Tick tock, tick tock, it’s almost time to change your clocks. I have to admit that it is much harder for me to spring forward than to fall back during daylight saving time, but I will be happy about having extended daylight especially when I’m driving home from work. And more daylight means more time to look at the signs of spring popping up everywhere. Nice.
Since you’re going to be adjusting all of your watches and clocks soon (which means you’re going to be spending time thinking about time), why not keep the theme going by checking out a title or two about, well, time? No matter your time situation — you have too little, you have too much– the library has some very timely tomes that can assist you with your past, present and future needs.
If you fall in the I-never-have-enough-time camp, check out Pedram Shojai’s “The Art of Stopping Time.” Described as providing “innovative and mindful time management as inspired by ancient Chinese spiritual practices,” this guide will inform and relieve those who constantly feel pressed for time. On the other hand, if you find yourself having time to fill, here’s a suggestion: learn a new skill. Apropos of today’s theme, “Watch Repairing” by D. W. Fletcher instructs watch repair novices on how to clean and make minor repairs to broken timepieces.
The subjects of time and how we perceive time are fascinating ones. Several books in the library’s collection focus on these topics as well as why humans are so obsessed and dominated by time. “The Order of Time” by Carlo Rovelli, “Timekeepers” by Simon Garfield and “Why Time Flies”by Alan Burdick are excellent resources for anyone who wants to know more about the mysteries of time and time keeping. For a neuroscientist’s take on the relationship between the brain and time, be sure to read “Your Brain is a Time Machine” by Dr. Dean Buonomano. Dr. Buonomano says that our brains “[are] not ‘designed’ to understand the nature of time any more than your laptop was designed to write its own software.” His exploration of neuroscience and the concept of time will have you thinking about time long after you’ve finished the book.
