The Myths of Time - From Saint Augustine to American Beauty

This is an unusual and thought-provoking essay on our different ideas of time written by a priest who has a doctorate in philosophy of religion and who has also taught philosophy of history. The author begins by suggesting that we are not inside time but rather that we ARE time, pointing out that the average human life consists of some 27,500 days - this set me working out how many I had already lived in relation to this figure. The kernel of the book is a discussion of four types of time: catastrophic time, the devouring and meaningless image; Apocalyptic time, which awaits the arrival of meaning and is sceptical about human endeavours; Kairic time, which savours the moment; and Prophetic time, which seeks to redeem time with work. Each type has its own mode - despair, waiting in hope, creating meaning and production. The author's treatment of this complex topic is subtle and his range of reference stimulatingly wide. A book well worth investing your time in.