First published 2026
Carlo Rovelli examines how recent scientific discoveries have shaken our fundamental beliefs about existence and our place in the universe. He argues that we live in an era of advancement comparable to the time of Copernicus and Galileo. Rovelli combines cutting-edge physics with insights from modern and ancient philosophy to present a universe built not from objects but from relationships. He explains that time consists of connected events rather than flowing moments, that no universal present exists, and that cause and effect function differently than we assume. Reality emerges as a delicate network of connections where knowledge remains forever incomplete and imperfect. The book guides readers through complex theories while addressing basic questions about the nature of time and being. Rovelli offers a meditation on science and meaning that reveals the strange beauty of our world and challenges both philosophical traditions and our instinctive understanding of how reality works.
Genres: science, essays, philosophy, popular-science, non-fiction, physics
Vibes: contemplative, enlightening, intellectually-challenging, meditative, thought-provoking
Tropes: interconnectedness, knowledge-limitations, paradigm-shift
Period: 21st century
192 pages · Hardcover · Scribner