Einstein's Dreams

By: Alan Lightman

Narrated by: Grover Gardner

A modern classic, Einstein's Dreams is a fictional collage of stories dreamed by Albert Einstein in 1905, when he worked in a patent office in Switzerland. 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, and people are fated to repeat their 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.

Translated into 30 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.

©1993 Alan Lightman (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Inspirational

A story that brought about deep thoughts and new perspectives that I never would have thought of.

Great story, great reader

Overall the experience of this book was emphasized by the narrator. It pa in need a picture well

Monotone narration does not match dreamy content

It was ok. I didn’t like the monotone narration; it distracted from what I would have interpreted as a sense of wonder. The different imaginings of time were interesting but not mind-blowing; I think many of them were not as well fleshed out as they could have been. The portrayal of Einstein was also very flat.

An odd book but one I thoroughly enjoyed…

I can see how this narrative may be difficult for some to appreciate however I believe I can understand the depth of being able to remember so many details of ones dreams. I have never been able to articulate my own dreams with such clarity and for that I find this quite remarkable. Grover Gardener always makes a book so easy for me to enjoy and this was no exception either. Short and sweet and a little bit odd, excellent!

not what I expected

I had high hopes for this book. It did not have many new ideas for me. Too bad.

A wonderful read

I always enjoy revisiting this book. I first read it decades ago and it’s a great audiobook to have on standby whether you are traveling, cleaning or unwinding. 👍🏼👍🏼

Unusual story

A strange read, thought provoking in a sentimental nostalgic tone and a bit wistfully sad.

Mental gymnastics. Lots of lovers.

Surrealistic windows. Lots of lovers. A dose of mental gymnastics (but still though through lenses of linear time thinker I would say, probably because we can't imagine otherwise I gues).

poignant musings on the nature of time

the narrator is smooth and master of fact, which works really well for the style of this writing, which is almost like a mixture between a textbook and The Alchemist, lyrical and surrealist imaginings of alternate realities where time behaves differently, but described as though they were real, as though he were simply describing the way life is.

Surprisingly Awesome

The negative reviews just don't understand that the book is a thought experiment about time and how time could be different. Either that or they have a limited imagination.

it's true the book doesn't really have a story arc, but I enjoyed every minute, and it really got me thinking. it also made me appreciate life more, which is not easy for a book to do.