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Einstein's Dreams

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Einstein's Dreams

By: Alan Lightman
Narrated by: Grover Gardner
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About this listen

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. Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Science Fiction Time Travel Dream

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All stars
Most relevant  
Makes you wonder about time and the outlook on your life when you take a step back and ponder on the short stories this book portrays. Make you ask what if. A great short listen!

A very interesting perspective on time

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Not the best.
It’s just a jumble of various possibilities about time and how it could work. Some are far fetched, some are very interesting, some are boring, some are plausible.

I simply didn’t like the way the book was set out.
There was no story really and no need for Einstein to be involved at all.
The book should have just been called “Different Ideas About Time”, or something like that.

Not the best. Boring narrator.

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Worth every second. Beautifully written. A classic not to be put down. A wonderful tribute to Einstein’s legacy.

Stunning.

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an absolutely amazing science fiction philosophical and physics short-novel.
one of the very few books i read/listened to more than once. i read this several years ago, and i thought it was exceptional, so when i saw this included with the membership, i jumped at the opportunity to listen to it.
it's incredible, each mini-"story" idea is spectacular, together forming a deeply meditative book about life and time. one of my favourites.

absolutely amazing

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This was an interesting and unusual experience that felt much like a dream itself - clever, absorb bit not always comfortable

Exploring time - a surreal experience

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Didn't like one thing about this book. If you are looking for an insightful and well written novel, this won't be it. If you are looking for understanding a little bit more about Einstein's mesmerizeing theories, this won't be it. And if you are looking just for a pleasant reading/listening, this.... won't be it.

Don't.

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All in all, this was boring. Repetitive time stories, which were not as creat8ve as author thought.

Boring

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Why would anyone with such an annoying voice take up a career in narration? And why would anyone hire such a person to read their book for audible? I honestly can’t fathom it.

Great book, appalling narration

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