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Leonard Mlodinow

Feynman's rainbow

(Note that the book I read had the alternative title Some time with Feynman)

How does a scientist decide which problem is worth working on? That was the question which faced Mlodinow when he became a researcher at Caltech. How could he live up to the expectations placed upon him? Fortunately he had Richard Feynman down the corridor to talk to, and this book is the result of their many discussions. The answer seems to be that if you need to ask the question then you shouldn't be doing physics - indeed Mlodinow eventually gave up his career in the subject. Rather you should be driven by your desire to sort out inconsistencies in the current state of things. Feynman's Rainbow is a highly readable book - I read most of it in one go, and I can recommend it to anyone who wants to find out how scientists decide to do what they do.

Feynman actually had the same sort of problems when he started research - awe of the 'Monster minds' which surrounded him and fear that he couldn't get down to working on anything worthwhile. But you'll need to read Surely you're joking Mr. Feynman to find out about that. In Feynman's Rainbow Feynman clearly dislikes the idea of nursmaiding a new researcher along, but he was willing to go on talking with Mlodinow and revealing many details of what motivated him in the process.

One thing that I found interesting was the counterintuitive way in which your sense of urgency changes with age. For a young researcher there is a need to do something significant within a couple of years. On the other hand for Feynman, although he knows he is dying of cancer, there is no sense that he must rush to do what needs to be done.

Amazon.com info

Paperback 192 pages
ISBN: 0446692514
Salesrank: 49384
Weight:0.41 lbs

Published: 2004 Grand Central Publishing

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Amazon.co.uk info

Paperback 192 pages
ISBN: 0141009535
Salesrank: 586298
Weight:0.26 lbs

Published: 2004 Penguin Books Ltd

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Amazon.ca info

Paperback 192 pages
ISBN: 0446692514
Salesrank: 228464
Weight:0.41 lbs

Published: 2004 Warner Books

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Product Description
Einstein's Dreams meets Tuesdays with Morrie in Leonard Mlodinow's touching memoir about his mentor, the brilliant physicist Richard Feynman. As a young physicist, Leonard Mlodinow looked for guidance from his mentor, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. Drawing on transcripts from their meetings during their time together at Cal Tech, Mlodinow shares Feynman's provocative thoughts and observations. At once a moving portrait of a friendship and an affecting account of Feynman's final, creative years, FEYNMAN'S RAINBOW celebrates the inspiring legacy of one of the greatest thinkers of our time.

Product Description

Einstein's Dreams meets Tuesdays with Morrie in Leonard Mlodinow's touching memoir about his mentor, the brilliant physicist Richard Feynman. As a young physicist, Leonard Mlodinow looked for guidance from his mentor, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. Drawing on transcripts from their meetings during their time together at Cal Tech, Mlodinow shares Feynman's provocative thoughts and observations. At once a moving portrait of a friendship and an affecting account of Feynman's final, creative years, FEYNMAN'S RAINBOW celebrates the inspiring legacy of one of the greatest thinkers of our time.

Interesting, but not enough "book material" **
I would only read it if you want another view at Feynman's life. Keep in mind that half the book is autobiographical and not too interesting

Interesting, but not enough "book material" **

I would only read it if you want another view at Feynman's life. Keep in mind that half the book is autobiographical and not too interesting

What do you care what other people think? **
Mlodinow's book is more about himself than about Feynman, whom he admits he hardly knew. There are no insights here into Feynman's character, or his personality, or the incredible story of his marriage to Arline. Nope, this book is mostly the author boasting about graduating early, writing a well-respected thesis, and being expected to excel. It should have been called "Mlodinow's Rainbow" but I guess that wouldn't have sold as many copies, would it? Don't get me wrong. The book is entertaining enough, and short enough (171 pages of large type) to be quickly devoured in a single sitting. Just don't expect there to be anything of substance about the name in the title, which is obviously a marketing ploy.

What do you care what other people think? **

Mlodinow's book is more about himself than about Feynman, whom he admits he hardly knew. There are no insights here into Feynman's character, or his personality, or the incredible story of his marriage to Arline. Nope, this book is mostly the author boasting about graduating early, writing a well-respected thesis, and being expected to excel. It should have been called "Mlodinow's Rainbow" but I guess that wouldn't have sold as many copies, would it?

Don't get me wrong. The book is entertaining enough, and short enough (171 pages of large type) to be quickly devoured in a single sitting. Just don't expect there to be anything of substance about the name in the title, which is obviously a marketing ploy.

Physics from Below ****
The book jacket made me worry that the book was going to be a namby pamby "Tuesdays With Morrie" affair :-) because the jacket said something about "a young physicist [author Mlodinow] trying to find his place in the world, and .. the famous, old, and dying colleague whose wisdom helped him". Luckily, "Feynman's Rainbow" turns out to be more fun and light and memorable and show-don't-tell than the Morrie book, although there is a slight resemblance. The best feature of the book is that it lets the reader feel what it's like for an "ordinary" person to be around greatness and around history. There are plenty of serious books about the giants, and they might even include a few quotes from neighbors or secretaries about the giants, but this book actually lets the reader feel what it's like to live with the great, day after day, in an interesting Rosencrantz-and-Guildenstern way as described below in (1). In that sense, the fact that the book is actually about the author and only peripherally about Feynman is part of it's charm. So, the main character's (author's) "I'm finding myself" phase of life is slightly tedious in the book, true, but the tedium actually works to give a being-there/slice-of-life appeal, and I wouldn't complain about it. For example, the slumping main character's (author's) slight confusedness and whininess makes a context that allows Feynman to be impatient with him in (a more gentle version of) Don-Corleone's ", what's the matter with you?" way. (1) My favorite parts of the book are actually the stuff in the background of the book's story--e.g., backdrop stuff like the sad-sack string-theory nutjob (!) Schwarz who was pitied and ridiculed by everyone (even grad students) at Caltech and who was allowed to remain on the faculty (but with no tenure) only due to the support of his single high-profile supporter in the Physics faculty. Such backdrop parts of the book have a lovely Rosencrantz & Guildenstern feel to them because they invert the usual ordering of the big picture (e.g., string theory) and the little picture (Mlodinow's mundane concerns). Stephen Wolfram also makes a cameo. Such backdrop parts may be especially enjoyable to readers who have some existing knowledge of physics. (Physics = Hamlet, in the analogy.) (2) Other great not-quite-foreground parts of the book involve Feynman, of course, and/or Murray Gell-Mann. Feynman is familiar to most readers. But what an interesting guy is Gell-Mann! The book made me want to read his books and biography next. His relationship with Feynman is so awesome and is discussed at various points in the book. The single-sentence (or so) description of how Gell-Mann and Feynman spent their time together in Feynman's last months is very touching, like something out of a movie. A great, great movie or book can be made on the yin and yang and the relationship between these two guys. [Maybe one has already been made; I don't know.] The relationship in the hypothetical movie would resemble that portrayed between Salieri and Mozart in the movie "Amadeus", but with Salieri's being just as much of a genius (but of an opposite type) as Mozart, and with Salieri's being mostly not evil. Pitch to the studios: "'Grumpy Old Men', starring Amadeus and a genius version of Salieri". :-) (3) And what makes the book work, that can keep things light, are the goofy little anecdotes. Not knee-slappingly funny or anything, but nice. Here's an example. Feynman and the author, both hungry and casually-dressed, see a wedding reception at Caltech's Athenaeum and crash in to get fed. When asked whether they are from the bride's side or the groom's side, Feynman replies, "We represent the Physics Department". Ha ha. By the way, the quote evinces a great, jaunty attitude and therefore is a good slogan for life (that anyone can adopt, with appropriate substitution for "Physics Department"). Finally, let's note that the book is breezily good but should not be read with high expectations because it is not and does not try to be the "great" type of book.

Physics from Below ****

The book jacket made me worry that the book was going to be a namby pamby "Tuesdays With Morrie" affair :-) because the jacket said something about "a young physicist [author Mlodinow] trying to find his place in the world, and .. the famous, old, and dying colleague whose wisdom helped him". Luckily, "Feynman's Rainbow" turns out to be more fun and light and memorable and show-don't-tell than the Morrie book, although there is a slight resemblance.

The best feature of the book is that it lets the reader feel what it's like for an "ordinary" person to be around greatness and around history. There are plenty of serious books about the giants, and they might even include a few quotes from neighbors or secretaries about the giants, but this book actually lets the reader *feel* what it's like to live with the great, day after day, in an interesting Rosencrantz-and-Guildenstern way as described below in (1). In that sense, the fact that the book is actually about the author and only peripherally about Feynman is part of it's charm. So, the main character's (author's) "I'm finding myself" phase of life is slightly tedious in the book, true, but the tedium actually works to give a being-there/slice-of-life appeal, and I wouldn't complain about it. For example, the slumping main character's (author's) slight confusedness and whininess makes a context that allows Feynman to be impatient with him in (a more gentle version of) Don-Corleone's ", what's the matter with you?" way.

(1) My favorite parts of the book are actually the stuff in the background of the book's story--e.g., backdrop stuff like the sad-sack string-theory nutjob (!) Schwarz who was pitied and ridiculed by everyone (even grad students) at Caltech and who was allowed to remain on the faculty (but with no tenure) only due to the support of his single high-profile supporter in the Physics faculty. Such backdrop parts of the book have a lovely Rosencrantz & Guildenstern feel to them because they invert the usual ordering of the big picture (e.g., string theory) and the little picture (Mlodinow's mundane concerns). Stephen Wolfram also makes a cameo. Such backdrop parts may be especially enjoyable to readers who have some existing knowledge of physics. (Physics = Hamlet, in the analogy.)

(2) Other great not-quite-foreground parts of the book involve Feynman, of course, and/or Murray Gell-Mann. Feynman is familiar to most readers. But what an interesting guy is Gell-Mann! The book made me want to read his books and biography next. His relationship with Feynman is so awesome and is discussed at various points in the book. The single-sentence (or so) description of how Gell-Mann and Feynman spent their time together in Feynman's last months is very touching, like something out of a movie. A great, great movie or book can be made on the yin and yang and the relationship between these two guys. [Maybe one has already been made; I don't know.] The relationship in the hypothetical movie would resemble that portrayed between Salieri and Mozart in the movie "Amadeus", but with Salieri's being just as much of a genius (but of an opposite type) as Mozart, and with Salieri's being mostly not evil. Pitch to the studios: "'Grumpy Old Men', starring Amadeus and a genius version of Salieri". :-)

(3) And what makes the book work, that can keep things light, are the goofy little anecdotes. Not knee-slappingly funny or anything, but nice. Here's an example. Feynman and the author, both hungry and casually-dressed, see a wedding reception at Caltech's Athenaeum and crash in to get fed. When asked whether they are from the bride's side or the groom's side, Feynman replies, "We represent the Physics Department". Ha ha. By the way, the quote evinces a great, jaunty attitude and therefore is a good slogan for life (that anyone can adopt, with appropriate substitution for "Physics Department").

Finally, let's note that the book is breezily good but should not be read with high expectations because it is not and does not try to be the "great" type of book.

Feynman's Rainbow *****
EXCELLENT!!! Gives the layman a look inside the world of Physics research, while presenting a life-lesson theme that transcends science. A great read for both science and non-science readers. I'm a Physics teacher, and the reason I love this book has absolutely NOTHING to do with science. I'm making it required reading for my Physics classes!!

Feynman's Rainbow *****

EXCELLENT!!! Gives the layman a look inside the world of Physics research, while presenting a life-lesson theme that transcends science. A great read for both science and non-science readers. I'm a Physics teacher, and the reason I love this book has absolutely NOTHING to do with science. I'm making it required reading for my Physics classes!!

Feynman as seen by a peer ****
Written by a physicist who spent a year in an office on the same floor as Feynman and Murray Gell-Man, this book provides yet another view of Feynman and the love-hate relationship that existed between him and Gell-Man, two of the finest physicists of the 20th Century. It is interesting to compare this view with the one provided by the letters collected by his daughter, Michelle, Perfectly Reasonable Deviations From The Beaten Track: The Letters Of Richard P. Feynman and the excellent, but hard to find, collection of essays written by other peers."Most of the Good Stuff:" Memories of Richard Feynman.

Feynman as seen by a peer ****

Written by a physicist who spent a year in an office on the same floor as Feynman and Murray Gell-Man, this book provides yet another view of Feynman and the love-hate relationship that existed between him and Gell-Man, two of the finest physicists of the 20th Century. It is interesting to compare this view with the one provided by the letters collected by his daughter, Michelle, Perfectly Reasonable Deviations From The Beaten Track: The Letters Of Richard P. Feynman and the excellent, but hard to find, collection of essays written by other peers."Most of the Good Stuff:" Memories of Richard Feynman.

Interesting ****
When I first opened Feynman's Rainbow: A Search For Beauty in Physics And In Life, I wasn't sure whether to expect all sorts of physics facts or the inside life of a struggling scientist. In the end, I received both. Feynman's Rainbow, written and narrated by Leonard Mlodinow, is the story of Leonard Mlodinow's encounters and conversations with the two famous physicists of his time, Murray Gell-Mann and Richard Feynman, although he concentrates on Feynman as his role model. In the beginning, Mlodinow had absolutely no interest in physics, but rapidly grew to love it as he read Feynman's books and lectures on physics while volunteering to help in Jerusalem during the Yom Kippur War. During this time, out of boredom from lack of anything else to do he read these books, which were some of the only ones available to him at the time. He changes his major to physics and receives his PhD. when he returns to the United States and soon gets employed by CalTech (California Institute of Technology) for his appealing theory of infinite dimensions. Soon he is overwhelmed by his impressive position with Murray and Feynman, and is frantic to live up to CalTech's Nobel Prize expectations of him. During this time Mlodinow chose Feynman as his mentor, although ironically Feynman always disliked psychology profusely. Through the story there are also several physics theories that are explained in the book fairly understandably. Many of the quotes by Feynman are direct from recordings of him by Mlodinow, who always recorded their conversations. This book gives a very interesting insight into the life and of course, realistic pressure of working in a high and prestigious scholarly and scientific position. The book takes place during the last years of Feynman's life as he struggled with his terminal cancer, but he always had an optimistic and simple outlook on life. Being a fan of Richard Feynman myself, I enjoyed this book and reading about Feynman's realistic, down-to-earth views on life and science. If you are interested in Feynman specifically, I would greatly recommend reading "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" Adventures of a Curious Character. Feynman's Rainbow was a good (although not the best) book to read, but I would suggest that you read this if you take interest in the philosophy or thoughts of a "genius" at work.

Interesting ****

When I first opened Feynman's Rainbow: A Search For Beauty in Physics And In Life, I wasn't sure whether to expect all sorts of physics facts or the inside life of a struggling scientist. In the end, I received both. Feynman's Rainbow, written and narrated by Leonard Mlodinow, is the story of Leonard Mlodinow's encounters and conversations with the two famous physicists of his time, Murray Gell-Mann and Richard Feynman, although he concentrates on Feynman as his role model. In the beginning, Mlodinow had absolutely no interest in physics, but rapidly grew to love it as he read Feynman's books and lectures on physics while volunteering to help in Jerusalem during the Yom Kippur War. During this time, out of boredom from lack of anything else to do he read these books, which were some of the only ones available to him at the time. He changes his major to physics and receives his PhD. when he returns to the United States and soon gets employed by CalTech (California Institute of Technology) for his appealing theory of infinite dimensions. Soon he is overwhelmed by his impressive position with Murray and Feynman, and is frantic to live up to CalTech's Nobel Prize expectations of him. During this time Mlodinow chose Feynman as his mentor, although ironically Feynman always disliked psychology profusely. Through the story there are also several physics theories that are explained in the book fairly understandably. Many of the quotes by Feynman are direct from recordings of him by Mlodinow, who always recorded their conversations. This book gives a very interesting insight into the life and of course, realistic pressure of working in a high and prestigious scholarly and scientific position. The book takes place during the last years of Feynman's life as he struggled with his terminal cancer, but he always had an optimistic and simple outlook on life. Being a fan of Richard Feynman myself, I enjoyed this book and reading about Feynman's realistic, down-to-earth views on life and science. If you are interested in Feynman specifically, I would greatly recommend reading "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" Adventures of a Curious Character. Feynman's Rainbow was a good (although not the best) book to read, but I would suggest that you read this if you take interest in the philosophy or thoughts of a "genius" at work.

When you're a scientist ****
You go through times quite similar to those described in this book. To focus on what you are and what made you be that way, often helps you to get you back on the right track. It also helps if you've a couple of kind, or at least, willing to talk, nobel prizes down the aisle. Good book, anyways.

When you're a scientist ****

You go through times quite similar to those described in this book. To focus on what you are and what made you be that way, often helps you to get you back on the right track. It also helps if you've a couple of kind, or at least, willing to talk, nobel prizes down the aisle. Good book, anyways.

No time with Feynman *
I was slightly puzzled by this book. Despite the title its really an autobiography about the authors time at Caltech in which he came across Feynman about two times. His 'time' with Feynman was extremely limited as Feynman clearly thought the guy was a pain in the backside. If you read between the lines you can see that Feynman just sees Mlodinow as a stalker.

No time with Feynman *

I was slightly puzzled by this book. Despite the title its really an autobiography about the authors time at Caltech in which he came across Feynman about two times. His 'time' with Feynman was extremely limited as Feynman clearly thought the guy was a pain in the backside. If you read between the lines you can see that Feynman just sees Mlodinow as a stalker.

Fun Reading, thought provoking, and IN-ter-ES-ting *****
I greatly enjoyed reading this one! Of course the author's encounters with Feynman are wonderful, and make this book attractive. However, in addition to that, we are given some insights to other notable scientists (e.g. Gell-Mann, Schwarz, Wolfram). Plus, the author's writing is just plain fun to read! He interjects his own bit of humor, coupled with his curious thoughts on everything from his own self-doubts to theoretical physics! As for some of the other reviewers that feel misled by the title of this book...I do not! This book is not about Feynman per se, it is about a person's struggle (Mlodinow's) with various problems in his life and how others have helped him along his journeys in life. Feynman does play a significant role indeed, although he is not the entire focus of the book. Anyone who enjoys reading about Feynman or science, should enjoy this one! In the end, you will understand why Mlodinow calls this "Feynman's Rainbow: A Search for Beauty in Physics and in Life."

Fun Reading, thought provoking, and IN-ter-ES-ting *****

I greatly enjoyed reading this one! Of course the author's encounters with Feynman are wonderful, and make this book attractive. However, in addition to that, we are given some insights to other notable scientists (e.g. Gell-Mann, Schwarz, Wolfram). Plus, the author's writing is just plain fun to read! He interjects his own bit of humor, coupled with his curious thoughts on everything from his own self-doubts to theoretical physics! As for some of the other reviewers that feel misled by the title of this book...I do not! This book is not about Feynman per se, it is about a person's struggle (Mlodinow's) with various problems in his life and how others have helped him along his journeys in life. Feynman does play a significant role indeed, although he is not the entire focus of the book. Anyone who enjoys reading about Feynman or science, should enjoy this one! In the end, you will understand why Mlodinow calls this "Feynman's Rainbow: A Search for Beauty in Physics and in Life."

Includes Gems of Feynman's Words in His Last Years *****
In the winter of 1981, Mlodinow became a post-doctoral fellow at Caltech, where two Nobel Prize winners, Richard Feynman and Murray Gell-Mann, had offices down the hall. The author wanted someone to help him emerge from his creative drought, and figured that it would be his idol Feynman. One day he knocked on the door to Feynman's office, and was welcome ... This is the story of the author's young days as well as Feynman, Gell-Mann and the world of the physical theory named string theory in its beginning. In an early chapter we learn that Feynman used to say there were two kinds of physicists, the Babylonians and the Greeks. The former focused on the phenomena, and the latter, on the underlying order. Gell-Mann was a Greek, and Feynman considered himself a Babylonian. Echoing this, the author understandably writes in a later chapter, "Feynman scorned string theory, Murray championed it. That was Feynman and Murray - attracted by each other's genius, repelled by each other's philosophy." I have found the following gems of Feynman's words told to the author: "An important part of the creative process is play." "The scientist's imagination always is different from a writer's in that it is checked." "She (Arlene, Feynman's wife in his first marriage) taught me that one has to be irrational sometimes." You might find some more you like in this book. In the last chapter the author thinks of Feynman in this way, "If there is one thing he taught me, it is the importance of being truly committed to whatever it is we are striving for." This small and readable book would a good addition to the bookshelf of the fans of the People's Physicist Feynman. It is to be noted that "Some Time with Feynman" is not a different book by the same author but the European title of this book.

Includes Gems of Feynman's Words in His Last Years *****

In the winter of 1981, Mlodinow became a post-doctoral fellow at Caltech, where two Nobel Prize winners, Richard Feynman and Murray Gell-Mann, had offices down the hall. The author wanted someone to help him emerge from his creative drought, and figured that it would be his idol Feynman. One day he knocked on the door to Feynman's office, and was welcome ... This is the story of the author's young days as well as Feynman, Gell-Mann and the world of the physical theory named string theory in its beginning.

In an early chapter we learn that Feynman used to say there were two kinds of physicists, the Babylonians and the Greeks. The former focused on the phenomena, and the latter, on the underlying order. Gell-Mann was a Greek, and Feynman considered himself a Babylonian. Echoing this, the author understandably writes in a later chapter, "Feynman scorned string theory, Murray championed it. That was Feynman and Murray - attracted by each other's genius, repelled by each other's philosophy."

I have found the following gems of Feynman's words told to the author: "An important part of the creative process is play." "The scientist's imagination always is different from a writer's in that it is checked." "She (Arlene, Feynman's wife in his first marriage) taught me that one has to be irrational sometimes." You might find some more you like in this book.

In the last chapter the author thinks of Feynman in this way, "If there is one thing he taught me, it is the importance of being truly committed to whatever it is we are striving for." This small and readable book would a good addition to the bookshelf of the fans of the People's Physicist Feynman. It is to be noted that "Some Time with Feynman" is not a different book by the same author but the European title of this book.

Not a bad book, but quite misleading ****
This is a reasonable book. It is a good read, and it is entertaining, especially to those interested in the daily workings of a major physics departments. The advice Mlodinow received from Feynman on life and work is very useful to everyone who reads it. However the book is also quite misleading. First, the title and back cover suggest strongly that this is a book about Feynman. It isn't. It is about a junior faculty member who on occasion would talk to Feynman. Second, the book itself goes into great detail describing the people at Caltech, but then has a disclaimer that except for the exact quotes from Feynman, most of the characters and stories are not accurate. Several people have been combined to produce characters, others sound fictional. The third criticism is that Mlodinow hypes himself too much. Throughout the book he talks about his great research into infinit dimensions and quantum optics. He talks about being well known for his graduate thesis, and for correcting mistakes in well known theories. However amongst other physicists who were active at the time, almost no one has actually heard of him. And looking through citations in research papers from the era reveal very few references to his work. It is worth reading, but as a biography of Mlodinow, not as an accurate historical portrayal of Feynman, Gell-Mann, or Caltech.

Not a bad book, but quite misleading ****

This is a reasonable book. It is a good read, and it is entertaining, especially to those interested in the daily workings of a major physics departments. The advice Mlodinow received from Feynman on life and work is very useful to everyone who reads it.

However the book is also quite misleading. First, the title and back cover suggest strongly that this is a book about Feynman. It isn't. It is about a junior faculty member who on occasion would talk to Feynman. Second, the book itself goes into great detail describing the people at Caltech, but then has a disclaimer that except for the exact quotes from Feynman, most of the characters and stories are not accurate. Several people have been combined to produce characters, others sound fictional.

The third criticism is that Mlodinow hypes himself too much. Throughout the book he talks about his great research into infinit dimensions and quantum optics. He talks about being well known for his graduate thesis, and for correcting mistakes in well known theories. However amongst other physicists who were active at the time, almost no one has actually heard of him. And looking through citations in research papers from the era reveal very few references to his work.

It is worth reading, but as a biography of Mlodinow, not as an accurate historical portrayal of Feynman, Gell-Mann, or Caltech.

Not totally disappointed ***
This was an easy read however if you are looking to know Feynman, you may be disappointed. In reading the back cover, I expect more about Feynman and less about the author. But I was not totally disappointed, the book was well written and could be digested in one sitting.

Not totally disappointed ***

This was an easy read however if you are looking to know Feynman, you may be disappointed. In reading the back cover, I expect more about Feynman and less about the author. But I was not totally disappointed, the book was well written and could be digested in one sitting.

A Very Human Tale of Science and Life *****
I've been a Feynman fan since back in the 60s. I've read most of the popular books about Feynman and by Feynman, as well as some of his technical ones. Although this book's principle character is the author, there are many interesting snippets from the last few years of Feynman's life. This is a very pleasant book. In addition to containing painless discussions on the work of theoretical physicists, it shows that even the greatest scientific giants have their weak points that make them as human as the rest of us. The book is very well written and in an engaging style that makes it difficult to put down. There are a few lessons in there for all of us.

A Very Human Tale of Science and Life *****

I've been a Feynman fan since back in the 60s. I've read most of the popular books about Feynman and by Feynman, as well as some of his technical ones. Although this book's principle character is the author, there are many interesting snippets from the last few years of Feynman's life. This is a very pleasant book. In addition to containing painless discussions on the work of theoretical physicists, it shows that even the greatest scientific giants have their weak points that make them as human as the rest of us. The book is very well written and in an engaging style that makes it difficult to put down. There are a few lessons in there for all of us.