The Order of Time

The Order of Time

2017 • 172 pages

Ratings62

Average rating3.8

15

Carlo Rovelli first takes apart our Newtonian and instinctual concept of time, and then builds it back up based on quantum and thermal time. He shows us how time is not (necessarily) a variable in our world, but how time -and space- emerge from the relations between quantum events. There are some hard to grasp metaphysical leaps once in a while, but mostly the book is beautifully written, philosophical and lyrical exploration of time.

There's a special kind of magical state one enters when listening to a metaphysical book on audio on headphones, while walking through our world full people and objects and all its mundanities. Especially when the audiobook is narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch with a beautiful voice and much grace.

I did listen to the audio book twice, attempting to pay better attention to the details on the 2nd time around, but all the metaphysical talk really invites me to get distracted with daydreaming. I was very intrigued with thermal time but won't even attempt to describe it here. I might have to get a hardcopy to be able to fully dig my teeth into that.

August 31, 2018