The Order of Time

The Order of Time

  • Downloads:4017
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2021-09-25 06:54:30
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Carlo Rovelli
  • ISBN:0735216118
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

A concise exploration of time from the bestselling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics

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。 He tears down our assumptions about time 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, Rovelli 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。

Written with poetic vitality, The Order of Time offers a profoundly intelligent, culturally rich, novel appreciation of the mysteries of time。

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Reviews

Tra Houston

A beautiful meditation on time that I am too ignorant to fully grasp。 I was able to understand some parts of it and they've changed how I think about time。 For instance, it appears time is an illusion。 It's a very convincing illusion and restrains the human brain to only perceive its flow in one direction but, an illusion nonetheless。 The parts of the book I couldn't grasp were still highly enjoyable simply because the translation is great。 Carlo Rovelli doesn't bog things down trying to explain A beautiful meditation on time that I am too ignorant to fully grasp。 I was able to understand some parts of it and they've changed how I think about time。 For instance, it appears time is an illusion。 It's a very convincing illusion and restrains the human brain to only perceive its flow in one direction but, an illusion nonetheless。 The parts of the book I couldn't grasp were still highly enjoyable simply because the translation is great。 Carlo Rovelli doesn't bog things down trying to explain equations or the results of experiments。 Instead, he spends a lot of the time musing on time, our understanding of it through the ages, and its relationship to our lived experience。 。。。more

Landon Kuhlmann

Illuminating。 On to the next one!

Jeffrey Chau

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it, click here。 Really philosophical and interesting。 Hard to listen to while driving though, the format is a little serious for something you generally listen to while doing other stuff。Oh man this really is hard to listen to while driving。 I think I might put it down for now - a tip is to turn down the treble when listening to his voice in the car - and come back to it in book form or when there's more time。 I really love this book! I think some of the distinctions are really important when regarding time and Really philosophical and interesting。 Hard to listen to while driving though, the format is a little serious for something you generally listen to while doing other stuff。Oh man this really is hard to listen to while driving。 I think I might put it down for now - a tip is to turn down the treble when listening to his voice in the car - and come back to it in book form or when there's more time。 I really love this book! I think some of the distinctions are really important when regarding time and even though we experience the blurring Carlo talks about, I like to think there are larger lessons to be learned from it。 Time is different for all of us and I appreciate his references to Kant and memory。 I learned so much and I loved it! Probably will come back one day to take notes even though half the book is kind of theoretical haha 。。。more

Brian Mosher

It is difficult to imagine a more beautiful book about science。

Nightmaresky

This was a informative read about the physics of time。 The author tries his best to make complicated concepts easy to understand。 However, even with the authors easy to understand story telling there are still some concepts that I will need to read more on before I can understand them。 Overall, if you like non-fiction science, time physics, or philosophy then you'll enjoy this read。 This was a informative read about the physics of time。 The author tries his best to make complicated concepts easy to understand。 However, even with the authors easy to understand story telling there are still some concepts that I will need to read more on before I can understand them。 Overall, if you like non-fiction science, time physics, or philosophy then you'll enjoy this read。 。。。more

Jo

Book group selection。 This might be a good book but poetry and physics are the two things that hurt my brain more than anything。 I love reading about how humans experience time but there actual reality, the physics of it, I just don’t understand or care。There were a couple of bits that made sense to me but for the most part I just skimmed because I can’t get my head around this kind of thing。 I’m so curious what the discussion will be about and if other people in the group can comprehend physics Book group selection。 This might be a good book but poetry and physics are the two things that hurt my brain more than anything。 I love reading about how humans experience time but there actual reality, the physics of it, I just don’t understand or care。There were a couple of bits that made sense to me but for the most part I just skimmed because I can’t get my head around this kind of thing。 I’m so curious what the discussion will be about and if other people in the group can comprehend physics。 。。。more

Chinchila

This book answered so many questions and yet, now I have more questions than I started with。 An interesting book but felt way shorter than I would have preferred。 Loved it nonetheless。 I would recommend it to anyone that had read "A brief history of time"。 They compliment each other very well (in my opinion)。 This book answered so many questions and yet, now I have more questions than I started with。 An interesting book but felt way shorter than I would have preferred。 Loved it nonetheless。 I would recommend it to anyone that had read "A brief history of time"。 They compliment each other very well (in my opinion)。 。。。more

Brandon

If you have ever wondered what time is, this is the book for you。

Doni

One word: Entropy。

James (JD) Dittes

In 214 short, lyrical pages, Carlo Rovelli deconstructs our understanding of time。 Then he uses its illusory nature to show what it truly means to be human, subjective, universal。In writing this review just a day or so after finishing the book, I know I will miss out on the meaning that has only just begun to grow on me。 I have, in fact, already passed it on to a "smart reader" I know who I hope will help me understand it even better。As far as physics are concerned, time doesn't exist, Rovelli w In 214 short, lyrical pages, Carlo Rovelli deconstructs our understanding of time。 Then he uses its illusory nature to show what it truly means to be human, subjective, universal。In writing this review just a day or so after finishing the book, I know I will miss out on the meaning that has only just begun to grow on me。 I have, in fact, already passed it on to a "smart reader" I know who I hope will help me understand it even better。As far as physics are concerned, time doesn't exist, Rovelli writes。 Where it exists, it does so in a relative sense--not in the absolute sense that humans understand。 The only evidence of the passing of time in physical laws is in the understanding of entropy--that when something cools, it cannot cycle naturally back to warm again。The first half of Rovelli's book is the deconstruction of time that I try to describe here。 I didn't understand all the science。 "Entropy" is still an abstract concept for me--although I did appreciate the way that Rovelli contrasts it with Energy。 In the 2nd half of the book, he examines the way the human mind works, and how the concept of time, present, past and future, help it to sort and classify 'traces' of experienced reality。But the final three chapters of the book are priceless, tying together physics and philosophy with deep insights on what makes humans human。 This is a book that will stay with me for many years。 。。。more

Sharon Garner

Listened to the audible version of this read by Benedict Cumberbatch。 I didn’t choose it because he was the narrator but I might well next time。 He was excellent and really brought this also excellent book to life。

Bookshop

Wow! What a book。 I managed to finish this heavy but slim book in a few days AND understand the content。 It explains theory of relativity in a way no other books or documentary can。 I believe the author is so well-versed, passionate and convinced of the subect that he can explain his argument so well using very simple examples。 This book is poetic too: it ties different religions and philosophies of the worlds to support his story。 I don’t usually keep books bit this one is for sure one, to be r Wow! What a book。 I managed to finish this heavy but slim book in a few days AND understand the content。 It explains theory of relativity in a way no other books or documentary can。 I believe the author is so well-versed, passionate and convinced of the subect that he can explain his argument so well using very simple examples。 This book is poetic too: it ties different religions and philosophies of the worlds to support his story。 I don’t usually keep books bit this one is for sure one, to be re-read a few more times。 。。。more

Susan

A scientific, philosophical, artistic and poetic book on a super counterintuitive concept - time。 It covered a lot of topics like entropy, quantum gravity, the undefined nature of "now", etc, but I feel like this book isn't too science-y because it's explaining concepts rather through analogies and flowery words than serious science。 I wouldn't say I walked away with a lot more scientific understanding; I was actually quite lost in some parts。 What I got was more like a general feeling of the na A scientific, philosophical, artistic and poetic book on a super counterintuitive concept - time。 It covered a lot of topics like entropy, quantum gravity, the undefined nature of "now", etc, but I feel like this book isn't too science-y because it's explaining concepts rather through analogies and flowery words than serious science。 I wouldn't say I walked away with a lot more scientific understanding; I was actually quite lost in some parts。 What I got was more like a general feeling of the nature of time, how it's so unintuitive and opposite of what we perceive it to be。 It also made me see that many things that seem apparent and natural to us now are because of great thinkers who came before us。 Two things I really appreciated:1。 The poetic prose on a scientific topic, and the philosophical take on it。 2。 Benedict Cumberbatch narrating the audiobook。 Imagine having Dr Strange whispering in your ears the mystery and depth of time! 。。。more

Bojan Todorovic

This is a great little book, probably the most enjoyable book I've come across that is about phenomenon of time exclusively。Carlo Rovelli needs no introduction, he proved himself a capable popular science writer many times before。The book examines time in great detail, but in a concise way。It is very well structured, first gradually working on "destroying the concept of time", exposing it for what it is at it's most fundamental level, and then starting from that destroyed time to reconstruct it This is a great little book, probably the most enjoyable book I've come across that is about phenomenon of time exclusively。Carlo Rovelli needs no introduction, he proved himself a capable popular science writer many times before。The book examines time in great detail, but in a concise way。It is very well structured, first gradually working on "destroying the concept of time", exposing it for what it is at it's most fundamental level, and then starting from that destroyed time to reconstruct it to the phenomenon we all know and are familiar with。Some of the theories presented are tried and tested, some mature enough, some young but promising。Even if some prove false eventually, this is a very thought provoking read in any case。Very enjoyable read for me, and I believe it will be for anyone interested in the topic。 。。。more

Carissa

I'm probably not the best audience for this book, but it was recommended by a friend and much of it made my brain hurt; however, Rovelli does a great job simplifying complex and difficult scientific concepts in a way that is mostly easily digestable。 I really could have used this book when I was in high school; I would have done much better in Physics! I very much enjoyed the mix of physics and philosophy。 Reading the other reviews, I wish I would have listened to the audio book with Benedict Cu I'm probably not the best audience for this book, but it was recommended by a friend and much of it made my brain hurt; however, Rovelli does a great job simplifying complex and difficult scientific concepts in a way that is mostly easily digestable。 I really could have used this book when I was in high school; I would have done much better in Physics! I very much enjoyed the mix of physics and philosophy。 Reading the other reviews, I wish I would have listened to the audio book with Benedict Cumberbtach! 。。。more

Parysa

زیبا، عجیب، دشوار، رویایی و در عین همه اینها علمی

June Nguyen

If you wish to challenge everything you knew about what is reality, read theoretical physicists' work。 If you wish to challenge everything you knew about what is reality, read theoretical physicists' work。 。。。more

Z

Hope and magic at the quantam level。

Fereydoon

فضا چیست؟؟ خب جواب به این پرسش در نگاه سطحی نمیتونه سخت باشه ولی پرسشی که این کتاب به دنبال جوابشه اینه که زمان چیست؟؟من با کتاب فوق العاده ی واقعیت پنهان با کارلو روولی آشنا شدم و بعد از اون دارم یکی یکی آثار دیگش رو میخونم پیش نیاز این کتاب، کتاب واقعیت پنهان چون بعضی از مباحث مطرح شده مثل نسبیت عام و خاص و مکانیک کوانتوم و 。。。 که تو کتاب واقعیت پنهان کامل توضیح داده شده توی این کتاب فقط ازشون استفاده میشه 。。 شاید دلیل اینکه بعضا تو کامنتا نوشتن که کتاب غیرقابل درک بود همینه。。کارلو روولی توی ا فضا چیست؟؟ خب جواب به این پرسش در نگاه سطحی نمیتونه سخت باشه ولی پرسشی که این کتاب به دنبال جوابشه اینه که زمان چیست؟؟من با کتاب فوق العاده ی واقعیت پنهان با کارلو روولی آشنا شدم و بعد از اون دارم یکی یکی آثار دیگش رو میخونم پیش نیاز این کتاب، کتاب واقعیت پنهان چون بعضی از مباحث مطرح شده مثل نسبیت عام و خاص و مکانیک کوانتوم و 。。。 که تو کتاب واقعیت پنهان کامل توضیح داده شده توی این کتاب فقط ازشون استفاده میشه 。。 شاید دلیل اینکه بعضا تو کامنتا نوشتن که کتاب غیرقابل درک بود همینه。。کارلو روولی توی این کتاب اثبات میکنه تمام ذهنیتی که از زمان داره غلطه وخواص زمانی که میشناسیم از جمله وحدت، استقلال، جهت ومفهوم اکنون رو نقض میکنهبعد از نابودی مفهوم زمانی که از بچگی میشناختیم به این میپردازه که حالا جهان بدون این زمان چه شکلیه و در بخش اخر کتاب توضیح میده که مفهومی که از قبل از زمان درک کردیم و از تولد باهامون هست در واقع چیه و از کجا اومده جواب سوالاتی که منتظر بودم در کتاب تاریخچه زمان هاوکینگ پیدا کنم در این تا حدودی کتاب پیدا شد。。 قلم زیبا و فروتنانه کارلو روولی جدای از بحث علمی کتاب هاش رو واقعا لذت بخش میکنه و برخلاف اکثر نویسندگان موضوعات علمی کارش به لحاظ ادبی هم عالیه در کل به دوست داران فیزیک پیشنهادش میکنم 。。。more

Vincent

Fascinating!

Evan Kostelka

"Wonder is the source of our desire for knowledge。。。"What is time and why do we experience it。 From experiments we understand time is not a fixed variable。 Mass distorts our experience of time thanks to the gravitational field。Rovelli starts with some foundational explanations of time before jumping off in to the deep end about time。 He discussed a 'thermal time' which I can't begin to even explain。 It appears that we may be at an understanding of time similar to how people understood our planet "Wonder is the source of our desire for knowledge。。。"What is time and why do we experience it。 From experiments we understand time is not a fixed variable。 Mass distorts our experience of time thanks to the gravitational field。Rovelli starts with some foundational explanations of time before jumping off in to the deep end about time。 He discussed a 'thermal time' which I can't begin to even explain。 It appears that we may be at an understanding of time similar to how people understood our planet's place in the solar system prior to a heliocentric understanding emerged。This is a short primer but has some dense chapters。 。。。more

Kristof Vermeir

Never really understood where the author was going with the book。。。but perhaps this is on me。

JP

Some books fascinate us and this one book never disappoints。 What if you happen to travel with a poet thinking he may be a physicist and vice versa。The takeaway is。。There is no single time。 The time will slow down according to altitude and speed。Time lives in our mind, for the time to work you need an external world。 If things fall, it is due to this slowing down of time。 Where time passes uniformly, in interplanetary space things do not fall but float。。There is no term called 'outside' in the U Some books fascinate us and this one book never disappoints。 What if you happen to travel with a poet thinking he may be a physicist and vice versa。The takeaway is。。There is no single time。 The time will slow down according to altitude and speed。Time lives in our mind, for the time to work you need an external world。 If things fall, it is due to this slowing down of time。 Where time passes uniformly, in interplanetary space things do not fall but float。。There is no term called 'outside' in the Universe。 The relation between entropy and blurring was fantastic。The world is made of events, not things。 It was an amazing chapter。There isn't a single notion of "same height" throughout the universe。The best was Boltzmann understood that there is no flow of time。 It is only the blurred reflection of a mysterious improbability of the universe at a point in the past。Great book ! 。。。more

Mozhgan

با اینکه یکم سخت خوندمش باعث شد خیلی فکر کنم به بودن به معنای زمان تو ذهنم。 به گذشته!!! آینده!!! حتی الانی که دیگه الان نیست…

Laura

3 for now, intend to re-read/re-listen

Ryan McCormack

[Audiobook version] Benedict Cumberbatch provides a pitch-perfect reading of this interesting exploration of time。 My one-star ding arises from some blurriness the author introduces between scientific dogma and his own speculation。 His prosaic approach to the topic produces a sense of deep mystery, even awe, which is amplified by Cumberbatch’s sonorous read, but it still winds up feeling a bit slippery when it comes to understanding。 Do I understand the nature of time after reading? No。 Will I l [Audiobook version] Benedict Cumberbatch provides a pitch-perfect reading of this interesting exploration of time。 My one-star ding arises from some blurriness the author introduces between scientific dogma and his own speculation。 His prosaic approach to the topic produces a sense of deep mystery, even awe, which is amplified by Cumberbatch’s sonorous read, but it still winds up feeling a bit slippery when it comes to understanding。 Do I understand the nature of time after reading? No。 Will I listen again in the hope that I might understand more on a second or third pass? Probably。 。。。more

Il Mitra

Libro incredibile che fa capire quanto la percezione della nostra realtà sia sbagliata! Grazie a Carlo vengono aperti dei vasi di Pandora, minando le nostre certezze quotidiane。

Eleanor

I loved how Carlo Rovelli wrote。 He seems like such a sweet man。 Obsessed with how he used smurfs to explain time and when he talked about his personal research。 confirmed that time isn’t real and entropy rules all。

Andrea Victoria

Creo que todos nos hemos sentido siempre curiosos por entender la naturaleza del tiempo y este libro es una excelente forma de entender que no sabemos casi nada pero hay mucho por aprender, no solo sobre la naturaleza del tiempo sino de nuestra propia existencia también。

Brian

Based on all the hype, I was hoping for more。