Why does time seem to speed up as we get older? Steve Taylor's genre-busting, gripping book explores this all-too-familiar question...Why does time seem to drag when we're bored or in pain, or to go slowly when we're in unfamiliar environments? Why does it slow down dramatically in accidents and emergency situations, when sportspeople are 'in the zone', or in higher states of consciousness?"Making Time" explains why we have these different perceptions of time. It puts forward five basic 'laws' of psychological time and uncovers the factors which cause them. It uses evidence from modern physics and unusual states of consciousness to suggest that our normal sense of time is an illusion, 'created' by our minds.On a practical level, this book also shows us what we can do to control our sense of time passing, to make it pass slowly or quickly in different situations. It suggests that it is possible for us to live through more time in our lives, and so effectively increase the amount of time which we are alive for.Finally using insights from Buddhism to show how we can live fully in the present moment, Steve Taylor's brilliant book will astound all who read it.
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Review
'A fascinating inquiry ... Taylor's book is so absorbing that time will fly by as you read it.'
-- Herald
'Provocative and freewheeling, wilfully unscientific without ever dabbling in pseudoscience, this book will really start you thinking about how you can try to be free.' -- The Independent, July 08
'Provocative and freewheeling... this book will really start you thinking about how you can try to be free.' -- The Independent, July 2008
-- Herald
'Provocative and freewheeling, wilfully unscientific without ever dabbling in pseudoscience, this book will really start you thinking about how you can try to be free.' -- The Independent, July 08
'Provocative and freewheeling... this book will really start you thinking about how you can try to be free.' -- The Independent, July 2008
Review
'Provocative and freewheeling, wilfully unscientific without ever dabbling in pseudoscience, this book will really start you thinking about how you can try to be free.'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
158 of 162 people found the following review helpful
By Howie
Format:Hardcover
I did read this book very quickly but it felt like very little time passed while I was reading and now I understand why. As the book points out, absorption makes our experience of time seem to contract. While I was reading I recognised so many experiences from my own life and found myself continually in agreement. The author puts forward a very coherent theory which explains the different perceptions of time we experience in a variety of situations. As such it is extremely thought-provoking and plausible. Later the theories becomes more speculative but still plausible and stimulating, dealing with different states of consciousness and unusual experiences of time slowing down or disappearing. All the way through, even when dealing with quite complicated ideas the book is always very easy to read. You're carried along with the energy of the writing and the enthusiasm for ideas. At the end I feel inspired to try to live my live in a different way, making more time for new experience and trying to live in the present and appreciate each moment.
80 of 84 people found the following review helpful
By M. Sullivan
Format:Hardcover
I saw the author on BBC Breakfast whilst eating my cornflakes a couple of days ago. The issues he was talking about seemed interesting but accessible to a non-scientist, non-clever-person like me. And yes, it's a very enjoyable read. Simply laid out with each chapter taking you through to another level of how time can be stretched and shrunk depending on your perception and your circumstances. It's a simple idea well explained, illustrated with episodes from Mr Taylor's own life (as well as famous sports stars etc) that make the more clever-er concepts easier to understand. I'd recommend it. Weirdly, it made a train journey go extremely quickly. Which has to be a good thing!
92 of 97 people found the following review helpful
By Jo
Format:Hardcover
This book is full of fascinating insights into why we experience the world the way we do, and in particular the way we experience different perceptions of time. It's one of those books which makes you look at familiar things in a new and fresh light. In particular, I was impressed with the section on time in different cultures, that explains why many indigenous peoples don't have any concept of time or any past or future tenses. Oh to live in one of those timeless cultures! But the book does describe how we can become less focused on time, and even transcend it to some extent. A very absorbing and even life-changing book.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This time perception book is written as a 'personal development' book, not a science book. It's very perky, anecdotal and full off "Hey, we all agree on that don't we!" kind of buddy-buddy writing.
The points made are standard stuff (break routines, use new experiences as time markers, engrossing yourself means loss of time senses etc), but there's very little research and evidence beyond the author's own anecdotes - in some cases he even admits they're 'friend-of-a-friend' stories. In short, the author's recommendations for experiencing time are to meditate and move to a different country regularly.
As a book about time perception, it'll do. But there are much better books out there with more facts and fewer personal judgements. For example Time: A User's Guide
The points made are standard stuff (break routines, use new experiences as time markers, engrossing yourself means loss of time senses etc), but there's very little research and evidence beyond the author's own anecdotes - in some cases he even admits they're 'friend-of-a-friend' stories. In short, the author's recommendations for experiencing time are to meditate and move to a different country regularly.
As a book about time perception, it'll do. But there are much better books out there with more facts and fewer personal judgements. For example Time: A User's Guide
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Steve M
Format:Paperback
"Wilfully unscientific without ever dabbling into pseudoscience" claims the Independent's byline adorning the front cover. For much of the book, I suppose that's accurate. But if cherry-picking case studies in favour of precognition and premonition (then seeking to validate them by drawing incredibly vague parallels with the special theory of relativity or quantum mechanics) isn't pseudoscience, I'm afraid I don't know what is! Even David Icke (simply referred to here as a "New Age writer") is quoted at one point.
But don't click away just yet. The book contains some genuinely absorbing material. It's engagingly written and nicely personalised by Taylor, who comes across as an interesting and agreeable guy, offering up his own reflections and experiences. In addition, most of the core themes are hard to dispute (not to mention useful to live by), such as the wonderful observation that the whole purpose of doing things quickly is supposed to save time, yet if we did things more slowly and mindfully - living fully in the present - we actually create more time.
I wish Taylor would have explored in more depth aspects like professional athletes entering 'the zone' or time slowing down at times of emergency. For me it would have given the book a much firmer footing than the New Agey portions where woolly words like 'energy' and 'transcend' and 'consciousness' are repeated ad nauseum, as if they're revealing something more substantial than they actually are.
Nevertheless, anyone similarly unconvinced by such dalliances can be reassured that there remains plenty of worthwhile material in this book. Sure, it's brief and a little repetitive in parts, but as a reminder to live in the present, I'd say it's still worth a read.
But don't click away just yet. The book contains some genuinely absorbing material. It's engagingly written and nicely personalised by Taylor, who comes across as an interesting and agreeable guy, offering up his own reflections and experiences. In addition, most of the core themes are hard to dispute (not to mention useful to live by), such as the wonderful observation that the whole purpose of doing things quickly is supposed to save time, yet if we did things more slowly and mindfully - living fully in the present - we actually create more time.
I wish Taylor would have explored in more depth aspects like professional athletes entering 'the zone' or time slowing down at times of emergency. For me it would have given the book a much firmer footing than the New Agey portions where woolly words like 'energy' and 'transcend' and 'consciousness' are repeated ad nauseum, as if they're revealing something more substantial than they actually are.
Nevertheless, anyone similarly unconvinced by such dalliances can be reassured that there remains plenty of worthwhile material in this book. Sure, it's brief and a little repetitive in parts, but as a reminder to live in the present, I'd say it's still worth a read.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By dcjm
Format:Paperback
Sadly this book is not written with science in mind. Many of the ideas are 'common sense' (and that is mostly how they are justified as well), and the few 'original' ideas will be a little bit wacky for some. Without judging the views of the author too much, I would just point out that some of them will put certain people off this book. So, one of the key messages of the book is,
'The most important single thing we can do to expand and transcend our sense of time is to regularly meditate.'
I don't think it is unfair to suggest that the author argues that this and some of his other ideas to slow down time are more important for living a 'long' life than exercising and eating healthily. The arguments are often backed up by anecdotes. There is even one from David Icke.
'The most important single thing we can do to expand and transcend our sense of time is to regularly meditate.'
I don't think it is unfair to suggest that the author argues that this and some of his other ideas to slow down time are more important for living a 'long' life than exercising and eating healthily. The arguments are often backed up by anecdotes. There is even one from David Icke.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good little guide for making the most of life
Who has time? Who has time? But then if we never take time, how can we have time?
- The Merovingian
You may read the title and say "control time perception? Read more
- The Merovingian
You may read the title and say "control time perception? Read more
Published 1 day ago by 5i5i
4.0 out of 5 stars
Liked it!
I got this book because I find as I am getting older time seems to be speeding up. I liked this book because I found it easy to read and it give me useful pointers on how it may... Read more
Published 6 months ago by penwise
4.0 out of 5 stars
Accessible and interesting
I enjoyed reading this and found the language accessible. It is not in depth and scientific, but it does suggest reasons why time passes at different rates and how to be more in... Read more
Published 23 months ago by cw1979
2.0 out of 5 stars
Anectdotal and subjective. Easy, basic and engaging narrative
I bought this book as the subject of time interests me very much. I also enjoy reading stuff thats not overly brain draining so I really imagined this would fit the bill. Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2011 by Ed
1.0 out of 5 stars
I haven't got time for this
It took me about a week to reach page 64; it felt more like a month! Enough said! Create time for yourself - don't buy this book (I'm going to use my copy as a fire lighter).
Published on 23 Dec 2010 by MSC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth the Time!
I picked up this book of ebay after seeing it recommended to me by the Amazon ticker tape. I have to say it was a fanstastic read and it was difficult to put the book down once you... Read more
Published on 20 Nov 2010 by IDG
1.0 out of 5 stars
Please read the whole review
I don't usually waste time writing reviews but felt necessary to do so with this book. And what do I have to say about it...wow! Read more
Published on 14 July 2010 by FAS
5.0 out of 5 stars
If you need more hours in the day, spend some reading this!
We all want more hours in the day and more days in the week, especially at the weekend. It's amazing just how much our lives are controlled by 'time' even though it's simply a... Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2010 by Gillian Bayley
1.0 out of 5 stars
Terrible
I agree with K. Atkinson. I expected a lot more from this book, but was sorely disappointed. How to make time go faster? Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by PB
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read
The book doesnt have any revelations in it that common sense would tell you. But it is an interesting read none the less. Read more
Published on 5 Oct 2009 by Aidan O'kane
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