The Time Keeper

從他以後，人類開始學會計算所有的日子，
接著計算一天當中更小的單位，
接著再細分成更小的分分秒秒，
一直計算到筋疲力盡……

　　以《最後14堂星期二的課》、《在天堂遇見的五個人》、《再給我一天》激勵了全球千千萬萬讀者的國際暢銷作家米奇．艾爾邦，推出最新力作《時光守護者》。本書是一則引人入勝的寓言，為作者迄今最富想像力的作品，述說人類史上第一個發明時鐘用以計量時間的人，最後變成傳說中的時間老人的故事。這是一本關於時間以及人生本質的精彩作品。

　　故事的主角是有關發明地球上第一個時鐘，並嘗試去計算時間的男人，他因為測量上帝賦予人類最偉大的禮物——時間——而受到懲罰。他被放逐到一個洞穴達數千年之久，並被迫聆聽繼他之後所有那些分秒必爭並追求更多時間的人所發出的乞求聲音：「如果能再多給我一天，只要能再多一點時間……」時間老人的靈魂幾乎在這些惋惜聲中耗弱殆盡。終於，天神給了他一個獲得自由的機會，帶著一個擁有魔法的時光沙漏，他必須回到現代完成任務，教導兩個人瞭解時間的真實意義，並解救自己因為發現時間所造成的宿命。

　　時間老人因此回到了我們的世界，並且跟兩個看似不可能有交集的夥伴共同踏上一段旅程。當初他開始計算時間，動機至為單純。如今，世界已被計算時間這件事緊緊綑綁住。為了解救自己，他必須解救這兩個人：一個豆蔻年華、打算了結自己生命的少女；一個極其富有、希望可以永生不死的全球首富；而要解救這兩個人，他必須像是一個時光守護者一般，暫時中止整個世界的運行……

　　艾爾邦以他極具個人特色的簡潔文字，以及動人心弦的散文式文體，娓娓道出這個深具創意的故事。藉由這本書的激勵，全球讀者可望重新思考對於時間的看法以及利用時間的方式，從而領會時間的真諦。沒有什麼是太早或太遲的，該是什麼時候就是什麼時候。擁有無限的時間，任何東西都不會顯得特別。沒有失去或犧牲，我們就不會珍惜我們所擁有的。

　　試著想像一種沒有人計算時間的生活。

　　From the author who's inspired millions worldwide with books like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven comes his most imaginative novel yet, The Time Keeper--a compelling fable about the first man on earth to count the hours. The man who became Father Time.

　　In Mitch Albom's newest work of fiction, the inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.

　　He returns to our world--now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began--and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so.

　　Told in Albom's signature spare, evocative prose, this remarkably original tale will inspire readers everywhere to reconsider their own notions of time, how they spend it and how precious it truly is.

　　★本書中譯版《時光守護者》由大塊文化出版。

作者簡介

米奇．艾爾邦 Mitch Albom

　　1958年5月23日生於美國紐澤西州。著有暢銷書《最後14堂星期二的課》、《在天堂遇見的五個人》和《再給我一天》，這幾本書售出42種語言的版本，在全世界廣泛流傳，總計全球銷售超過兩千八百萬冊。上一本則是非虛構的作品《一點小信仰》，這幾本書都改編拍攝成為供電視頻道播放的電影。本業為新聞記者，後來從事寫作並獲得出版上的成功，現在他也撰寫電影劇本與舞台劇本。米奇在底特律以及海地先後成立了七個慈善機構，並且經營一個孤兒院。現與妻子住在美國密西根州。

　　Mitch Albom is an author, playwright, and screenwriter who has written several books, including the international bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie, the bestselling memoir of all time. His first novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, was an instant No. 1 New York Times bestseller, as were For One More Day, his second novel, and Have a Little Faith, his most recent work of non-fiction. All four books were made into acclaimed TV films. Albom also works as a columnist and a broadcaster and has founded seven charities in Detroit and Haiti, where he operates an orphanage/mission. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.