Icarus at the Edge of Time, by Brian Greene
One of my favorite science writers -- a guy who has helped me (somewhat) understand string theory and quantum particles -- has written this gem of a children's book. The wonderful pictures come from NASA.
Of course, he wrote it and I bought it 11 years ago, long after the time it would have been age-appropriate for my girls. But the story intrigued me. This week, I decided to read it again.
It was worth it.
I've always loved the myth of Icarus. It shows how the hubris of man can be devastating. Hubris lets one live and exceed a dream, but cautions against going too far. It skirts the edge of urging one to stop short of perfection, but warns about the harms that can be caused by going beyond what is meant to be. It says just because we can do something -- or can strive to do something -- doesn't mean it's always best to actually do it.
"When she heard what you've done?
"She said,
"'You've married an Icarus
"'He has flown too close to the sun.'"
Eliza Hamilton
Hamilton: An American Musical
In Greene's book, instead of flying too close to the sun, Icarus flies too close to a black hole, forgetting how time slows down near the event horizon. The result shows what hubris has cost this futuristic Icarus, along with showing us how correct Einstein was when he wrote about time and space more than 100 years ago.
It's a brilliant book that showcases a brilliant mind -- in a way that young and old alike can appreciate and understand. And the pictures are extraordinary.
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