Examining both the history of the study of time, from the classical Greeks through to the present day, and presenting in detail the modern state of physical research on the subject, this book is a superb overview of a fascinating subject.

The figures who have helped to shape our views on time are presented as real people, in the context of their own times and struggles: from Socrates' troubles in Athens, to the experiences of physicists under the former Soviet Union. In addition Novikov details his personal experiences with great Russian and Western physicists, such as Sakharov, Zeldovich, Rees and Hawking, and his travels in the West before the fall of the Iron Curtain.

Details of the modern theories in fields such as the possibility of time machines, anomalous flows of time (at black or white holes) and the possible source of The River of Time are described with authority and clarity. These are areas in which Novikov is himself a leading researcher.

Accessible to all, the engaging style and wonderful illustrations make this book hugely enjoyable to read.