"Although not new to the 21st century, the use of nonlinear time in films and television programs has been growing and becoming more sophisticated, in part because of the increasing sophistication of storytellers as well as viewers who are increasingly well-versed in and accepting of different temporal concepts. Martha Nochimson explores the use of circular, parallel, and multi-directional time in contemporary entertainment by examining various films and television programs that tell their stories in a nonlinear fashion. She draws on quantum physics, Vedic religion, and Esoteric philosophy as well as interviews with many of the creators, such as David Lynch and Damon Lindelof, to explain how to understand these nonlinear stories based on an evolving understanding of the universe. Although elements of David Lynchs nonlinear storytelling were present in the first two seasons of Twin Peaks, which he wrote in tension with co-creator Mark Frosts more Newtonian viewpoint, his philosophy of time and existence was more fully executed in the revived Twin Peakss third season, which Nochimson begins with. From there, she explores the films The Tree of Life, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Cloud Atlas, BlacKkKlansman, and Arrival and programs The OA, Russian Doll, The Romanoffs, Westworld, and Watchmen. Throughout she examines how these stories nonlinear presentation--often with multiple timelines, multiple versions of the same character, and post-Newtonian examples of cause and effect--intersect with ideas from quantum theory and philosophy to create challenging, yet rewarding, narratives that open audiences minds to the possibilities of storytelling in a nonteleological, non-Newtonian world"-- Provided by publisher.