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Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time cover art

Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time

By: Sean Carroll, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Sean Carroll
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Summary

Time rules our lives, woven into the very fabric of the universe - from the rising and setting of the sun to the cycles of nature, the thought processes in our brains, and the biorhythms in our day. Nothing so pervades our existence and yet is so difficult to explain.

But now, in a series of 24 riveting lectures, you can grasp exactly why - as you take a mind-expanding journey through the past, present, and future, guided by a noted author and scientist. Designed for nonscientists as well as those with a background in physics, the lectures show how a feature of the world that we all experience - a process known as entropy - connects us to the instant of the formation of the universe, and possibly to a multiverse that is unimaginably larger and more varied than the known cosmos.

Drawing on such exciting ideas as black holes, cosmic inflation, and dark energy, the lectures also address a momentous question that until recently was considered unanswerable: What happened before the big bang? And while the focus is on physics, Professor Carroll also examines philosophical views on time, how we perceive and misperceive time, the workings of memory, and serious proposals for time travel, as well as imaginative ways that time has been disrupted in fiction.

"What is time?" asked Saint Augustine 1,600 years ago. "If no one asks me, I know. But if I wish to explain it to someone who asks, I know not." These lectures will move you much closer to an answer.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2012 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2012 The Great Courses

What listeners say about Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time

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Good listen

If you could sum up Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time in three words, what would they be?

I've listened to a few of these course type formats and find it easy to follow. The fact that each lesson is only 30 minutes makes easier to stop and start.

The material was interesting and the tack that the instructor takes to explain it was thought provoking

What other book might you compare Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time to, and why?

Other lecture type books

What about Professor Sean Carroll’s performance did you like?

His energy and pace

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

what a stupid question

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

spoiler

no one really gets it.
good lecturer and fascinating subject, wanted more answers!! 30 minute lectures were sometimes too long for pre-sleep listening, but on the flip side a good cure for insomnia. occasional slip ups at critical explanation points caused some confusion but recovered well and kept impressing with competent teaching techniques. well worth the purchase and time

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best science lecture

Carroll is the best science lecturer I have come across. He is so passionate and makes the topics enthralling and is very good at making the inherently difficult concepts graspable if you are willing to put the effort in.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent course on the arrow of time

There are quite a few good lecture series available on Audible but for me, this course is absolutely exceptional. Prof Carroll develops a coherent and riveting narrative around the mystery of the arrow of time, branching out into many areas of physics but always returning to thermodynamics and entropy. At the same time, there is a lot in here about how science is done and how it arrives at answers,

He leads the listener along this path with extraordinary clarity whilst addressing profound and subtle problems. I have a physics degree but found this course challenging and mind-expanding. I think it would be accessible to any intelligent and interested listener.

Prof Carroll has an engaging and straightforward style. His openmindedness to philosophy is also welcome - in this field, surely an important partner to physics.

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2 people found this helpful

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Excellent

Count how many times he says Entropy

Apparently that review isn't enough and I need to type at least 15 words.

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1 person found this helpful

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  • 25-05-15

Excellent

Thought I already knew a thing or two about entropy, relativity and physics of time. Bought this course on basis of other good reviews and wanting to know more. I really enjoyed the course. I learnt lots and I had a few of those moments when the whole universe suddenly appears really strange and wonderful at the same time. Mind expanding and well presented

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Absolutely amazing.

A really good set of lectures that clearly describe very complex ideas in a way that is accessible and interesting for all. I've read numerous books on the subject and the only thing I've achieved is a headache, but these lectures actually explain it in a way that is understandable. I only had a quizzical Google open once during the whole thing and that was for one of the very infrequent maths bits so I don't think that really counts. My new Audible objective is to ditch the shooty-shooty zombie books and listen to Sean Caroll until I've either listened to everything he's done or my hair goes fuzzy and I start smoking a pipe. Really can't recommend this enough. However, the one thing to keep in mind during and after the lectures is to not to try starting a discussion on anything included in these lectures with your mates in the pub, you'll fail and get upset. other than that it's quite astoundingly good.

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5 people found this helpful

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Great Course

Would you listen to Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time again? Why?

The theory's and evidence in this course are pretty complex and would need a re listen to really grab hold of the essence of what it being told. Although, it has been explained by Sean Carroll in a very eloquent way.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time?

Lots, lots of great information to absorb.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No chance, time is definitely needed between sections of this book to absorb the information that is being given

Any additional comments?

Really good listen, I will be re listening again to fully take in the information provided.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Surprising, gripping, fascinating

What did you like most about Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time?

Having listened to other physics-based "Great Courses", I thought I'd give this a try, however I was not expecting it to be as absorbing, well presented and thought provoking as it is.

What did you like best about this story?

The clarity of the exposition.

What about Professor Sean Carroll’s performance did you like?

An expert communicator, on a subject he clearly knows so well as to make it sound very straightforward.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

At 12 hours long, unlikely to sit through it in one go - but always wishing I had time for just one more chapter.

Any additional comments?

Excellent, the best of the Great Courses I've listened to so far, with possible competition from "Particle Physics for Non-Physicists".

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I thought I knew phisics

Where does Mysteries of Modern Physics: Time rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Yes this is one of a better books i have listened to so far.

Have you listened to any of Professor Sean Carroll’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I loved quirkiness and sufisticated sense of humour that professor brings to the book, made me look silly several times.

Any additional comments?

I have listened to a few phisics books and had general understanding of things, this book had expanded my view substantially and 'fixed' quite a few mistunderstandings and gaps that I had.

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