a book
Einstein’s Dreams
Alan Lightman · 2004 · 140 pages
“A magical, metaphysical realm ... Captivating, enchanting, delightful.” —The New York Times
Einstein’s Dreams is a fictional collage of stories dreamed by Albert Einstein in 1905, about time, relativity and physics. As the defiant but sensitive young genius is creating his theory of relativity, a new conception of time, he imagines many possible worlds. In one, time is circular, so that people are fated to repeat triumphs and failures over and over. In another, there is a place where time stands still, visited by lovers and parents clinging to their children. In another, time is a nightingale, sometimes trapped by a bell jar.
Now translated into thirty languages, Einstein’s Dreams has inspired playwrights, dancers, musicians, and painters all over the world. In poetic vignettes, it explores the connections between science and art, the process of creativity, and ultimately the fragility of human existence.
recommended by 8 people
sourced from public statements
Stacey Abrams
“Alan Lightman’s exploration of the iterations of Einstein’s theories of relativity offer brief glimpses into the nature of time and human relationships. In sharp, short vignettes, he imagines what complex ideations would mean in our daily interactions.”↗
Brandy Jensen
“@lastpositivist wonderful book”↗
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