Did you know that time is the most commonly used noun in English (besides pronouns)? Its meaning, though, can be varied, perhaps referring to measurements on clocks, watches or mobile devices; perhaps the sequence or the length of events; and certainly the past, present and future. In his "mostly scientific investigation," titled WHY TIME FLIES, author Alan Burdick (a staff writer and former senior editor at The New Yorker) discusses chronobiology and circadian rhythm in sections titled "The Hours," "The Days," "The Present," and "Why Time Flies." He makes all of this accessible to his readers, often relating stories about his own twin boys and frequently quoting scientists and philosophers like St. Augustine.

There is a range of interesting facts (experiments showing that our brains actually tell us what is happening "right now" at least 80 milliseconds after it has occurred), drawings and charts, plus roughly thirty pages of bibliography and index. If you are curious and wish to reflect more about this topic, consider:
-- we have no special receptors for time;
-- we do not experience time itself, only its passing;
-- that also can vary depending on our mood such as having fun or experiencing trauma.

Burdick explores these and many more ideas in WHY TIME FLIES. You can also read or hear an excerpt on the publisher's page OR listen to this NPR interview with the author.

Live links in post:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/12/19/the-secret-life-of-time
http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Why-Time-Flies/Alan-Burdick/9781416540274
http://www.npr.org/2017/01/23/511267210/why-time-flies-investigates-how-humans-experience-time