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The Order of Time
- Narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch
- Narrated by: Benedict Cumberbatch
- Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins
- Categories: Politics & Social Sciences, Philosophy
Non-member price: $27.33
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Publisher's Summary
Winner of the Specsavers Audiobook of the Year 2018.
Penguin presents the audio edition of The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli. The best-selling author of Seven Brief Lessons on Physics takes us on an enchanting journey to discover the meaning of time.
Time is a mystery that does not cease to puzzle us. Philosophers, artists and poets have long explored its meaning while scientists have found that its structure is different from the simple intuition we have of it. From Boltzmann to quantum theory, from Einstein to loop quantum gravity, our understanding of time has been undergoing radical transformations. Time flows at different speeds in different places, the past and the future differ far less than we might think and the very notion of the present evaporates in the vast universe.
With his extraordinary charm and sense of wonder, bringing together science, philosophy and art, Carlo Rovelli unravels this mystery, inviting us to imagine a world where time is in us and we are not in time.
Critic Reviews
"A global superstar...Rovelli is making the grammar of the universe accessible to a new generation." (Channel 4 News)
"Benedict Cumberbatch's warm, resonant voice makes him a very fine narrator." (The Times)
"Cumberbatch possesses a deep and rich voice and reads the text in a precise but unhurried manner, with the result that we feel as if we are getting an exposition by an erudite but gentle teacher." (The New York Times)
What listeners say about The Order of Time
Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- JM
- 28-08-2018
Fascinating and thought provoking
I thought some of the concepts would get lost on me, however this was beautifully written and explained. Not to mention poetically conveyed by Benedict Cumberbatch (I want him to narrate all audio books!). I took a lot away from this work that will stay with me, can't wait to listen to it again. Just loved it!
1 person found this helpful
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- Ian Harrison
- 17-05-2020
Dreamy reading, accessible and stimulating ideas
A very well pitched and paced journey thru questions of time. Extremely cultured in that European way.
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- Peter
- 09-10-2019
Cumberbatch does what he can
I'd never heard of the physicist Rovelli, but I have a layman's interest in the philosophical problems of science. In truth I bought this to hear more of the mellifluous tones of Benedict Cumberbatch. What a disappointment. Rovelli may be a fine physicist but he has almost no idea how to put his material across to the reasonably well-informed reader. The books swings between the much-repeated obvious (eg that there is no 'Now') and the bafflingly obscure. Rovelli never makes it clear where generally accepted theory stops and his own speculations start, and his attempts at the occasional 'purple patch' of prose and matey asides are just embarrassing. (Perhaps the translation is partly at fault?) Top marks to Cumberbatch who makes a terrific effort with this material, but I fear it's pretty obvious that at times he doesn't understand what he is reciting any more than this listener.
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- Mark
- 20-04-2019
A stimulating and accessible time!
I found 'The order of time' a fascinating, stimulating and accessible exploration into the physics and philosophy of time. I've already listened and re-listened to most chapters twice in an attempt to take on board most of the ideas Carlo Rovelli presents. However, I'm sure there's so much more and this is one audio book that I'll return to again - regularly - for the pleasure of the narration and the depth of the ideas under discussion. A great exercise in mental stimulation and awareness. Really enjoyable!
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- J. A. Varzaly
- 13-11-2018
Timely
Interesting, thought provoking and philosophical. An in depth analysis of time beyond what many may have ever thought before. The narration by Benedict Cumberbatch was exquisitely matched and wonderfully presented.
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- Netwin Waldro
- 22-06-2018
Hard physics and flowery in equal measure
Highly memorable, though sometimes very meandering. Rovelli is unlike any other writer of physics. An extremely confronting exploration of physical reality and the human condition. The first two sections contain all the important and cosmos-shattering assertions about the emergence of time from stranger underlying structures. The last few chapters were too poetic for my liking. Benedict obviously enjoyed narrating this book.
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- Jennifer
- 24-05-2018
wonderful
An inspiring book by a brilliant thinker delivered through superb narration. l enjoyed the challenge of digesting poetic science. Sometimes the science was difficult and sometimes the poetry too dominant, but a greatly enriching experience.
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- Murray Dagley
- 20-05-2018
A deep and intriguing view of time
Totally absorbing. A perspective I had not previously entertained but one well worth pursuing. l find Carlos insights refreshing.
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- Amazon Customer
- 26-09-2018
Amazing book! Very deep and interesting.
I think Benedict Cumberbatch should read every audiobook! His voice is lovely! The book is amazing. It really makes you wonder.
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 01-06-2018
Beautiful
Takes all of us on an adventure and explores the deep enigmatic mysteries of our reality.
1 person found this helpful
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- rettyre
- 19-01-2021
A Wonderful Journey into the great clock tower
A beautifully written and fascinating book with some incredible ideas and poetic connections buried within. Buy it, read it, love it.
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- Fuad
- 28-12-2020
Great book
Easy explanations, very complete, you can understand everything and you don´t need to be a scientist
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- Daniel J
- 27-04-2020
One of the few science books makes you emotional
This book does not only describe the current understanding of time and its relation to reality, but also sparks an emotional and objective meaning to life. Benedict Cumberbatch's narration made this book shine.
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- James R. Modrall
- 14-01-2020
Extraordinary
I confess that i was sceptical that such a short, popular science treatment could shed much light on such a complex subject. I was wrong. Rovelli writes beautifully and the breadth of his culture is amazing. His departure point is his day job as a theoretical physicist, but he jumps effortlessly between the ancient history of science (Anaximander is a favorite), philosophy, religious texts (Christian, Buddhist and Hindu), literature (Shakespeare, Proust .. . ) and music (from Bach to the Grateful Dead). Truly extraordinary. And of course how can you beat Benedict Cumberbatch as a reader?
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- GratefulDeadShows
- 13-01-2020
good writer
Rovelli is definitely one of the more talented of writers among physicists who write popular books. He also accomplishes a treatise on time more successfully than other efforts I have read.
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- SYL
- 17-08-2019
It's time see IT clearly
Very clear, yet very subtle explanation of what we are made of through the lens of time. The poetic and at the end of it, a very moving, melodic, melancholical, memorable reminder about our potentials and limitations of what we consider as ourself bound by our memories, our body and what we sense as TIME. I listened to it at least two or three times, just wishing for further insight. I wish Carlo Rovelli would have read it himself as I heard his first book in his heavy Italian accent with a charm. Although, this does not take away the marvelous delivery by the narrator. One of the most impactful book I have listened to in last few months.
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- Andre
- 03-07-2019
Overdramatized
The sound is as its a bestime story, certainly a disservice to an interrsting read.
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- kirathi2042
- 22-04-2019
What a joy
I always wonder what is “Time”? This book provide an explanation based on previous scientific knowledge and I enjoy reading it. The voice of Benedict Cumberbatch is just like a massage to my ears. What else can I say?
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- Steffan H.
- 29-08-2018
Brilliant!
Like being sat down in a button back leather armchair and having chocolate poured into your ears until your mind is blown.
23 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 20-01-2019
Well worth listening to
As someone with next to no previous knowledge on the subject, some parts where tricky to get my head around (and some for chunks I didn't manage it at all). Other sections, particularly the first few chapters, were very illuminating and really changed my perception of time. The final chapter is beautifully written and quite philosophical, I teared up a few times, which I wasn't expecting. The narration is excellent and really brought the text to life. I think I'm going to give it a second listen...
5 people found this helpful
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- Heisenberg
- 27-04-2018
Beautifully written and beautifully read.
Popular physics books can often by dry or full of technical language, but with Rovelli you get such wonderfully lyrical writing, drawing references from art and literature, and the wider cultural life, to illustrate the points he is making. A joy to read, or listen to, especially when read by Benedict Cumberbatch. A brief but profound book, that examines the physics and the philosophy of time. What is time? Does it even exist? What does the concept of now mean? This builds on Rovelli's earlier works, and is, I think, his best yet. Highly recommended.
10 people found this helpful
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- matt hall
- 09-06-2018
Masterful and personal
This is partly a book about physics, partly consciousness, partly about being human and or limitations. Rovelli spends a considerable amount of time discussing what physics has to say about time, before returning to the question of why we perceive time in the way that we do when the evidence is so strong that this is an illusion. On the way he delves into philosophy, history, music, and literature and throughout cumberbatch's narration bring a resonance and erudition which make the journey an absolute joy. As a physicist, there are points where the argument seems a little thin - the low entropy state of the early universe is dealt with as a dictation in a wider universe. Really just a statement of the anthropic principle, which is a little off hand. These are minor quibbles, though. The real point is the journey and the synthesis, which is masterly. Thoroughly enjoyed this. I recommend it to anyone in a meditative frame of mind.
3 people found this helpful
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- Jamie
- 14-05-2018
Tell me doctor, where are we going this time?
It’s has been some time, naturally from my own relative perspective that a book has so profoundly blown my mind to absolute smithereens. This book will take me a few reads to fully comprehend, but if you want to learn more about what time is, and what it is not then this work is for you. It’s poetic and beautiful and to have it read by Mr Cumberbatch is just ambrosia to the ears. I will read this again, and again perhaps now or in the past; in the future or somewhere in between. Who knows?
7 people found this helpful
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- Will
- 12-08-2018
Brilliant
An artful combination of science, philosophy and classics. You know when someone talks passionately about an interesting subject and you get so drawn in that you almost have an out of body experience? This book is that, with added physics. Cumberbatch reads it extremely well too.
2 people found this helpful
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- Laura Hammond
- 03-05-2018
A brilliant pairing of author and narrator
Magnificently read by Benedict Cumberbatch. It's an experience I'll never forget, lyrically written but accessible. A must listen!
4 people found this helpful
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- Jack worsfold
- 18-12-2020
Simply Beautiful
I usually avoid science books that have been translated or are not read by the author. You tend to lose so much in the translation or the text being spoken by a non scientist. NOT THE CASE HERE. Carlo Rovelli's writing is stunningly beautiful. Poetic and heartfelt. The translation has not damaged the beauty of the words and concepts in this book. Benedict Cumberbatch does a wonderful job of transposing the words on the page into deeply impactful narration. I felt the words and the most wonderful thing about this book. It left me feeling happy that I had heard it. Genuinely happy to have not missed this cracking book. If you like popular science books, they do not come better than this gem! 11/10
1 person found this helpful
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- Adnan
- 06-09-2020
Absolute poetry
Quite easily the best book I've listened to. *completely unnecessary words to fill this review*
1 person found this helpful
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- Natalie
- 06-08-2020
A Gem
Mind blowing and delightful at the same time! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, though on a number of occasions i needed to rewind to try to get a better grasp of certain theories. Full marks to Mr Cumberbatch for narration, it was Devine, he made listening to quantum physics an absolute pleasure.
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