I recently reread Einsteins’ Dreams by Alan Lightman. I just can’t help but come back to it when I get to contemplating time and reality.

It’s a fictional story, or set of short stories really, about what Einstein might have been dreaming about when he was working the patent office in Switzerland and developing his theory of relativity.

I was first exposed to this book when it was given to me along with The Man Who Planted Trees, and Crossing the Unknown Sea, Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity. It was a set of three books, given as a parting gift when I left a past job. I think they were all intended to open my mind, change my perspective, and perhaps make me think about the world just a bit differently. I lost touch with the person who gave them too me, she was always a bit of a recluse anyway, and I’ve just never been able to get in touch with her after I stopped seeing her every day at work.

These three books have had dramatic impact on me. And I always come back to them, at different points for different reasons.

The recent swift journey through Einstein’s Dreams was just for fun. It was a sunny weekend day and I read it sitting out side, staring at the trees, and thinking about each imaginative dream world as I read. What would life be like in these different worlds where time is not as we perceive it in this reality.

Fun an easy to read, if you like contemplating time, dreams, and/or Einstein, I highly recommend it.

Updated Sunday, March 26th, 2023, 7:24pm, poked at it a bit with ChatGPT-3.5.

Anna; Summarize Einsteins’ Dreams by Alan Lightman.

ChatGPT-3.5: “Einstein’s Dreams” by Alan Lightman is a novel that explores different concepts of time through a series of dream sequences experienced by Albert Einstein. In each dream, time behaves differently, presenting unique scenarios and philosophical questions. Through these dreams, Lightman explores the nature of time and its relationship to human existence and perception. The novel is a thought-provoking exploration of the human experience of time and how it shapes our understanding of the world around us.

Anna: Summarize Einsteins’ Dreams by Alan Lightman.

ChatGPT-3.5: “Einstein’s Dreams” is a book that presents a series of dreams that Albert Einstein had about different concepts of time. Each dream explores a unique scenario and philosophical question, providing a thought-provoking examination of the nature of time and its impact on human existence. The book offers a unique perspective on time and its relationship to our understanding of the world.

Anna: Summarize The Man Who Planted Trees (French title: L’homme qui plantait des arbres) is a short story published in 1953 by French author Jean Giono.

ChatGPT-3.5: “The Man Who Planted Trees” is a short story written by Jean Giono in 1953. It tells the story of a man named Elzéard Bouffier who single-handedly reforests a barren area in the French Alps over the course of several decades. The story emphasizes the power of individual action and the importance of environmental conservation. The simple yet powerful narrative has become a classic example of environmental literature and has inspired many readers to take action to preserve the natural world.

Anna: Summarize Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity by David Whyte.

ChatGPT-3.5: “Crossing the Unknown Sea” is a book by David Whyte that explores the idea of work as a pilgrimage of identity. Whyte argues that work is not just a means of earning a living, but an opportunity to explore and express one’s identity and purpose in life. He encourages readers to approach their work as a journey of self-discovery, in which they can explore their passions and values, and find deeper meaning and fulfillment in their lives. The book combines personal anecdotes, poetry, and practical advice to provide readers with a thoughtful and inspiring perspective on the role of work in our lives.

Anna: What do those three books have in common?

ChatGPT-3.5: Although the three books – “Einstein’s Dreams” by Alan Lightman, “The Man Who Planted Trees” by Jean Giono, and “Crossing the Unknown Sea” by David Whyte – cover different topics and genres, they all share a common theme of exploring the human experience and finding deeper meaning and purpose in life.

“Einstein’s Dreams” and “The Man Who Planted Trees” both use storytelling to encourage readers to reflect on the ways in which our actions can impact the world around us, whether it’s through environmental conservation or the exploration of abstract concepts like time.

Similarly, “Crossing the Unknown Sea” explores the idea that work is not just about earning a living but can be a journey of self-discovery, in which individuals can explore their passions and values and find deeper meaning and fulfillment in their lives.

In summary, all three books encourage readers to look beyond the surface of everyday life and explore deeper, more meaningful aspects of the human experience.

Anna: Explain how they share similar themes, in 12 words.

ChatGPT-3.5: Human experience, reflection, meaning, purpose, impact, and self-discovery.