The River of Time (Canto) 1st Edition

by Igor D. Novikov (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-0521008488

ISBN-10: 0521008484

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The nature of time has long fascinated physicists and the general public. As an irresistible flow into which all events are embedded, time cannot be slowed or accelerated, nor can it be undone or turned back. In The River of Time , Igor Novikov describes how the thinkers throughout history have defined time and how these discoveries demonstrate that humans may influence time's flow. He describes how time flows in specific regions of the Universe, how it stops in black holes and splashes over the brim in white holes, and how time may convert into space and vice versa. Exploring time's genesis at the Big Bang, Novikov details how recent discoveries indicate that time machine travel might be possible. Igor Novikov is the Director of the Theoretical Astrophysics Center and Professor of the Astronomical Observatory of Copenhagen University. He began his scientific career at the Moscow State University and has since been affiliated with the Institute of Applied Mathematics, Moscow, the Space Research Institute, Moscow, and Copenhagen University. He has published more than 250 scientific papers and 150 articles and is the co-author of Edwin Hubble: Discoverer of the Big Bang (Cambridge, 1993) and Black Holes and the Universe (Cambridge, 1993). Previous paperback edition (1998) 0-521-46737-3

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...[a] delightful book...It's a mind-boggling study. But, Novikov, a brilliant Russian astrophysicist, breaks up the brain-twisting theory with personal reminiscences of his life." New Scientist

"This book, by an eminent theoretical cosmologist, is a rapid, completely nontechnical tour through much of contemporary physics. The central theme is that of how our ideas of the nature of time have changed under the impact of the development of ideas in theoretical physics." Mathematical Reviews

Book Description

An overview of the history of the study of time and presentation of the modern state of physical research.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cambridge University Press; 1st edition (May 1, 2001)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0521008484
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0521008488
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.4 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,799,828 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #735 in Physics of Time (Books)
- #2,322 in Astronomy & Astrophysics
- #7,295 in Physics (Books)

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Patrick J.Arloff

some good time but not enough

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2000

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While Novikov did present some good and interesting info on the nature of time, there was not enough. If you are interested in Navikov's personal life in science or some of the history of Russian science, there is much of that here. If you are only interested in the nature of time discussions there is way too much irrelevant material. Yet still the time ideas are worth the struggle through the rest.

10 people found this helpful

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bowonwing

Interesting book on "The River of Time"

Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2014

This book is just not about "Time," Novikov takes us to various places and levels with an informative, wonderfully positive writing style rarely found in a "scientific book."

Just remember this book includes a lot of information, quite a bit of it not directly related to "time."

Some other interesting books on "time" are:

G.J. Whitrow's "The Natural Philosophy of Time," second edition, 1980, does great job of discussing and elucidating these tricky issues of "time." Whitrow's book also presents a wonderful historical perspective of the human concept of "time" throughout the ages.

Also interesting is "chronos," by Etienne Klein, originally published in French in 2003, English translation 2005. This book is a diamond in the ruff which contains some interesting ideas, e.g. footnote 3 (located on p. 168) to Chapter 7, where Klein discusses Albert Le Grand (1200-1280), and Le Grand's statement:
"What depends on the soul is not the existence of time, but the perception of time."

And this to me this what so many people who write and discuss "time" seem to miss. The existence of "time" does not need humans or human "consciousness," "time" existed before humans and will exist after humans are gone. What we struggle with is the perception of "time."

Another good book is "About Time- Einstein's Unfinished Revolution," 1995, by Paul Davies. This book is worth a read.

One person found this helpful

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Alexander T. Gafford

A tour of time

Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2014

First published in 1998, this book is a sort of romp through the physical understanding of time or perhaps it should be said the understanding of time through physics. By far the most salient point being made is that time is dependent on the nature and configuration of space. So Novikov spends most of his time describing the contemporary understanding of general relativity, quantum theory and unification theories in a vigorous and cheerfully non-mathematical way so that the role of time in these approaches is clarified. The illustrations are cartoons by K. Moshkin that are very well integrated into the text. At the end of the book Novikov dares to postulate a possible time travel backwards in time and asserts in a clever way that the laws of physics can act to prevent paradoxes of the "kill your grandfather" type. In all this book may not be the most challenging approach to time as a physical entity but it is certainly enough to be thought provoking.

In addition, there is another reason to read this book. That is that it provides a flesh and blood look at Soviet science, especially physics in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. It is very clear that Novikov was very much not in sympathy with the Communist regime but the stories of human relations he tells paint a vivid picture of life, and scientific life, going on in spite of an environment rather different from that we in the West experienced. Throughout this picture of Soviet physics is the character and influence of Yakov Zel'dovich and interestingly mirrored in the narratives is the character and influence of Kip Thorne who seems to have been the closest Western point of contact with the Zel'dovich group in the Soviet era.

Certainly a book well worth the time to read.

Helpful

Makes you wonder...

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2000

I'm rediscovering my desire to learn more about the theoretical physics, an interest I had to leave behind while earning degrees in electrical engineering.
Igor has written an amazing book and the English translation is up to the mark. This book is nothing to be scared about, coz without going in mathematical details of tensor analysis! he has presented the complex ideas in plain english. All you have to know is basic high school physics. Igor's writing style is personal and you'd feel an afinity towards him while reading his personal accounts.
The chapters in the end need a bit more concentration but it pays off big and makes you wonder 'can this reallt be! '.
The chapter on time machine is really wonderful, and you might have to read it couple of times to get a better grasp of the concepts.
Like any other subject, you can't learn all about the wonders of quantum physics by reading just one book but it will give you a solid foundation to go ahead and pick the next book on the subject matter.

4 people found this helpful

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Not_a_pen_name

A fantastic voyage into the Mysteries of Time

Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 1999

Very well written, especially interesting is the mixture of anecdotes and biographical data on the scientists and their theories, so this is not a 'cold' science divulgation book. In just 200+ pages, the author reviews most of moderm Physics, with elegancy and simplicity. The speculations and descriptions of Time Machine at the end of the book are simply fascinating, and make your fantasy fly. Very suitable for laic people and also for science students and professionals.

22 people found this helpful

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The River of Time (Canto) 1st Edition

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