The Discovery of Time

Even if ""after many thousands of years we are no closer than we ever were to being able to say what time is,"" editor Stuart McCready and his eclectic, learned team of contributors are willing to tackle at least the human perception of it. In The Discovery of Time, scientists and philosophers weigh in on the mysteries of circadian rhythms, the particulars of different calendar systems, the mechanics of timepieces and the infinity puzzles that have confounded people for eons. Complementing the text are quotes from poets and psalms, a glossary of terms and gorgeous color plates depicting everything from etchings on an Egyptian sarcophagus to the Hubble space telescope. (Nov.)