Richard Phillips Feynman was an American physicist known for the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, the theory of quantum electrodynamics and the physics of the superfluidity of supercooled liquid helium, as well as work in particle physics (he proposed the parton model). For his contributions to the development of quantum electrodynamics, Feynman was a joint recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965, together with Julian Schwinger and Sin-Itiro Tomonaga. Feynman developed a widely used pictorial representation scheme for the mathematical expressions governing the behavior of subatomic particles, which later became known as Feynman diagrams. During his lifetime and after his death, Feynman became one of the most publicly known scientists in the world.
He assisted in the development of the atomic bomb and was a member of the panel that investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. In addition to his work in theoretical physics, Feynman has been credited with pioneering the field of quantum computing, and introducing the concept of nanotechnology (creation of devices at the molecular scale). He held the Richard Chace Tolman professorship in theoretical physics at Caltech.
This book contains transcripts of lectures delivered to first-year science students by the famed physicist, Richard P. Feynman. Its aim is to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the concepts underpinning Einstein's two famous principles of relativity. I wish such a book had been available when I was a student. It is superb. Reading it again recently, I was delighted to have my mind refreshed by things I had forgotten of never understood properly. As the title suggests, the subject matter is not easy. For the reader with a basic grasp of mathematics, it is not so hard either ... when it comes from Feynman's lips.
I may not have understood a lot of concepts (and MATHEMATICAL EQUATIONS) in this book; however, it brought me back to the basics of physics which I learned in my fourth year of high school and first year of college. I appreciated in the way it helped me learn "systems thinking," as well as their philosophical implications. Credits to Feynman for making it a bit simple for us non-science people.
My copy is used, and missing the dust jacket, so I'm not positive if this is exactly the same as mine; but mine is also the combination with Six Not-So-Easy Pieces. It's quite coincidental that I'm now reviewing a work from another scientist so integral in the Manhattan Project, since I had actually started reading this book before I had even considered reading American Prometheus (see previous review).
This book is essentially just a collection of transcribed, introductory physics lectures by Richard Feynman. I'm trying not to be biased (I do have a degree in physics), but these lectures are very cursory. The descriptions are good, and you do get a taste of the uniquely Feynman, common-sense-no-nonsense style. But you won't learn how to solve physics problems; and beyond having some conversational knowledge about how basic physical reasoning works, you'll still need a traditional textbook to gain any functional knowledge. These lectures would be most useful for a young student currently enrolled in rigorous courses (who would gain a different and amusing perspective probably not given in his course-required materials), or someone does not plan to take any actual physics courses but wants to have at least been exposed to some basic concepts. (The latter group should include everyone.) Perhaps the most valuable thing I found was Feynman's explanation of how to reason like a physicist, how certain conclusions may be reached, and some reasons a valid conclusion can not be reached.
Thanks to my grad school lab-mate for recommending these lectures.
Second part of Richard Feynman's lecture series beginning with the Six Easy Pieces (see my review in 2022 below), covering more advanced topics. While my review of the first "six pieces" was a little take-them-or-leave-them, the "not-so-easy pieces" were much more advanced and much more practically useful. In fact, I believe that these "pieces"-- unlike the first six-- would be excellent reading for any physics student. (If I teach physics one day, I'll probably make at least a few of these chapters required reading.) Here are the chapters in bold with a thought about each:
Vectors. Excellent explanation of the tool and notation, as well as motivation for their use, and some of the great convenience afforded by them. Since this is one of the first topics taught in highschool/college physics classes, this chapter from Feynman makes an excellent addition to any cirriculum.
Symmetry in Phyiscal Laws. Very pleasing explanation of what the heck physicists mean with they talk about "symmetries," or "broken symmetry," etc. These phrases are often encountered even in popular science and science journalism, with no real explanation of what is meant (probably because the science journalist doesn't even know). The concept of "symmetry" is so powerful, so pervasive in the physical sciences, and so simple to understand, that I see no good reason it isn't described this way in other introductory texts/courses. Definitely read this chapter!
The Theory of Special Relativity. This and the remaining three chapters give an excellent, Feynman-style, common-sense, no-nonsense introduction to these topics. From my own study of special and general relativity, I can attest that Feynman does a great job of describing the basic problem addressed by relativity and some of the new concepts (e.g. four-vectors) required for the new physics.
Relativistic Energy and Momentum. Apart from describing the ways that relativity updated our understanding of mass and energy, Feynman gives an accurate diatribe about the problem of philosophers making assertions about physics without truly understanding its mechanics. As something of a physics/philosophy mutt, I have had enough experience around philosophers to be annoyed with this phenomenon myself. This discourse is in the first section of this chapter.
Space-Time. Good description of the fact that, according to relativity, we must not think of time as a fourth, independent dimension; but rather as inextricably conjoined to the familiar spatial dimensions.
Curved Space. Explanations suitable for freshmen that I waited until my senior-level undergrad course to encounter.
I think it would be very good for young physics-minded students to be exposed to these concepts very early in their education. This may serve as motivation to stay the course (physics departments suffer from both a low sign-up rate and a high attrition rate). It may also help develop a more rounded understanding of the connections between different topics.
Ich finde das Buch sehr interessant und ich liebe auch Feynman.. doch für eine Person die sich noch nicht so gut auskennt in Physik, sind es ziemlich viele Formeln, wo ich manche Zeichen nicht verstehe, da tu ich mir einwenig schwer. Dennoch finde ich es toll auch Formeln zu den verschiedenen Sachen zu sehen, damit man weiß wie man etwas ausrechnet und das ist dann auch ein plus Punkt für mich. Es ist auch sehr verständlich geschrieben meiner Meinung nach.
Так как это не полноценная книга, а вырезки из полного курса лекций Ричарда, в тексте полно ссылок и упоминаний на параграфы, которых нет в книге. Поэтому сложно рассматривать эту книгу как что-то, что можно прочитать отдельно от начала и до конца. Уровень физики тут школьный. Это совсем не университетский курс. По всему видно, что даже полный курс лекций - это вырезка и лучше уже взять что-то более полное, как, например, курс Сивухина или Матвеева. То есть Матвеев или Сивухин более полны, чем полный курс Фейнмана, а тут вырезка из вырезки. Да, есть интересные моменты и аналогии. Но курсы Ландсберга, Жданова или Джанколи смотрятся на том же уровне более крутыми и цельными. При всей шумихе и восхощении вокруг Ричарда Фейнмана совсем не ожидаешь встретить вот такую вырезку. Очень жаль. Интересно, что некоторые моменты по СТО пришлось пересмотреть в Теории поля Ландау, в которой это все было описано гораздо яснее. В общем, эта книга - разочарование года(
Reading Feynman is a great trip for the layman to experienced scientist. He explains things we learn about physics and take for granted at an intuitive level. These chapters are the most accessible and puts physics in perspective related to other sciences and topics within itself. I recommend this to anyone who would say "I hated physics in school", and loved the concepts but got turned off by all the formalism and math. As a great contemporary physics professor Walter Lewin said, "You have to love physics, if you don’t love it, don’t touch it. And if you hate it, it is only because you had a bad teacher." So pick this to relearn how to love physics from one it's legendary teachers dubbed 'The Great Explainer'.
I'm an incoming sophomore engineering physics major, so I wanted to see a little taste of modern physics before I took the class (not to mention I've been getting antsy not learning any new physics over the summer). Feynman expertly explains concepts to be accessible to at least an audience who has taken phys 1 and 2. I think this could be a fun read for the layperson, but I would recommend it more to people who have taken some physics and or calculus before and really loves learning this type of material!
I wonder if there could be the video of those lectures, listening and seeing Feynman explaining physics would have felt like completely out of the world learning experience, this is an easy read recommended to rather junior students.
I just finished the first of these; it is a good review of classical physics with the charm of this author, a Nobel laureate in physics. If you want a nice review, this is it. I have the Not-So-Easy book, which will be my next project.
Really enjoyed this book! Feynman does a very good job of explaining complicated concepts, and it helped me to understand a lot of new ideas about our physics!
Great lectures from Feynman. It’s very annoying that this edition has many typos in the equations. Minus signs replaced by equal signs and prime symbols missing.
Listened to Lecture 6 as audiobook, complete with scratchings on blackboard, and became lost within seconds! But absolute joy to listen to the master at work.
I'm done for now. Not nearly finished. I got through six easy pieces quite easily. But as soon as I got into the "not so easy" I became quickly bogged down and have pretty much bogged to a stop. I'll probably pick it up and finally finish in a couple months. For someone who hasn't taken physics since high school it is quite facinating and overal enjoyable. I have learned alot and do regret to be bogged down for now.
This is difficult for me to rate. I'm not by any means fluent with physics. It is a subject I find extremely fascinating and highly intelligent, but I struggle with the concepts, theories, and ideas. Feynman, however, has a way of describing really difficult concepts in physics in an easy to understand manner and I found myself mostly following along. I have the audio version of this book which was hard to listen to because it was recorded before modern technology improved digital means.
I enjoyed this, but I imagine it would be a hard slog if you didn't have at least some background in physics. I took physics in high school and in two undergraduate courses, and that seemed to be enough. Relativity is weird, but you can fool yourself into believing that you understand it. Quantum mechanics, on the other hand, is just insane.
Feynman going through more classic problems in physics, these ones a little more advanced than in the previous book of similar design. While reading it on the NY subway on New Year's Day, I looked up and spotted Liv Tyler sitting across from me, being admired and questioned by a couple of riders. Although interesting, I immediately bent my head back down to continue reading Feynman.
All 12 pieces are excerpts from Lectures and can be found as chapters in there. While the 1st 6 pieces tend to cover very basic physics area, the second 6 pieces do the great job in diving in general relativity and space-time concept. Feynman's description of curved space time is the best one for a freshman or physics enthusiast like myself.
Feynman is one of the few educators that can make difficult subjects understandable to average students. These lectures bring me oh-so close to understanding many of the things I could not grasp in my college physics classes.
Not for the faint of heart, but definitely worth the struggle if you are interested in have physics explained by one of the greats and in a manner that is much more understandable than most high school physics teachers.
came from the library as a set of both little book and 6 DVDs. The sound quality on the first two are quite bad, but still, great to hear the voice of this icon, explaining physics in simple (relatively) terms.
Amazingly accessible, given the material. A little patience and dedication bring out the illustrative and humorous way that Feynman shows us the world. Don't get intimidated by the math, he uses it as it should be second nature to all of us.