Product Description: This new volume contains four previously unpublished lectures that Feynman gave to students preparing for exams. With characteristic insight and humor, Feynman discusses topics readers struggle with and offers valuable tips on solving physics problems. Exercises and answers by R. B. Leighton and R. E. Vogt are also included, along with an illuminating memoir by Matthew Sands. For all readers interested in physics.
Inessential but Entertaining Reading As a Feynman completist, I felt compelled to pick up this latest addition to the canon of one of science's greatest expositors, which is made up largely of excised review lectures from the course that generated some of the most highly regarded physics books ever printed (The Feynman Lectures on Physics including Feynman's Tips on Physics: The Definitive and Extended Edition).
Whereas those lectures are voyages of discovery that make the reader feel that he is a true participant in the enterprise of science, those contained in this volume are generally more straightforward, and the reader is again but a lowly student ... albeit of one of the subject's greatest teachers. But part of that switch in mood is part of this book's appeal, for even as the reader trades the laboratory for the classroom in some of the more mundane aspects of problem solving, Feynman does so along with him. In fact, Feynman's admissions of the variety of mistakes he made while working out problems (some of which he admits to having to do several times in order to get them right while preparing for the lecture) made for some of the most entertaining and encouraging parts of the book. Feynman, one of the 20th century's greatest physicists, is grinding it out along with us, revealing himself to be vulnerable to the same little pitfalls that can haunt and discourage students in any hard science.
Beyond that, there are some true practical gems in the book, including a wonderfully simple method of differentiation that I had not seen presented Feynman's way until I read this book. Rounding out the lectures are some problems and solutions (not presented by Feynman) that solidify the book's practical aim. None of it is absolutely essential, and the book is arguably a bit pricey for its length. But it is certainly a worthwhile read, further enhanced, perhaps, by imagining Feynman's Far Rockaway accent as you read to make the experience of being his student seem a little more real.
feynman lecture I was there and heard these things in the early 60's. the lectures are still just as fascinating now as they were then, although I have forgotten most or all of the math that went with them.
Excellent Leftovers Different parts of this book will appeal to different readers. There is a lot of information about how the book came to be published, providing insight into Feynman's style. There are the actual lectures, delivered mostly to students that were having trouble in the physics class, including the observation, mentioned in another review, that half the students have to be below average, even at Cal Tech. These can help you improve your physical intuition. There is a lecture on applied physics, covering gyroscopes and accelerometers in navigation systems. The numerical coefficients have probably been improved since then, but the presentation is excellent. There is also a collection of problems to practice on. These seemed much better, much more realistic, much more interesting, than those I solved as a physics minor decades ago.
I hope a culinary analogy will help potential readers understand this book. Yes this book is a bunch of leftovers. Some chef's leftovers are better than most cooks' best efforts. Feynman was a master chef in physics.
rummaging to put together one last [?] book by Feynman Sometimes when a prominent author dies, his estate might authorise someone to go through his notes. In the hope of finding unpublished material that is of enough quality to be published. This could necessitate some editorial or extra authorial assistance. Think perhaps of fiction authors. Where final stories trickle out in the years after their deaths.
Precisely the case here. The 2 other authors of this book, Gottlieb and Leighton, have rummaged through Feynman's records, and found these 4 "lost" lectures. In case you're wondering, his 2 children have approved this venture. As perhaps the last new book you are likely to see with Richard Feynman's name on it.
Of the chapters, the most interesting is really the introduction, that describes the circumstances by which the book came about. The actual physics is well done, of course. But this is not one of Feynman's major works. Let's be clear about it. Think of it as marginalia. An addendum to his Lectures on Physics.
The cover's photo shows him as young and in good health. Unlike when I saw him in his last years, ravaged by cancer.
Feynmann on Physics Firstly, ANYTHING by Richard Feynman is compulsive reading. Having said that I was a little bit disappointed because I was expecting some personal tips on his math techniqes. There is an interesting approach to differentiation and some stuff on numerical integration. There is a great deal on gyroscopes. There is a common sense homily to those who have to face the fact that SOMEONE has to be in the lower quartile of a class, and not to get disturbed by this statistical fact. For the few dollars it costs it is well worth it !
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
