BOOK: The Time Traveller – Ronald Mallett

Some people have small dreams, like being able to go on holiday or to one day own their house. Others have bigger dreams, like becoming their country’s leader or building their modest business into a huge corporation. However, no one had a bigger dream than Ronald Mallett, the Professor of Physics at the University of Connecticut.

Rocked by the loss of his father at a young age, and inspired by HG Wells’ The Time Traveller, Ron fantasises of one day journeying into the past to warn his father about his dodgy heart and prevent his premature death. Whereas most people would give up on this idea after a few seconds, dismissing it as fantasy, Ron decides to pursue his dream.

Telling the story of both his growth as a person and a physicist, Ron (with co-writer Bruce Henderson) lays out the theories that impacted on his development of a theory for time travel. While his comments on general relativity, black holes and much more can be mind-boggling at times, the Professor is excellent at creating understandable analogies and turns what could have been a lecture in how he’s so much cleverer than you into an engaging and, at times, moving read.

Patience is probably the key to enjoying The Time Traveller. At times you will feel as if Einstein has raped your head, but stick with it and, eventually, all will become clear.

Buy this bad boy here.