The Infinite Book: A Short Guide to the Boundless, Timeless and Endless — John D. Barrow

Infinity is a difficult concept to grasp, stretching the imagination to the edge of possibility. In this book, Barrow looks closely at how the notion of infinity has been represented throughout history in everything from religion to art to mathematics. For mathematicians, infinity is a relatively familiar concept. The author reveals how infinity arises in famous conundrums such as Zeno's paradox and the story of Hotel Infinity. Barrow explains how history's great thinkers grappled with infinities. He also discusses how infinity has come to represent our notion of the universe and how theologians, astrophysicists, and science fiction writers alike have pondered the idea of an infinite number of worlds. Does the universe have an end and, if so, does anything lie beyond it? If it is indeed infinite, is it full of an infinite number of worlds like Earth, with infinite copies of each of us? Invoking the idea of infinity at every turn, Barrow explores immortality, possibilities of rebirth, time travel, and other mind-bending ideas. Pantheon, 2005, 352 p., b&w photos and illus., hardcover, $26.00.

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