Einstein's Dreams: Alan Lightman

Some people might call this book by Alan Lightman a collection of short stories. I would call this book a magic of time; a magic which is deep seated in the womb of science.

Einstein sits in his office and weaves out different theories on time. He dreams about time like no one else!

In one dream, time travels backward. The old woman grows young and younger till she is a new born baby. In this world, friend's do not mourn the death of friends; they patiently wait for their dead friends to start the backward journey again.

In another dream, people know their future. A boy who wanted to be a pilot would know that the course of his life would make a lawyer out of him. Some accept their fates. But in this world, their are some people who decide to be with their lovers, knowing full well that  one day they will marry someone else. Also, in this world, their are some who do not take risk; they keep waiting patiently for their vision of future and live and act accordingly.

Yet in another dream, there is no future. People know the specific date when their world is going to end. What do they do? As the last day approaches, they live life to the fullest.

In another dream, people choose their own pace of time. For some, time rushes frantically. For some, time passes by leisurely. This is the kind of world I would have chosen for myself. Mondays would just fly away, holidays would last forever. Times with friends would roll on for eternity.

In some dream, time is frozen, in another, it repeats itself in a cycle.

I loved this book. I had a long flight journey, and in between frequent naps, I finished this book. I would read a story or two, mull over them, take a nap, and read again. Some of the stories set me wondering. In our present world, don't we treat time differently? Some of us cling to our past; for them time is frozen. Some of us, defy all norms, all rules and set out on a hitherto unexplored  path; for them the prediction of future has no importance, these people will always take risks. For a cancer patient, often their is no future; the best he can do is live life to the fullest.

I am sure everyone will read this book with different perspectives. For you, this book might be a marvel on time and the science of it. For your friend, this book will be a poetry on time and its possibilities. And some will be reminded again, through this fiction, of Einstein and his crazy ideas that changed our world (and our syllabus too !)