The Feynman Lectures on Physics: Mainly Electromagnetism and Matter ,Volume 2

by Richard P. Feynman, Robert B. Leighton, Matthew L. Sands

Book Overview

"The whole thing was basically an experiment," Richard Feynman said late in his career, looking back on the origins of his lectures. The experiment turned out to be hugely successful, spawning... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 020102117X
• Release Date: February 1977
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 2.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 10.9" x 0.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

"Principia" for our times

Isaac Newton wrote "Principia" in the 1600's, and it was the definitive book on Physics, although it is basically unreadable. (Now, of course, it is also slightly outdated.) Feynman has done a better and much more complete job than Newton himself. Having said this, this is NOT a book for the layman. It appears simple: heavily conceptual, few equations, no homework problems at the end of each chapter. But this is deceiving. As an undergraduate physics student, I was completely lost. It was only as a graduate student in physics that I came to not only appreciate them, but love them. It turned out to not be just me: I later read that his undergraduate students at Cal Tech dropped the course in droves when he taught it; it was the graduate students and fellow physics faculty members that filled most of the seats in the lecture hall by the end of the course. Those of you with a physics background that have never read Feynman should definitely consider it. Those of you who majored in History, Law, or even Biology and want to gain some insight into all this physics stuff you have always heard about should probably look elsewhere. This is heavy stuff.

Feynman's typical excitement and enthusiasm are evident.

In this collection of audio lectures on advanced quantum mechanics and related topics, Richard Feynman exhibits his typical excitement and enthusiasm for the subject he knew so well. These lectures are best listened to while viewing the text version of the Feynman Lectures, as the topics are complex and difficult to conceptualize without the printed page. The pages, however, really come to life when you actually hear Feynman give the lectures. A much fuller picture of quantum mechanics is obtained than by employing the text or the tape separately. These publications constitute a wonderful way to acquire an appreciation for and an increased knowledge of physics from one of its best teachers.