Alan Lightman

Bill Chalmers is on the subway. It's a normal day, he's just going to work...that is, until he suddenly forgets which stop he's supposed to get off at. It's a little alarming, but maybe he's just getting forgetful. Where does he work again? He can't remember that either. The more Bill tries to remember who he is, the more he realizes that he doesn't know anything, and the longer he tries to remember, the looser his grip on reality becomes. Hours later he is found naked, curled up in the show more fetal position, mumbling to himself at the train station.

Bill does regain his memory, but at the cost of his physical health. As he consults doctors about what may have happened to him, he body goes numb, and over the course of several months his physical health declines just like his mental health did that day on the train. Needless to say, things aren't going well for Mr. Chalmers.

I'm surprised this book has such a bad average rating. Well, that's not entirely true, it totally makes sense that this book has a terrible rating, because it's not the type of book the modern reader is looking for. Light on plot and excitement, the book meanders for a few hundred pages and then leaves the reader with more questions than answers. The reader isn't spoon-fed, and a hundred people could probably read it and interpret the events differently. This, in my opinion, is a masterful work of literary fiction, one that I could reflect upon for ages, as the size of this review probably indicates. Alas, the book will never get the attention it deserves, I suspect, unless it's many decades from now...presuming the book isn't lost to time. It's too bad, because it's really fantastic, it's just not SATISFYING. It's deep and complex, but the openness of the story is too off-putting for most people, I think, and that is why the book has been received so poorly.

Regardless of public opinion, I highly enjoyed the book, but I don't think I would recommend it to everyone. I have a thing for stupid boring books that don't appeal to most people, and I suspect this is one of them. show less

In "Probable Impossibilities," physicist and novelist Alan Lightman takes readers on a captivating journey through the enigmatic realms of space, consciousness, and the origins of life. With a keen intellect and a gift for storytelling, Lightman delves into profound questions, unraveling the mysteries that surround the universe, life, and the mind.

The book grapples with the fundamental nature of space, challenging readers to ponder whether it can be endlessly divided into smaller units or if show more it stretches infinitely into larger regions. Lightman skillfully weaves together scientific concepts and philosophical musings, inviting readers of all backgrounds to engage with these complex ideas without the need for a Ph.D. The narrative is accessible, making the incredibly vast and the remarkably minuscule aspects of our existence come alive on the pages.

One of the standout chapters is "Smile," a true masterpiece that explores the intricacies of a simple facial expression. Lightman examines the astounding number of steps our bodies take in a fraction of a second just to perceive and respond to a smile. The chapter is a testament to the author's ability to blend scientific curiosity with poetic prose, leaving readers in awe of the intricate dance between biology and emotion.

The exploration extends from the momentous event of the Big Bang to the hypothetical heat death of the universe, offering a comprehensive overview of the cosmic timeline. Lightman's narrative skillfully navigates through these grand scales, keeping readers hooked with a perfect balance of clarity and mystery.

While the author contemplates the reducibility of consciousness to the material brain and its neurons, there is a sense of uncertainty that permeates the text. This adds a layer of authenticity, acknowledging the complexity of such profound questions. Lightman's honesty in grappling with the mysteries of consciousness resonates with readers, prompting them to reflect on their own perspectives on this intricate topic.

"Probable Impossibilities" is well-written, easy to understand, and strikes the right balance between education and intrigue. It serves as an excellent introduction to the mysteries of the universe, offering a captivating blend of science, philosophy, and wonder. Lightman's exploration of the vast and the minuscule encourages readers to peer into the depths of the rabbit hole, leaving them with a profound sense of curiosity and a desire to delve further into the mysteries that surround us. In essence, this book is a celebration of the beauty and complexity inherent in the questions that define our existence. show less

حصلت على نسخة من هذا العمل منذ خمس سنوات, ومنذ ذلك الحين وأنا أعيد قراءته مره كل عام.كتاب أحلام اينشتاين عبارة عن ثلاثين فصلاً قصيراً, كل فصل هو مزيج من القصة والفلسفة والعلم والتصوف بخصوص الزمن. كل فصل يحكي قصة عالم مختلف للزمن فيه قصة مختلفه .. في أحد العوالم يكون الزمن show more دائري يكرر نفسه إلا ما لانهاية .. وفي عالم أخر يكون الزمن عبارة عن ثلاث ابعاد في كل بعد يكون لكل شخص قصة مختلفه .. وفي عالم أخر لا يوجد مستقبل .. وفي عالم أخر يتغير الماضي .. وفي عالم أخر الزمن يسبق الماضي الحاضر .. وفي عالم اخر ينفذ الزمن .. وافكار مجنونة أخرىلا تستطيع تصنيف هذا العمل تحت تصنيف الخيال العلمي إطلاقاً لا من بعيد ولا من قريب ( رغم أن شكله يبدو كذلك ) هذا العمل في الحقيقة عمل صوفي وجودي إنساني بحت .. في كل واحدة من هذه القصص المجنونة يتخيل لايتمان شكلاً جديداً للزمن .. ثم يتخيل عالماً يحكمه هذا الشكل .. بعد ذلك ينقل لنا صورة من أفكار ومشاعر وفلسفات الناس في هذا العالم .. كيف يتصرف ويفكر ويشعر الناس لو كان الزمن لا ينتهي؟ وكيف يتصرفون لو كان المستقبل محدد سلفاً؟ وماذا لو كان الماضي متغيراً؟ وماذا لو كان الزمن سوف ينتهي بعض بضع دقائق؟ مالعلاقة بين ما نقوم به ( الأحداث ) والزمن؟ .. لا معادلات في هذا العمل ولا سيوف ليزر ولا آلالات تتنقل في الزمن .. هنا فقط الكثير الكثير من الصوفيه .. والكثير الكثير من الآلم الوجودي ... والكثير الكثير من الشجن والجمال واللذة والطرب .. show less

In 1905 Einstein was occupied with the relationship between time and space while working on his theory of relativity. Alan Lightman, a physicist and novelist, has poetically imagined on paper that during this period of dynamic creativity Einstein was exploring even in his dreams countless variations on the nature of time that differ from the way we experience it in our world.

Imagine that time were circular, repeating itself eternally; or that it were like water flowing, sometimes interrupted show more by eddies or floating debris; or that time were three-dimensional like space and that it were moving in three directions simultaneously; or that time were flowing backwards, or that people were without memories, or that people were to live forever or that they were to live for just one day.

Each of these and other arcane concepts are fleshed out, simply and directly, with real people in real situations that seem like possibilities. Lightman draws us into thirty simple scenes among the people of Bern going about their ordinary—or extraordinary lives. In this way, he gives us a glimpse of the mental processes of a genius dreaming about time.

To give a bit of the flavor, here is one scenario:

The world will end on 26 September 1907. Everyone knows it. . . .

One year before the end, schools close their doors. Why learn for the future with so brief a future? Delighted to have lessons finished forever, children play hide-and-seek in the arcades. . . .

One month before the end, businesses close. . . . What need is there for commerce and industry with so little time left? . . . A liberation fills the air. . . .

One day before the end, the streets swirl in laughter. Neighbors who have never spoken greet each other as friends, strip off their clothing and bathe in the fountains. . . . What do their past stations matter? In a world of one day they are equal. . . .

One minute before the end of the world, everyone gathers on the grounds of the Kunstmuseum. Men, women and children form a giant circle and hold hands. No one moves. No one speaks. This is the last minute of the world. . . .

In the last seconds . . . cool air rushes by, bodies are weightless. . . . And below, the vast blanket of snow hurtles nearer and nearer to envelop this circle of pinkness and life. show less