The Character of Physical Law

By Richard P. Feynman

Book Overview

Like any set of oral reflections, "The Character of Physical Law" has special value as a demonstration of the mind in action. The reader is particularly lucky in Richard Feynman. One of the most eminent and imaginative modern physicists, he was Professor of Theoretical Physics at the California Institute of Technology until his death in 1988. He is best known for his work on the quantum theory of the electromagnetic field, as well as for his later research in the field of low-temperature physics. In 1954 he received the Albert Einstein Award for his "outstanding contribution to knowledge in mathematical and physical sciences"; in 1965 he was appointed to Foreign Membership in the Royal Society and was awarded the Nobel Prize.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0262060167
• ISBN13: 9780262060165
• Release Date: January 1967
• Publisher: The M.I.T. Press
• Length: 174 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Read

For any lover of physics, this is a must. Feynman delivers centuries of concepts in seven understandable lectures. If you want to learn, learn the basics and build up from there. This book is a solid foundation.

a wonderful book for the interested non-physicist

The book is a really good non-specialist's introduction to some of the basic ideas and attitudes of modern physics. It won't teach you physics, but it will teach you some important things about physics. This is an ideal book for a bright kid. It's accessible, and they have the thrill of being able to connect with the "real stuff". Smart high school kids know at some level that out of ignorance their teachers aren't really telling them the truth in math and science classes, and it's a thrill for them to hear things from someone who really does understand what they are talking about.Anyway, this book is great, and you should get it for your smart kid who is interested in science. You should also demand that they put the lectures on DVD, because watching Feynman talk is even better than reading the books. He was a god in the classroom, and it's easy when you see the lectures to understand why he was worshipped by a generation of CalTech undergraduates.

I read this book maybe once a month

Every time I return to this book I pick up on more of Feynman's explanations. From almost beginning to understand angular momentum, to getting a feel for gravity, and how many laws have been integrated. For a novice at physics but with a keen interest this book gives an excellent background and, for me, is a joy to read each time, I can almost hear Feynman making his lectures and sharing jokes with his students. Each time I come away from reading this book I find myself pondering more about various aspects of physics and get a clearer idea of other books to buy to continue my current hobby of understanding the way the universe works just a little better (hopefully anyway :)

Three Thumbs up

Can someone with freshman college physics understand Professor Feynmans theoretical physics? This cassette really combines well everything from Newton's Laws to quantum theory to Einsteinian gravity to the very mathematical (yet not too much) nature of physical law. The answer is with this two tape cassette (which I purchased and prefer) a definite yes. In spite of the fact that many of the readers aren't theoretical phyicists, this book really brings into focus "hard" physics. I bought this set hoping to benefit from Feynman's more humanistic teaching style and I was pleased with the results.I highly recommend this read (listen).