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Summary: Don't get fooled by Folded
Review: ... I expected an entertaining saga about time travel, but was treated to Mr. Gerrold's ... coming of age. This book was poorly presented by my fellow reviewers and was misleading.
Rating: 
Summary: Time travel as a venue for narcissistic eroticism
Review: A thoroughly disappointing (and disjointed) enterprise. Each explanation for time-travel paradoxes (or lack of them) was eradicated by a later episode of the main characters' (yes, that's plural) ramblings. And, concepts that offered genuine intrigue (meeting and interacting with a version of oneself who happens to be the opposite sex; bringing getaway estates wholly constructed to locations that predate the dawn of man) were left to flounder for lack of viable explanations as to how such events might have come to be.
Rating:
Summary: Time travel as a venue for narcissistic eroticism
Review: A thoroughly disappointing (and disjointed) enterprise. Each explanation for time-travel paradoxes (or lack of them) was eradicated by a later episode of the main characters' (yes, that's plural) ramblings. And, concepts that offered genuine intrigue (meeting and interacting with a version of oneself who happens to be the opposite sex; bringing getaway estates wholly constructed to locations that predate the dawn of man) were left to flounder for lack of viable explanations as to how such events might have come to be.
Rating: 
Summary: More Psychological Fiction than Science Fiction
Review: As others have pointed out, this novel weaves a dizzying web of time travel paradoxes. But the science fiction elements, it seems to me, are only a framework for a deeper psychological study. This is a story in which all the characters are the same person! A man so at odds with the world that he creates a universe containing only himself--in countless variations, fulfilling every human/social relationship. As an experiment in narrative and character development, I think this early novel by Gerrold holds up (mostly) quite well.
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Summary: Everett interpretation quantum physics
Review: Aside from being an excellent book, Mr. Gerrold presents (more or less) an accurate portrayal of time travel with respect to Everett interpretation quantum physics. This book is recommended in John Gribbin's seminal nonfiction work on the subject, _In Search of Schrodinger's Cat_. What other recommendation do you need?
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Summary: Speaks to the 12-Year-Old In You
Review: Concise writing. Easy reading. Fascinating concepts. This book uses time travel in ways I've never thought of. It's a page-turner. Many intriguing twists along the way made me want to put on the time belt and go jaunting. Great idea for a novel. All the internal dialogue might have easily slowed the plot. But Gerrold masterfully absorbs his reader in the protagonist's thoughts. In the middle of the book there's a well-crafted and brief POV shift that I found to be brilliant. The story has dark undertones. It contains moments of disturbing, pre-pubescent sensuality. Self-acceptance. Trust. It leads into adulthood and "perfect" love. And loss. It becomes the sadness of old age. Whereas, at first, the story hooks your inner child, by the end it matures Him. It leaves Him satisfied, as though you have truly indulged yourself with a journey through time. This book flows like a river. There are no chapters breaks. Via gamut of life moments, you go from the opening page all the way to the fulfilling denouement. You're following along in the journal the main character, the time traveler. It's impossible to put down. I recommend The Man Who Folded Himself and wouldn't be surprised if you finished it in a day. If you're a parent, it might appeal to your kid(s); you should consider making it available to adolescents. If he "finds" this book at the right time in his life, it could set him off on a lifelong love of science fiction. I don't know what girls will think this novel; it's more of a guy book. I'd like to think I'm wrong about that. In the same way that Harriet the Spy is a "girl movie," The Man Who Folded Himself should be enjoyed by either sex. [If you're female and you loved this book, let me know. I'm curious.]
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Summary: All paradox of time travel covered here!
Review: Everytime time travel is covered there is always some paradox that is glossed over. Some short cut. If this book took out the short cut, there wouldn't be a book. It's cover-to-cover time paradox(s). An absolute must own for anyone interested in time travel or conversing on the subject.
Michael Gree
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Summary: THE ULTIMATE IN TIMETRAVEL FICTION!!!
Review: Having read this book several times (and I might add HUNDREDS of books on the subject- both speculative and fiction), I can tell you that I never tire of it. While the methods are a little "tongue in cheek", Mr. Gerrold analyzes the ramifications of timetravel like no author ever has! His reasoning and explanations as the character, Daniel Eakins, are easy for the lay person. It would have made a GREAT movie (but certainly tough to film)! And, as it bills itself, it certainly is "THE LAST WORD IN TIMETRAVEL"! Definitely recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Not the ultimate time travel story
Review: I bought this book because I'd heard it was the ultimate time travel story, at least in terms of taking time travel to its logical conclusion. While well-written, I don't feel it lives up to the hype. Robert Heinlein's short stories "All You Zombies" and "By His Bootstraps" do a better job of taking the logic of the basic concept to its inevitable conclusion. Gerrold also leaves open a major flaw in the time-travel logic of this novel: the time travel device loops infinitely through time without wearing out. (Merely the friction from being touched would eventually wear it away; look at what happens to old statues that are rubbed for luck.) He is hardly unique in making this mistake (although Heinlein avoided it in both stories mentioned above), and it is not of tremendous significance within the plot. Still, the flaw is important enough to keep this from being as thorough and logical a story as some of its admirers claim.
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Summary: A somewhat misleading title...don't read it to your kids!
Review: I enjoyed the beginning of the story and the exploration of some of the paradoxical theories of time travel. However, the story did slowly move into a somewhat exhausting examination of gay love between oneself and others....ummmmm, not really what I had in mind. To be fair, our hero does swing over to the other "team" for awhile. I guess for the bi-sexual time-travelers out there it's a treat. For the rest of us, well.....let's just say the marketing surrounding this book is very well-done...pass.
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