--- product_id: 410836027 title: "Einstein's Dreams (Vintage Contemporaries)" price: "€ 37.33" currency: EUR in_stock: false reviews_count: 12 url: https://www.desertcart.hr/products/410836027-einsteins-dreams-vintage-contemporaries store_origin: HR region: Croatia --- # Einstein's Dreams (Vintage Contemporaries) **Price:** € 37.33 **Availability:** ❌ Out of Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Einstein's Dreams (Vintage Contemporaries) - **How much does it cost?** € 37.33 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Currently out of stock - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.hr](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/410836027-einsteins-dreams-vintage-contemporaries) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Buy Einstein's Dreams (Vintage Contemporaries) Illustrated by Lightman, Alan (ISBN: 9781400077809) from desertcart's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Review: "Each time is true, but the truths are not the same." - From 1903 to 1909, Albert Einstein worked as a technical assistant in the patent office in Bern, Switzerland. In 'Einstein's Dreams', Alan Lightman transports the reader back to this setting. It is late June, 1905. We are introduced to Einstein, who is about to send the manuscript of his new theory of time to the German journal of physics. The author then presents thirty short chapters - each a sort of thought experiment - in the form of a fictional dream journal exploring the theme of time. These episodes are punctuated by three 'interludes' featuring imagined conversations between Einstein and his real-life friend and colleague, Michele Besso. In each chapter, the reader is invited to imagine a world where time works in a particular way, and to consider the consequences. In one world, time is a perfect circle that repeats itself endlessly. In a different scenario, time stands still. Then time is a quality, not a quantity. We are even shown a place where time does not exist at all, and there are only images. Sometimes these visions of an alternative reality are described as abstract philosophical musings - in a world where people live forever, we suppose that there are those who will seek to cram as much as possible into their infinite existence (the 'Nows'), whilst others will procrastinate endlessly (the 'Laters'). In other worlds, the author presents vignettes - a couple whose love affair ends because time stops for an instant and changes their view of each other; or a mother and daughter planning a trip to Lucerne because they know that the world will end soon. Such a technical description of the book belies the beauty of the writing, however; to fully appreciate this, you will just have to read it yourself! You can either sit down and devour the book in one sitting, as I did when I first discovered the paperback edition in the late 90s. Since then, I have found it a great book for dipping into, as most of the chapters are self-contained. I'm delighted to have found this Kindle edition, which even retains the illustrations from the original paperback edition. Readers in search of a 'story' in the traditional sense may be disappointed, as there is no driving plot line here. Modern readers might almost describe it as a collection of flash fiction, with each short tale examining the same theme from a different angle. Hardcore scientists may prefer a more literal exposition of Einstein's achievements. What I believe all readers will find here, though, is a beautiful exploration of the nature of scientific discovery, the power of the human mind and the complexity of human existence. This review refers to the Kindle edition of 'Einstein's Dreams' downloaded on 5 September 2012. Review: Dreamy - This is a dreamy book, in fact. It contains many dreamlike worlds, each appearing, existing for a little while, then disappearing like a ship in a misty Turner painting. It is also a thought provoking examination of the nature of time, its relationship with movement and entropy, and its effects on human lives and emotions. So why have I deducted one star? Because it is more like poetry than a novel. It is beautiful and it is clever, but it doesn't really have a story as such. Reading it was like spending an afternoon daydreaming. Nevertheless, Einstein's Dreams has been awarded a place on my "read again" shelf, a rare honour. I may edit this review at a later date, when I have read it again, if I find more in it. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | 140007780X | | Best Sellers Rank | 680,276 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 1,381 in Science & Religion 2,191 in Time Travel 20,126 in Contemporary Fiction (Books) | | Customer reviews | 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (2,461) | | Dimensions | 13.13 x 0.99 x 20.27 cm | | Edition | Illustrated | | ISBN-10 | 9781400077809 | | ISBN-13 | 978-1400077809 | | Item weight | 159 g | | Language | English | | Print length | 144 pages | | Publication date | 1 Nov. 2004 | | Publisher | Vintage | ## Images ![Einstein's Dreams (Vintage Contemporaries) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51YUaotCgdL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Each time is true, but the truths are not the same." *by N***Y on 5 September 2012* From 1903 to 1909, Albert Einstein worked as a technical assistant in the patent office in Bern, Switzerland. In 'Einstein's Dreams', Alan Lightman transports the reader back to this setting. It is late June, 1905. We are introduced to Einstein, who is about to send the manuscript of his new theory of time to the German journal of physics. The author then presents thirty short chapters - each a sort of thought experiment - in the form of a fictional dream journal exploring the theme of time. These episodes are punctuated by three 'interludes' featuring imagined conversations between Einstein and his real-life friend and colleague, Michele Besso. In each chapter, the reader is invited to imagine a world where time works in a particular way, and to consider the consequences. In one world, time is a perfect circle that repeats itself endlessly. In a different scenario, time stands still. Then time is a quality, not a quantity. We are even shown a place where time does not exist at all, and there are only images. Sometimes these visions of an alternative reality are described as abstract philosophical musings - in a world where people live forever, we suppose that there are those who will seek to cram as much as possible into their infinite existence (the 'Nows'), whilst others will procrastinate endlessly (the 'Laters'). In other worlds, the author presents vignettes - a couple whose love affair ends because time stops for an instant and changes their view of each other; or a mother and daughter planning a trip to Lucerne because they know that the world will end soon. Such a technical description of the book belies the beauty of the writing, however; to fully appreciate this, you will just have to read it yourself! You can either sit down and devour the book in one sitting, as I did when I first discovered the paperback edition in the late 90s. Since then, I have found it a great book for dipping into, as most of the chapters are self-contained. I'm delighted to have found this Kindle edition, which even retains the illustrations from the original paperback edition. Readers in search of a 'story' in the traditional sense may be disappointed, as there is no driving plot line here. Modern readers might almost describe it as a collection of flash fiction, with each short tale examining the same theme from a different angle. Hardcore scientists may prefer a more literal exposition of Einstein's achievements. What I believe all readers will find here, though, is a beautiful exploration of the nature of scientific discovery, the power of the human mind and the complexity of human existence. This review refers to the Kindle edition of 'Einstein's Dreams' downloaded on 5 September 2012. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dreamy *by S***A on 2 March 2016* This is a dreamy book, in fact. It contains many dreamlike worlds, each appearing, existing for a little while, then disappearing like a ship in a misty Turner painting. It is also a thought provoking examination of the nature of time, its relationship with movement and entropy, and its effects on human lives and emotions. So why have I deducted one star? Because it is more like poetry than a novel. It is beautiful and it is clever, but it doesn't really have a story as such. Reading it was like spending an afternoon daydreaming. Nevertheless, Einstein's Dreams has been awarded a place on my "read again" shelf, a rare honour. I may edit this review at a later date, when I have read it again, if I find more in it. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Thought provoking and entertaining *by S***N on 14 February 2009* This is not a theoretical book packed with equations, in fact it's a fascinating novel that imagines the dreams that Einstein may have had during 1905 whilst he worked to develop his general theory of relativity. It is a short book, written in 30 or so brief chapters, each of which views time through perspectives of different worlds and how these affect the lives of people within these worlds. There are worlds where time exists only in the present, with no future or past, worlds where time stands still, or is perceived differently by each individual. Worlds where time is never ending and lives go on for ever. Though woven together loosely around a period in Einstein's life, the chapters each stretch our perception of what time is and our reaction to it, and in doing so our understanding of change, and the paradoxes that emerge. For example when our lives are infinitely long, there is time to do everything, to live every life we can imagine. For some this means there is no incentive to do anything, there will always be tomorrow. For others it is the invitation to fill every moment with new experience. This is an easily read book, but one that will provoke your thinking and may leave a lasting impression. It teaches about time, but also about how our thinking can become locked in one mode and become blind to the many ways to see and understand a situation. I suspect that it is a book that I will return to, both to resample the ideas that it presents, and the lesson it carries of how complex ideas can be very effectively conveyed through thought provoking stories. ## Frequently Bought Together - Einstein's Dreams - The Accidental Universe: The World You Thought You Knew - Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.hr/products/410836027-einsteins-dreams-vintage-contemporaries](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/410836027-einsteins-dreams-vintage-contemporaries) --- *Product available on Desertcart Croatia* *Store origin: HR* *Last updated: 2026-05-13*