- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Viking (3 April 1997)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0670872458
- ISBN-13: 978-0670872459
- Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.6 x 3.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,173,317 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Richard Feynman won a Nobel prize for his discoveries concerning the behaviour of electrons. His science and personality are captured in this book, following his devotion to physics.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Richard Feynman is one of my heroes, and the Gribbins have produced an excellent biography detailing his life and work.
A Nobel Prize winning physicist, he was renowned for his exceptionally deep understanding of science and the ability to cut through to the essential core of any problem, and then explain it so the dimmest of people could comprehend. For example it was he who deduced why the Challenger shuttle disaster happened, and then was able to give a simple and totally convincing demonstration at the meeting.
But more than this, he was a popular, humorous and warm-hearted family man, and a long serving academic who set the benchmark on the best methods for teaching his students. Long after his untimely death from cancer, books about his popular lectures and tapes of them are still used as examples of good technique, and students still gain inspiration from them. His published work was always a model of clarity, and always aimed correctly at his intended audience. I only wish he had taught me my Physics.
This book serves far better than I can to show what a brilliant man he was, and the Gribbins research seems exhaustive. I have read a couple of others, but this one seems to be the most comprehensive, and has excellent references and index.
Some other books by or about Feynman worth reading are
Surely You're Joking, Mr.Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character
What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character
'Most of the Good Stuff': Memories of Richard Feynman
A Nobel Prize winning physicist, he was renowned for his exceptionally deep understanding of science and the ability to cut through to the essential core of any problem, and then explain it so the dimmest of people could comprehend. For example it was he who deduced why the Challenger shuttle disaster happened, and then was able to give a simple and totally convincing demonstration at the meeting.
But more than this, he was a popular, humorous and warm-hearted family man, and a long serving academic who set the benchmark on the best methods for teaching his students. Long after his untimely death from cancer, books about his popular lectures and tapes of them are still used as examples of good technique, and students still gain inspiration from them. His published work was always a model of clarity, and always aimed correctly at his intended audience. I only wish he had taught me my Physics.
This book serves far better than I can to show what a brilliant man he was, and the Gribbins research seems exhaustive. I have read a couple of others, but this one seems to be the most comprehensive, and has excellent references and index.
Some other books by or about Feynman worth reading are
Surely You're Joking, Mr.Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character
What Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character
'Most of the Good Stuff': Memories of Richard Feynman
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book covers Feynman's life, as well as his many achievements in physics, in a readable manner. What really comes over is Feynman's love of science, his deep understanding of the underlying concepts, and his desire to communicate that knowledge to others - without any personal gain in terms of fame or material goods.
This book also goes some way to exploring the subject of Feynman the man, as well as the scientist, covering areas like the death of his first wife, his many relationships, his childhood and his family.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
14 reviews
25 of 29 people found the following review helpful
an amateurish biography rehashing old topics
10 Nov 1997
Format:Hardcover
I love anything Feynman, like a great many people out there, but I found this book to be depressingly amateurish. The authors are overly infatuated with their subject and seem intent on breathlessly convincing us how wonderful Feynman was, as if we couldn't figure it out for ourselves.
To me, the most annoying feature of the book was the endless direct quotes from other Feynman books. Just what service is this book providing?
I wouldn't be so harsh if it weren't for the fact that Glieck's "Genius" has already covered all of the topics presented here, and with much more clarity and detail. I have trouble justifying why another biography was necessary. Without "Genius," this book would probably be more palatable.
The great thing that "Genius" did that this book never attempts, is to make Feynman human. Yes he was brilliant, yes he was funny, yes he was an incredible teacher. But he had a dark side as well, and "Genius" explores that without flinching.
In the end, I'd recommend passing this one up and getting "Genius".
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
A thoroughly enjoyable introduction to Feynman
8 Aug 1998
Format:Paperback
I can't remember ever reading a biography quite as enjoyable. The authors are to be congratulated for their perfect blend of scientific and personal anecdotes. You won't find any of Feynman's lectures here, but you will come to understand why Feynman is so revered. The author's write, "Does the world really need another book about Richard Feynman? We think so, or we wouldn't have written it." I agree with them, and I'm sure you will too. A wonderful book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Quantum Electrogenius
19 July 2006
Format:Paperback
There have been multiple biographies and compendiums honoring the lovable supergenius Richard Feynman, and his mindboggling accomplishments. This one is mostly a collection of snippets and anecdotes from previous books, but it probably gives the most concise and comprehensive coverage of Feynman's life and his vast influence on science. Granted, this particular bio does have a few flaws, especially in its rather breathless idolization of Feynman and his brilliance, to the point where the reader wonders if the gentleman had any flaws at all. Also, this book keeps trying to glamorize how approachable and lovably eccentric Feynman was, but these aspects of his personality don't really come through here, as John Gribbin can't quite make Feynman's hobbies like playing drums, or his love of teaching and reaching out to the masses, seem that amazing. But in any case, this is still a perfectly enjoyable biography because Feynman's brilliance in physics, and all the other intellectual endeavors he tackled, really does shine through. Gribbin also fleshes things out with pretty good coverage of Feynman's extensive contributions to physics, such as almost single-handedly inventing quantum electrodynamics, with the necessary background knowledge into modern and historical science. Despite a few problems with the structure of the biography, the person it's about really makes an impact with the reader. That can't be said about too many Nobel-winning eccentric genius physicists. [~doomsdayer520~]
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