Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track

This collection of letters beginning when he was in graduate school and extending to the end of his life is a good overview of the man, his passions, and his life. Many of his basic principles are illustrated clearly in his letters, the proposition that knowledge is understanding, not memorization of facts, one should pursue with passion things that capture your interest, wherever that may lead, live your own life. One letter that was particularly poignant was the one written to his first wife two years after her death apologizing for not realizing how very ill she really was. It demonstrates the humanity of the man

Almost everything written by and about Feynman is refreshing, like a breath of mountain air, or, more often than not, a much-needed slap on the face. These letters are no exception. Much of this effect is a result of his take-no-prisoners attitude when it comes to purveyors of intellectual hokum-In particular, his insistence that what one is working on be falsifiable. In other words, if what you're working on is not testable or not at least foreseeably testable to see if you are correct or incorrect, then what you are doing is not science, it is philosophy, and rather bad philosophy at that. These sort of refreshing reminders are particularly important today when "string theory" is all the rage, as popularised by Brian Greene et al, a theory which, even Greene admits, will probably not be testable in your or my lifetime.-Feynman, terse as always in such matters, expresses his opinion about string theory in one of these letters---"I don't believe in it." It is ironic that Greene cites Feynman so often in his books. But String theory aside, Feynman enthusiasts will find perhaps a wider, more three-dimensional perspective in these letters than in other books.---They will find, in his letters to friends students admirers etc., wonder of wonders - a wise, articulate man.

With this new book collecting Richard Feynman's correspondence, you won't only better know about a Nobel laureate physicist, but you will be able to appreciate the deepest insight, knowledge and inspiration of an honest man. From his first beloved wife or the Manhattan project to motivation and good understanding of Physics. I have loved Feynman since I first read one of R. Leighton books when I was a teenager, he inspired and encouraged me a lot and since I had a great interest in Science I eventually fell in love with Physics, which I'm studying know, thanks to him. Besides, his wise guide helped me out to understand life better and cope with difficulties, mostly tackling problems à-la Feynman. This book is worth reading and it's quite big with hardcover so the price is quite great!Everybody interested in Feynman biography and character cannot miss this chance to meet him at his most personal book for which we all should thank his daughter Michelle Feynman. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR MAKING THE WORLD WISER ABOUT A GREAT SCIENTIST AND HUMAN BEING.

Can't have too much Richard Feynman. Lengthy book, but informative and illuminating.

As an instructor I appreciate this scientist/mathematician's point of view. It works especially for the higher levels of math.

Im from the Uk and firstly I'd like to say thank you to Michelle Feynman (Richard Feynmans Daughter) for putting this book together. My interest in Feynman began at age of about 8 or 9 I think when I saw this extraordinary man on a BBC TV documentary program, I'm from the UK. Something about the voice and facial expressions, he just looked interesting, happy and fun. What I didnt realise was how unique a person he was, i just thought all scientists were like that!! Anyhow many many years passed (well 10) and i ended up doing a physics degree (nothing directly to do with Feynman just a coincedence, i had completely forgotten about the TV program), i started reading about famous physicists and Feynman just stuck out to me as an special. Richard Feynman born in Far Rockaway New York, (a fineman from a far rock away, conspiracy theorist know yourselves out!) So I read a few more books about him eg. 'surely your joking...', 'pleasure of finging things out...' etc. amd then in about 1993 i saw that bbc program and it all came back, this was (one of) the guy that got me so interested in science, and I now science has got me all interested in him!. I think seeing Feynman did have an affect on me through that TV program, i think it really did! I'm of ordinary intelligence and dont have extraordinary thinking or imaginative powers, but i can appreciare those that do, and I'm sure if he inspired me he has inpired others and those others HAVE gone on to do great things.I love this book, it really lets you get another glimpse at one of the most honest, kind, original and fundamentally decent human thinkers to walk around on out little planet, thank you so much...

The ink is a a lighter shade of gray, not black, so it is an eye strain to read. The typeface and text size also seem to have been chosen to minimize the cost of ink, adding to the strain. I was looking forward to reading it, but after half an hour my enthusiasm was dampened a bit. I only made it through the foreword and introduction before eye fatigue was too great to continue. I often purchase trade paperbacks, and this issue is not common. It is a risk in purchasing books online sight unseen. There is a hard cover edition, but I would only recommend purchasing from a book shop after having a good look inside. I am likely to avoid other books from this publisher when making online purchases.

Great product, exactly as described, packed well shipped lightening fast and arrived safely; Thank you!!!

Letters should have been given in an order under some sub headings. Each letter should have started in a new page with prior introduction. Printing quality is also not so good.

Le génie de Feynman transparaît clairement une fois de plus dans ces lettres. Un physicien particulièrement intéressant par ses passions, mais aussi sa grande curiosité, une source de motivation personnelle conséquente. Sa manière claire, et simple, d'aborder les sujets, même complexe; cette capacité à mettre le doigt sur le coeur des choses, et d'en partir pour développer ses idées. Bien que mon physicien préféré soit Dirac, Feyman occupe sans conteste la seconde place.Ces lettres ont été choisies par sa fille, Michelle, et bien que cet ouvrage soit publié après plusieurs livres sur Feyman, c'est celui que je recommande de lire en premier, puisque formant la biographie la plus fidèle à l'homme qu'il était. Sa lettre sur le projet Manhattan est fascinante.Une contenu conséquent puisque le livre contient pas loin de 500 pages. On sourit tout du long, très souvent surpris par les réponses de Feynman qui n'hésite pas à envoyer ballader les gens quand il le faut. On imagine sans peine sans sourire amusé, presque carnassier, dans certaines réponses. Ce livre est un véritable trésor. Rempli d'humour.

A delightful book whose 460 pages are so readable as to be all to quickly turned but so enjoyable that they will surely be revisited. The letters published here are immensely varied: at times awfully sad, at others filled with joy; some funny enough to raise an out-loud laugh, others plain and businesslike. Taken in all, they confound the perception of Feynman as a bit of a joker who was not a keen letter writer - though he could sometimes be slow to reply.Michelle Feynman, his daughter, has done an excellent job of collating the letters, and some other papers, within significant time frames and of providing context with the briefest possible explanatory notes.The title refers to Feynman's views on teaching methods for high school students, as exemplified in his disagreement with Michelle's teacher over the acceptability and merits of said child's occasionally inventive approach to algebra problems. It does also encapsulate perfectly the man's creative and inquisitive persistence, no matter what the task in hand: persistence so productive when directed at academic enquiry, so inspiring in the lecture room, but so baffling when let loose within the realms of political or administrative convention.The most enjoyable thing about reading these letters is the sheer niceness that they convey, to friends or family, of course, but also (and especially) when replying to letters from people he had never met: people uncertain of their capabilities, ambitions or understanding. That a man of such genius could take time to write long responses to questions from a child, a struggling teacher, even an outright crank, is a cause of fresh amazement every time it happens.It shouldn't be, of course. That compulsion to provide real understanding was the bedrock motivation of his lectures, his books, his devoted advisory work on education. As with the formal lectures, these brief notes on problems composed for individual correspondents always take a fresh look at some aspect of the subject. (Well, they certainly made me think, anyway.)Do read this book of Feynman's letters if you have liked any of his other works, whether his lectures or lighter stories.For a much better review than mine, one written by a physicist who knew and loved the man 'this side idolatry', read chapter 23 of Freeman Dyson's "The Scientist As Rebel", another superb book.

以前からとてもお見たかった本です！しかも初版物のハードカバーでした！とても綺麗で、飛行機に乗って私の手元に届きました！