Work of Jacques Derrida and Miché Serres: Roy Boyne (University College Stockton/University of Durham, UK). 3. Time and Neutrality: Media of Modernity in a Postmodern World: Elizabeth Ermarth (University of Edinburgh, UK). 4. The Time of the Real When Disease is 'Actual': Monica Greco (Goldsmith's College, UK). 5. Times of Value, Deconstruction and Value: Elizabeth Grosz (Monash University, Australia). 6. Being After Time: Towards a Politics of Melancholy: Scott Lash (Lancaster University, UK). 7. Catastrophic Times: Alphonso Lingis (Penn State University, USA). 8. Moving at the Speed of Life: Tim Luke (Virginia Polytechnic University, USA). 9. Le Presentisme ou la Valeur du Cycle: Michel Maffesoli (Sorbonne, France). 10. Time and the Event: Andrew Quick (Lancaster University, UK). 11. Fugit Hora: High Fashion, Television and the Ethics of Style: Hilary Radner (University of Notre Dame, USA). 12. Time, Virtuality and the Goddess: Richard Roberts (University of Lancaster, UK). 13. Time, Baroque Codes and Canonization: Bonaventura de Souza Santos (University of Quimbra, Portugal). 14. Staging the Self by Performing the Other: Global Fantasies and the Migration of the Projective Imagination: Luiz Soares (University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

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Book Synopsis* explores the changing ways in which time has been understood and how this knowledge is embedded in cultural practices. * examines notions of time that extend from ancient mythology and classical philosophy to the contemporary social world of high--speed computer networks and globalized social relations.Trade Review“Read a few paragraphs and your mind is racing onto other themes, examples and questions. The book can be used in a variety of different ways and the reader is fortunate that Barbara Adam has not lost her gift for bringing a sense of urgency and excitement to the topic.” Sociology “An obvious candidate to be the book which anyone should read if they want an overview of the field, but it will also offers fresh insights to those who have already made their own temporal investigations ... it is a delight to me to see the full flowering of such a persistent and imaginative scholar.” British Journal of Sociology “The path it traces through the history of human thought about time is illuminating.” Kronoscope “This is a very wide-ranging and erudite examination of countless notions of time throughout history. Barbara Adam sets out a whole new agenda for ‘time’ analysis.” John Urry, University of Lancaster “In a book grounded in top-notch scholarship, Barbara Adam traces how time has been viewed and lived through history and civilization.” Ronald Purser, San Francisco State UniversityTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Prologue. PART I What is Time?. Interlude: Time Is. 1 Time Stories. Gods of Time. In the Beginning. Paradise and the Fall. Encounters with Death. Journeys to the Otherworld. Cycles of Renewal and Regeneration. Beyond Death: Resurrection and Redemption. Reflections: Myth for Today’s Theory and Practice. Interlude: Representations of Time. 2 Time Theories I. Western Philosophy: From Ontology to Epistemology. Natural Science: Clockwork Universe and Change. Enlightenment Theories: A Priori and Dialectic. Social Theory: Practice, Value and Category. Interlude: Time Perspectives. 3 Time Theories II. Western Philosophy: Time Within. The Sciences of System-Specific Times. Social Theory and the Past, Present and Future. PART II What is the Role of Time in Social Life?. Interlude: Time Transcendence. 4 Cultural Practices of Time Transcendence. Making Time Stand Still. Knowing Fate, Forging Futures. Creating Immortality and Permanence. Modifying Nature’s Times and Rhythms. Superimposing Phases and Social Structure. Interlude: Body Time, Clock Time, Social Time. 5 In Pursuit of Time Know-how. Reckoning Time. Creating Clock Time. Mobilising World Time. Networking Instantaneity. Interlude: Time Complexities & Hierarchies. 6 The Quest for Time Control. Commodification. Compressions. Colonization. Control. Interlude: Futures. Epilogue. Notes. Further Reading. Bibliography. Index

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Book SynopsisThe experience of time in families can both permeate all activities but nevertheless be hidden. The papers in this volume, representing a range of disciplines (history, sociology, psychology, family therapy, and leisure studies) foreground the way that time shapes everyday family worlds.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisBest Books of 2016 BOSTON GLOBE * THE ATLANTICFrom the acclaimed bestselling author of The Information and Chaos comes this enthralling history of time travel—a concept that has preoccupied physicists and storytellers over the course of the last century. James Gleick delivers a mind-bending exploration of time travel—from its origins in literature and science to its influence on our understanding of time itself. Gleick vividly explores physics, technology, philosophy, and art as each relates to time travel and tells the story of the concept's cultural evolutions—from H.G. Wells to Doctor Who, from Proust to Woody Allen. He takes a close look at the porous boundary between science fiction and modern physics, and, finally, delves into what it all means in our own moment in time—the world of the instantaneous, with its all-consuming present and vanishing future.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Gratitude and Musicophilia, a collection of essays that displays Oliver Sacks's passionate engagement with the most compelling ideas of human endeavor: evolution, creativity, memory, time, consciousness, and experience.Oliver Sacks, scientist and storyteller, is beloved by readers for the extraordinary neurological case histories (Awakenings, An Anthropologist on Mars) in which he explored many now-familiar disorders--autism, Tourette syndrome, face blindness. He was also a memoirist who wrote with honesty and humor about the remarkable experiences that shaped him (Uncle Tungsten, On the Move, Gratitude). In the pieces that comprise The River of Consciousness (many first published in The New York Review of Books, among other places), Dr. Sacks takes on evolution, botany, chemistry, medicine, neuroscience, and the arts, and calls upon his great scientific and creative heroes--abo

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Book SynopsisThis anthology provides an overview of the concept of time in the Western philosophic tradition. Using writings dated from the Book of Genesis to the work of 20th century philosophers, this text offers a synoptic view of the changing philosophic notions of time.

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