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349th out of 594 books
—
1,306 voters
How to Build a Time Machine: The Real Science of Time Travel
by
Brian Clegg (Goodreads Author)
A pop science look at time travel technology, from Einstein to Ronald Mallett to present day experiments. Forget fiction: time travel is real.
In How to Build a Time Machine, Brian Clegg provides an understanding of what time is and how it can be manipulated. He explores the fascinating world of physics and the remarkable possibilities of real time travel that emerge from...more
In How to Build a Time Machine, Brian Clegg provides an understanding of what time is and how it can be manipulated. He explores the fascinating world of physics and the remarkable possibilities of real time travel that emerge from...more
Hardcover, 320 pages
Published
December 6th 2011
by St. Martin's Press
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For a book about the wonders of time travel, this one isn't very enthusiastic. The science-history is interesting enough, although if that is what you're after I recommend A Brief History Of Time and The Physics of the Impossible as the best bits here are already attributed to Hawking and Kaku. The trouble with pop science books like this--and it isn't Clegg's fault at all--is that I'm a fan of the genre. I already know about Young's double slit experiment, relativistic time at speeds approachin...more
As a science fiction author I found this book an interesting read on the physics that can make time travel possible. It re-confirmed in my mind that the most likely means will be available in the distant future once there are starships that can make extended voyages at close to the speed of light, thus creating the time dilation Einstein's Theory of Relativity predicts. That would take the star traveler on a one-way trip into the future.
Other theoretical means for time travel such as passing thr...more
Other theoretical means for time travel such as passing thr...more
Time travel is a concept that is today more science fact than science fiction, but the key to understanding how this could become reality is the main question that Brian Clegg addresses in this rather interesting book. Clegg takes us on a journey that takes us from the very basic question of what is time all the way through the question of paradoxes. In the journey he examines the feasibility of time travel & the energy as well as physics behind the concept. He also describes just what it mi...more
After reading Stephen King's "1963", reading about book about whether or not time travel is real seemed to make sense. Clegg reviews the mysteries of quantum mechanics and historic experiments, even science fiction, that all touch on time travel. While the quantum physics gets tedious and hard to follow - even though Clegg does his best to keep things at a lay level - the reality that comes through is that time travel is probably not possible. Clegg remains optimistic - look how far technology h...more
I am a science fiction writer that has written on wormholes and time travel. So I'm alwasys on the lookout for the the lastest research on time travel theory.
That is why Mr. Clegg's book was a great surprise for me and and an easy to read work on the basics or the reltavistic principles of the features involved with the traveling through spacetime.
His chapter on the story of Ronald Mallett and his research was an incredible chapter on the newest research on this exiting subject.
I get a lot of q...more
That is why Mr. Clegg's book was a great surprise for me and and an easy to read work on the basics or the reltavistic principles of the features involved with the traveling through spacetime.
His chapter on the story of Ronald Mallett and his research was an incredible chapter on the newest research on this exiting subject.
I get a lot of q...more
Overview of theoretically valid time travel methods. I know this is a pop science book, so I wasn't expecting anything rigorous, but the author often left gaping holes in his explanations of possible time travel methods/devices. Background on relevant scientists and potential paradoxes was interesting, but the actual descriptions of how time travel theoretically would work left me disappointed. Granted, it's quantum mechanics, inherently difficult to explain, but if you're going to write a book...more
This book was an easy read with the science clearly explained and next to no math equations to figure out. The author traced the history of theories of light, how time travel would have to work and where we are along the journey of what it would take for time travel. Science fiction is much more optimistic.
It seemed to me he was struggling to fill the pages. He repeats himself over and over again. Found it dull, often annoying. Nothing in there I hadn't already read somewhere else where it was presented in a more interesting way.
It wasn’t what I was expecting, but it was fairly interesting.
He does a very good job covering the math and science behind the theoretical ways time travel could happen, but he also explores the people throughout the history of math and science who have tackled this problem, and not only explains their words and theories to the average lay person, he makes them all come alive and shows how human these people, despite a reputation for being dry and distant.
WAY better than ' About Time ' by Frank ( which was closer to ' Waste of Time ' ... ) Akward in parts but overall very good
Interesting tidbits on time...along with all the other scientific stuff that was made easy to understand.
A bit over my head at times, but I made it through. A lot of physics and theory of time travel.
Read the whole book, and I still don't know how to build a time machine.
Joking aside, this is an introduction to topics such as the measurement and flow of time, relativity, entanglement, wormholes, and causality paradox. It takes a while to address the possibility of time travel. Not too surprisingly, the answer is "Who knows?"
Joking aside, this is an introduction to topics such as the measurement and flow of time, relativity, entanglement, wormholes, and causality paradox. It takes a while to address the possibility of time travel. Not too surprisingly, the answer is "Who knows?"
I'm not a science guy but I found this book entertaining and clearly written. Great for general readers.
A lot of it is really technical, but very informative which leads me to wonder why Sheldon and Leonard (Big Bang Theory) are always waiting for time traveling selves to walk through the door? Being physicists they should know the rules about traveling to the past. Can't say much more without giving the plot away!
Very well written introduction to some of the more 'interesting' applications of modern physics. Don't panic, no equations. If you have ever wondered how possible time travel may be, without getting a degree in physics, this is the book for you.
Great book. Goes in depth about the concepts without using math. Clegg does a great job of explaining things simply, yet not leaving you to feel like he's left parts out.
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Brian Clegg has a degree in natural sciences from Cambridge and a masters in Operational Research. He spent seventeen years with British Airways, where he formed a new department tasked with developing hi-tech solutions for the airline, and now speaks throughout the world on business and science-related topics.
He is the author of several popular science titles, including Inflight Science, The God...more
More about Brian Clegg...
He is the author of several popular science titles, including Inflight Science, The God...more
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