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Memories of a Theoretical Physicist
Autobiography. Unpublished yet. Free pdf available on https://arxiv.org/pdf/1708.09093.pdf
150 pages, Unknown Binding
Published August 1, 2017
About the author
Joseph Polchinski
13 books11 followersJoseph Polchinski was an American theoretical physicist and string theorist.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 4, 2018
It's technically uploaded as an ArXiv article, so probably doesn't classify as a book. But I guess, being memoir counts.
It is very well-written, but as the author mentioned himself, it's middle-point between writing for audience who aren't physicists (or string theorists) and who are. There are no formulae or calculations, but definitely string-theoretic terminologies lost me all the time. I could only follow those involving purely general relativity or quantum field theoretic concepts. Nonetheless, the way he depicts his life and in the order he chose was quite well-done.
The best part I think is his self-awareness of what he lacked to attain certain things, such as his "shyness" which he believed was one reason why he only matured as a physicist quite late. The story is quite relatable to a theoretical physics student like me, and at times it did make me think through my own graduate studies right now.
Overall, a good read. But read with some selective eye, in the sense that one should discern which part to skip without loss of coherence.
It is very well-written, but as the author mentioned himself, it's middle-point between writing for audience who aren't physicists (or string theorists) and who are. There are no formulae or calculations, but definitely string-theoretic terminologies lost me all the time. I could only follow those involving purely general relativity or quantum field theoretic concepts. Nonetheless, the way he depicts his life and in the order he chose was quite well-done.
The best part I think is his self-awareness of what he lacked to attain certain things, such as his "shyness" which he believed was one reason why he only matured as a physicist quite late. The story is quite relatable to a theoretical physics student like me, and at times it did make me think through my own graduate studies right now.
Overall, a good read. But read with some selective eye, in the sense that one should discern which part to skip without loss of coherence.
April 16, 2020
This has some very good theoretical high energy physics.
December 28, 2017
Too much physics for a non physics student , but so little physics for physics enthusiast like me. Great journey. Read in one single sitting and closely followed string theory and its developments. Everyone who is physics enthusiast should read to know how theroists are making universe understadable and easy as well exciting. Total a ride of unfulfilled dreams for not taking a physics to study in later life.
September 11, 2017
Reminded me of my interest in string theory and quantum gravity. Interesting read for physicists.
April 9, 2024
Often indecipherable, but always interesting
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews