'Time Paradox' rethinks limits

By Dennie Hall

Published: August 31, 2008

A helpful new book points out that time is the medium in which we live, and, of course, it is finite.

Psychologists Philip Zimbardo and John Boyd give provocative views in their book, "The Time Paradox: The New Psychology of Time That Will Change Your Life” (Free Press, $27).

The book is credited with introducing the concept of internal time perspectives. These perspectives are said to "determine every single one of our thoughts, feelings and actions; and they're the No. 1 most influential force in our lives.”

In discussing Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, the authors point out that time, too, is relative. An hour doing something pleasurable flashes by, but a second spent with a finger on a hot stove seems like an eternity.

Heraclitus is quoted: "No man ever steps into the same river twice, for it's not the same river, and he's not the same man.”

Zimbardo and Boyd discuss the positives and negatives associated with various time perspectives and hold that developing a balanced perspective will change one's life for the better. They advocate spending one's time seeking happiness and purpose. They contend that even wasting time is not bad if a person enjoys that time.

Zimbardo, a professor emeritus at Stanford University and past president of the American Psychological Association, designed and narrated the PBS series "Discovering Psychology.” He has written more than 50 books. Boyd, who earned his doctorate in psychology from Stanford, worked closely with Zimbardo in developing the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory. He is research manager at Google. Both men live in California.

With many baby boomers reaching retirement age, readers may profit from reading these authors' views on making time matter in that stage of life.

Yes, time is limited. But a good use of some time would be reading this enlightening book.

Comments