Time

Jay Griffiths's first book, published in 1999, examines time politically, highlighting how diverse indigenous cultures perceive past, present, and future differently, while European clock-time colonises these traditions. It serves as a manifesto advocating for cyclical time aligned with nature, carnival, play, and women's distinct temporal experiences.

In this book, Brian Greene takes readers on a journey to understand the fundamental concepts of space and time. He explains how these concepts have evolved from Newton's absolute space and time to Einstein's relativistic spacetime and the entangled world of quantum mechanics. Greene uses clear explanations, historical vignettes, and imaginative metaphors to make complex scientific theories accessible to a broad audience.

The book tells the extraordinary story of a group of patients who survived the great sleeping-sickness epidemic of the 1920s and were 'awakened' 40 years later by the administration of the drug L-DOPA. Dr. Sacks documents the miraculous and sometimes disastrous effects of this treatment, exploring themes of health, disease, suffering, care, and the human condition. The book also delves into the psychological and philosophical implications of these patients' experiences, highlighting the complexities of identity, personality, and the impact of their prolonged immobility on their lives.

This book is a compilation of twenty-four essays divided into four sections: 'Losses', 'Excesses', 'Transports', and 'The World of the Simple'. It delves into various neurological conditions, including visual agnosia, as seen in the titular case of a man who mistakes his wife's head for a hat. The book provides a profound understanding of the human mind and its complexities, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of individuals with neurological disorders. Sacks narrates complex medical phenomena in an accessible manner, exploring aspects of brain function, memory, perception, and the intricate relationship between the physical and mental selves.

In 'The Elegant Universe', Brian Greene delves into the world of string theory, a theoretical framework that aims to unify the principles of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. The book explores the historical context of physics, from classical physics to the modern theories of superstrings and hidden dimensions. Greene uses analogies and thought experiments to explain complex concepts in a clear and engaging manner, making the subject accessible to a broad audience. The book discusses the evolution of special and general relativity, the basics of quantum mechanics, and the conflicts between these theories, ultimately presenting string theory as a potential solution for a unified theory of everything.

Rebecca Solnit's 'River of Shadows' is a deeply insightful book that intertwines biography, history, and cultural analysis to explore the life of Eadweard Muybridge, a pioneering photographer whose work in motion studies laid the groundwork for modern cinema. The book also delves into the broader technological transformations of the late 19th century, tracing the roots of Hollywood and Silicon Valley. Solnit's narrative weaves together Muybridge's personal crises and innovations with the rapid changes in technology and human perception during his time.