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The Future of the Impossible: The Physics and Ethics of Time Travel
Are you curious about time travel? Think Black Holes and Worm Holes are cool? Then this book is for you.
Do you wish you could learn about science without having to muddle through dry texts and understand science jargon? Then this book is for you.
Enter the fascinating world of twins who age differently, Jupiter sized spaceships, multiverses, and other quirks of physics. The time travel tour includes a chapter on the ethics of time travel. Learn about the "butterfly effect" as well as other insightful thoughts on why different types of time travel carry their own for or against people moving forward or backwards though time. Enjoy!
Do you wish you could learn about science without having to muddle through dry texts and understand science jargon? Then this book is for you.
Enter the fascinating world of twins who age differently, Jupiter sized spaceships, multiverses, and other quirks of physics. The time travel tour includes a chapter on the ethics of time travel. Learn about the "butterfly effect" as well as other insightful thoughts on why different types of time travel carry their own for or against people moving forward or backwards though time. Enjoy!
- GenresScience
94 pages, Paperback
Published March 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 20, 2023
I was hesitant but wow .. this breaks down the theories for time travel and finally the ethical complications. The author explains everything so well that it was easy to follow the train of thought. Everyone sees time travel as something impossible or only in shows/movies and never really thinking of the consequences/ethics of it all. This really made me think!
July 14, 2023
This is an interesting take on time travel. I've read many books that include the physics of time travel, but this is the first book I have read that discusses its ethical consequences in a serious way. The first three chapters discuss fundamental physics to show how time travel would work in several theoretical models. It's the fourth and final chapter that delves into the ethical implications.
Overall, the book is well written and well sourced, I did, however, find a few places where it could have been better edited. To be sure, those were minor distractions. If you are familiar with physics, especially with time travel, the first three chapters aren't necessary. However, if you're new to physics or have a rudimentary understanding, Dannelle Shugart explains very well the complex physics involved for each potential manifestation of this potential technology.
I love that this book discusses the ethics of something we see in movies or read in books all the time. And if time travel ever becomes possible, it will behoove the scientists to read this book and build upon it. It is vital we have such a discussion for real world possibilities. For the short term, this is excellent information for science fiction writers to flesh out an original plot line. In my opinion, this is a must read for any science fiction writer or people who are serious about developing time travel technology - even if it is a thousand years from now.
Overall, the book is well written and well sourced, I did, however, find a few places where it could have been better edited. To be sure, those were minor distractions. If you are familiar with physics, especially with time travel, the first three chapters aren't necessary. However, if you're new to physics or have a rudimentary understanding, Dannelle Shugart explains very well the complex physics involved for each potential manifestation of this potential technology.
I love that this book discusses the ethics of something we see in movies or read in books all the time. And if time travel ever becomes possible, it will behoove the scientists to read this book and build upon it. It is vital we have such a discussion for real world possibilities. For the short term, this is excellent information for science fiction writers to flesh out an original plot line. In my opinion, this is a must read for any science fiction writer or people who are serious about developing time travel technology - even if it is a thousand years from now.
December 30, 2025
The Future of the Impossible offers excellent layperson explanations for the physics that, theoretically, make time travel possible. Quantum Theory, Chaos Theory and the Butterfly Effect all come into play when discussing possible time travel routes and the reality-altering implications of each of them, such as alternate dimensions, paradox timelines, and other quandaries.
When discussing the ethics of the different kinds of time travel, I feel Shugart covers this question from several angles that I have never considered, but that should very much be considered. These ethical questions include the intentions of the time traveler, if the situation will infringe upon the free will of parties involved, and if permission is able to be obtained before the travel is initiated. Shugart also explores the consequences of if the mode of time travel is controlled by a particular political, religious, or socioeconomic faction, as opposed to if it is accessible to all, each of which have their own pitfalls.
My only criticism of this book is that I wish is spent more time on the ethical questions as opposed to the portion that laid the groundwork for understanding the possibility of time travel. I found it to be the most interesting part of the overall work, and I wanted it to dive even deeper.
When discussing the ethics of the different kinds of time travel, I feel Shugart covers this question from several angles that I have never considered, but that should very much be considered. These ethical questions include the intentions of the time traveler, if the situation will infringe upon the free will of parties involved, and if permission is able to be obtained before the travel is initiated. Shugart also explores the consequences of if the mode of time travel is controlled by a particular political, religious, or socioeconomic faction, as opposed to if it is accessible to all, each of which have their own pitfalls.
My only criticism of this book is that I wish is spent more time on the ethical questions as opposed to the portion that laid the groundwork for understanding the possibility of time travel. I found it to be the most interesting part of the overall work, and I wanted it to dive even deeper.
October 26, 2023
In the world of pop-sci, there are a lot of books that are only entertaining about 1/3 of the time, filling the rest of the obligatory space with anecdotes and low-power statistical inference. This one is different. Shugart's work stays entertaining throughout, and it respects the reader by making memorable points and chaining them together for a holistic narrative around the larger theme. I am smarter for having read this book and I'd recommmend without hesitation to anyone with even a passing curiosity about what "real" time travel would look like.
October 9, 2023
I was impressed by the ease of reading and understanding of the topic. I'm considering getting this for my sci-fi nerd friend because I think there are types of time travel in here he never thought about
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews