Reviews from Amazon

The River of Time

The philosophy of time can be a confusing subject, with long winded ways of saying the obvious, but in this book Novikov manages to avoid falling into this trap. As an expert in relativity, Novikov shows that modern physics can give more substance to discussions about time. He desciribes how ideas about time have developed, from the thoughts of Plato and Aristotle, up to the 20th century. The bulk of the book investigates the nature of time from the general relativistic viewpoint, looking at the big bang and black holes. The final chapters of the book look at the possibility of time travel via wormholes in space. Overall the book presents some deep ideas in a non-technical manner.

In common with many popular science books, this book is partly autobiographical. However, I thought that this was the weakest aspect of the book - Novikov's anecdotes don't seem to fit in very well. That said, it does give a useful function of showing the Russian involvement in fields where the western researchers are better known. One sees how similar work was carried out on both sides of the iron curtain, with Yakov Zeldovich corresponding to John A. Wheeler, and similarly Novikov to Kip Thorne - both of whom can lay a claim to starting the recent interest in wormholes.

Amazon.com info

Paperback 298 pages
ISBN: 0521008484
Salesrank: 218902
Weight:0.93 lbs

Published: 2001 Cambridge University Press

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Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 298 pages
ISBN: 0521008484
Salesrank: 461256
Weight:0.93 lbs

Published: 2001 Cambridge University Press

Amazon price £13.99

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Amazon.ca info

Paperback 298 pages
ISBN: 0521008484
Salesrank: 703242
Weight:0.93 lbs

Published: 2001 Cambridge University Press

Amazon price CDN$ 26.95

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 16.95:Used from CDN$ 12.01

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Product Description
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

Product Description

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

Not a bad alternative to the "Brief History of Time". ****
This colorful book written by top Russian astrophysicist and cosmologist excels in explaining possibilities of traveling in time. Professor Novikov (Center of Theoretical Astrophysics in Copenhagen) strongly believes that it will be possible to construct Time Machine, as there are no existing physical laws that could prevent it. According to him we could use Black and White Holes as well as time loops, gravitational tunneling and curvature of space-time to achieve it. I truly enjoyed these half scientific, half fictitious theories. His speculations about Black and White Holes and how they could be utilized in the future to help our civilization in obtaining much needed energy, are fascinating. Book contains history of physics and digs into the past when scientists and philosophers started to think about TIME and how its "arrow" affects Universe and everything around us. Author writes about his life in Soviet Union where he graduated, started to work with famous father of Russian cosmologists Yakov Zeldovich and exchanged ideas with Andrei Sakharov. These years (1960-es) where difficult for scientists in Russia - they were quite isolated, having limited possibilities to meet their colleagues from the West. Scientific and historical details are presented in an easy to read, humorous and interesting manner (style). I strongly recommend this book as an alternative to the "Brief History of Time". Novikov's book is as good as Stephen Hawking's masterpiece.

Not a bad alternative to the "Brief History of Time". ****

This colorful book written by top Russian astrophysicist and cosmologist excels in explaining possibilities of traveling in time. Professor Novikov (Center of Theoretical Astrophysics in Copenhagen) strongly believes that it will be possible to construct Time Machine, as there are no existing physical laws that could prevent it. According to him we could use Black and White Holes as well as time loops, gravitational tunneling and curvature of space-time to achieve it. I truly enjoyed these half scientific, half fictitious theories. His speculations about Black and White Holes and how they could be utilized in the future to help our civilization in obtaining much needed energy, are fascinating. Book contains history of physics and digs into the past when scientists and philosophers started to think about TIME and how its "arrow" affects Universe and everything around us. Author writes about his life in Soviet Union where he graduated, started to work with famous father of Russian cosmologists Yakov Zeldovich and exchanged ideas with Andrei Sakharov. These years (1960-es) where difficult for scientists in Russia - they were quite isolated, having limited possibilities to meet their colleagues from the West. Scientific and historical details are presented in an easy to read, humorous and interesting manner (style). I strongly recommend this book as an alternative to the "Brief History of Time". Novikov's book is as good as Stephen Hawking's masterpiece.

some good time but not enough **
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.

some good time but not enough **

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.

Makes you wonder... ****
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.

Makes you wonder... ****

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.

A fantastic voyage into the Mysteries of Time *****
Very well written, especially interesting is the mixture of anecdotes and biographical data on the scientists and their theories. this is not a 'cold' science divulgation book. In just 200+ pages, the author reviews most of moderm Physics, with elegance 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.

A fantastic voyage into the Mysteries of Time *****

Very well written, especially interesting is the mixture of anecdotes and biographical data on the scientists and their theories. this is not a 'cold' science divulgation book. In just 200+ pages, the author reviews most of moderm Physics, with elegance 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.

The real history of time *****
One of the best books around if you want to learn about the true nature of time and space. The book contains a clear treatment of the subject of time from the ancient times on, and gives a number of amazing examples of time-warping effects. One of the few books that can so easily explain the physics of time travel as well. The comparison with 'a short history of time' is inevitable. Although less easy-to-read than ASHOT, 'The river of time' is more 'complete', more focused on the subject of Time. I would suggest to anyone who has read the ASHOT and needs more answers to read this book. (DO expect it to be more difficult to follow at times, though)

The real history of time *****

One of the best books around if you want to learn about the true nature of time and space. The book contains a clear treatment of the subject of time from the ancient times on, and gives a number of amazing examples of time-warping effects. One of the few books that can so easily explain the physics of time travel as well. The comparison with 'a short history of time' is inevitable. Although less easy-to-read than ASHOT, 'The river of time' is more 'complete', more focused on the subject of Time. I would suggest to anyone who has read the ASHOT and needs more answers to read this book. (DO expect it to be more difficult to follow at times, though)

If you ever asked yourself what the time is, then... *****
The River of Time is much better book than A Brief History of Time (S. Hawking) thanks to Igor's overview of historical development of human sciences from ancient Greeks to the present day, focusing on physics fortified by philosophy and mathematics, but also on social environment of mentioned scientist. This book will help you understand the time (and its passage) much better than other book around.

If you ever asked yourself what the time is, then... *****

The River of Time is much better book than A Brief History of Time (S. Hawking) thanks to Igor's overview of historical development of human sciences from ancient Greeks to the present day, focusing on physics fortified by philosophy and mathematics, but also on social environment of mentioned scientist. This book will help you understand the time (and its passage) much better than other book around.