In Praise of Wasting Time

Time is often treated as a commodity. In Praise of Wasting Time (Simon & Schuster/TED Books), a new book from Alan Lightman ’70, says that approach is dangerous. Lightman, who began his career as a theoretical physicist before publishing the bestselling novel Einstein’s Dreams, knows a thing or two about allowing one’s mind to wander. Here, he argues that wasted time is essential to creative thinking.