DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

Berner ruminates on the grand questions and the day to day in this memoir.

An award-winning writer, broadcaster, and teacher who has published several previous memoirs, the author focuses here on the thoughts provoked by the realization that more of his life is in his past than in his future, following his inner journey through the brief period from the beginning of standard time in November to the return of daylight saving time in the spring. Objectively, nothing much happens—Berner describes such quotidian subjects as the weather, visits with relatives, birthdays and holidays, dreams and memories, walking the dog, and writing a will. The author does not attempt to seize the day by making any dramatic life changes; instead, he guides the reader through keen observations of daily life, spotlighting the moments that prompt him to consider profound questions, such as the difference between loneliness and aloneness, the ways we remember and will be remembered, and, above all, the nature of time as both a “manmade concept” and “the only thing in the end that truly proves what matters.” The author weaves reflections on art throughout, from Simon and Garfunkel lyrics to the works of Voltaire, Auden, and Hemingway. Berner’s writing is well honed, honest, and precise, evoking scenes and feelings vividly: “The noisy city captures our senses like prisoners”; “I look forward to it but would like for it to be over as soon as possible.” He limns a commuter whose “energy takes [up] space,” a dog’s “colors of caramel and eggshell,” and his wife’s fleeting reflection in a kitchen window. A few minor lapses into passive voice or excessively mundane detail don’t detract from the pleasant, contemplative tone. Ultimately, the author’s skillful balancing of the weighty and the ordinary illuminates both, making philosophy relatable and the everyday meaningful.

An engaging contemplation of the deeper issues in the midst of everyday life.