Book Review: Cycles of Time — An Extraordinary New View of the Universe

1. Introduction

I usually pick up any book authored by Sir Roger Penrose, who requires no introduction, and this was the case for Cycles of Time — An Extraordinary New View of the Universe.

Cycles of Time presents a radically different cosmological model that Penrose has put together, which he calls Cyclical Conformal Cosmology or CCC.

Reviewing this book is not straightforward. It depends heavily on the reader’s expectations and understanding of physical concepts like the Second Law of Thermodynamics, Inflationary Theory, Relativity Theory, and fundamental cosmology.

Therefore, I will go through the book’s content first and then comment on it before providing a recommendation.

2. Synopsis

This paperback publication of Cycles of Time — An Extraordinary New View of the Universe has three parts and two quite extensive appendices; the latter, along with the Notes and Index, forms roughly 20% of the book.

Two relatively extensive appendices are added to present the technical details of some of the topics.

3. Structure

The book is logically structured into three parts: the first is an overview of the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the basis of the argument for the invalidity of the Big Bang. The second part explains the issues with the Big Bang, while the third discusses Penrose’s alternative cosmological theory that resolves these issues.

4. Style

Dr Penrose’s writing style in Cycles of Time (and all his other books) is academic and technical rather than narrative, with little anecdotes or stories, if any. In addition, Cycles of Time is also dense; you might need to read the sentence a few times before it finally sinks in. It’s not a light read, but it is thoroughly enjoyable once you understand the idea.

As with Dr Penrose’s other books, the diagrams and references are very generous, making it easier to illustrate the concepts explained.

5. Depth

Cycles of Time attempts to bring to the general audience a new theory of cosmology founded on concepts like conformal geometry, massive particles as clocks, and scale disappearing towards the end of one aeon and reappearing in the following one. None of these is very intuitive, and while Dr Penrose takes the time to explain them, the language used is quite technical and accurate and, therefore, complex.

Unlike other authors writing in the popular science genre, Dr Penrose does not sacrifice accuracy for readability, so you must be prepared. There are also some equations in the text, but they are not difficult to understand.

6. Who Should Read This Book

Without enough background in cosmology and relativity theory, Cycles of Time can seem dry and hard to follow, and therefore, in my view, does not squarely fall into the popular science genre but is somewhere on its edges. The main ideas in the first two parts can be read and understood by the non-expert. The details of the first two parts and the third one need some effort.

Here are some options available to the reader intent on adding Cycles of Time to their library:

Special and General Theory of Relativity:

Cosmology:

The Second Law of Thermodynamics:

7. Biography

Roger Penrose is a renowned physicist and mathematician known for his significant contributions to the field of theoretical physics, particularly in the areas of general relativity and black holes.

Penrose’s contributions to physics are wide-ranging, but he is most famous for his work in general relativity. He co-authors several groundbreaking theorems, including the Penrose-Hawking singularity theorems, which have fundamentally reshaped our understanding of the nature of black holes and the existence of singularities within them. His pioneering work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2020, which he shared with Reinhard Genzel and Andrea Ghez for their groundbreaking research on black holes.

List of Roger Penrose’s Notable Books:

1. “The Road to Reality: A Complete Guide to the Laws of the Universe” (2004) – This book is a comprehensive exploration of the fundamental principles of physics and mathematics.
2. “Spinors and Space-Time: Volume 1, Two-Spinor Calculus and Relativistic Fields” (1984) – An in-depth examination of spinors and their role in theoretical physics.
3. “The Emperor’s New Mind: Concerning Computers, Minds, and the Laws of Physics” (1989) – Explores the relationship between consciousness, computation, and the laws of physics.
4. “Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness” (1994) – A continuation of exploring the nature of consciousness and its connection to physics.
5. “Cycles of Time: An Extraordinary New View of the Universe” (2010) – Discusses the concept of conformal cyclic cosmology and the nature of the universe’s evolution through infinite cycles.
6. “Fashion, Faith, and Fantasy in the New Physics of the Universe” (2016) – A critique of string theory.

These books offer a glimpse into the profound ideas and theories that have made Roger Penrose a significant figure in theoretical physics and mathematics. His contributions continue to inspire and challenge scientists and researchers in various fields.