Now: The Physics of Time

Muller (physics, Univ. of California, Berkeley; Physics for Future Presidents: The Science Behind the Headlines) spends much of his book debunking the "arrow of time" theory and reassuring readers that physics cannot explain everything. These are not concerns that average readers are aware of or worry about, and this title is obviously intended for those who have studied physics before, preferably at the college level. The first section tackles relativity in a way that will trigger the memories of former (or current) physics students but is unsatisfying to nonexperts. Overreliance on equations is not to blame, however. Indeed, later sections with more math are actually better explained. It is unclear how individual chapters are related to one another or the main topic. Attempts to discuss philosophy, religion, and free will are disorienting and unhelpful, as are references to the author's own work and the many Nobel Prize winners he has known.