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deckardcanineRichard Feynman is a dead physicist who used to work at Caltech. Arthur C. Clarke quoted him while reflecting on zero-point energy. These facts I learned in the late '90s, and I had retained no further knowledge of him since. When I came across his posthumously published final book being given away, I decided to learn more.
It feels like two books combined. Part 1 is basically what I was led to expect: a series of mostly lighthearted anecdotes from Feynman's life, generally having something to do with either his early interest in science or his work-related travels. That said, the standout chapter is about his first wife -- who provided the titular rhetorical question -- dying. (The Internet consistently disagrees with this edition on how to spell her first name.)
I'm afraid even the lighter stories don't strike me all that funny. Nor was Feynman a Spalding Gray type, weaving a spell as he told stories. (To be fair, I never tried Gray in written form.) I suspect that Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! is significantly more enjoyable.
Part of the problem for me is that Feynman is only fitfully humble. He notes his weaknesses but sounds just shy of gloating half the time, which might explain a couple disputed accusations of sexism. Sometimes he seems inconsistent, as when he professes atheism but later mentions "the gods," perhaps as a figure of speech. Had I made his acquaintance, I think I would have found him a little annoying. And then I'd worry what he might say about me in his book, which doesn't refrain from identifying people who come across negatively by first and last name.
Nevertheless, I took enough interest to be a little disappointed when the anecdotes ended too soon. While none of them get into anything that could qualify as a claim to fame, they do aptly illustrate a nerdy mindset more based in reality than Don Tillman's. And Feynman makes an insightful observation or two.
Part 2 is almost entirely about Feynman's part in assessing what went wrong with the Challenger. Yes, it takes up about as many pages as the rest combined. Hey, these things progress slowly in Washington.
Overall, I liked this part better. The STEM details, at their most prominent, could make my eyes glaze over, but the story as a whole felt important. The investigation was an ordeal for Feynman, largely because there was only so much cooperation. It's not like anyone regarded him as royalty, even toward the end of an illustrious career. This difficulty hints at the answer in summary: NASA's right hand didn't know what its left was doing.
Feynman came to understand and respect the commission leader, who provided his greatest stumbling block, but he wasn't sure whether to blame certain discovered problems on NASA officials' corruption or incompetence; either way, they were appalling. The more I read, the gladder I was not to work for a government agency. Yep, that's my main takeaway.
Also in the book are some photos, private letters from Feynman to his wife, sketches with notes, and a 1955 speech. Of those, only the speech appeals to me. When he doesn't have an editor, it's harder to tell he's smart. But that must go for all of us.
Will I check out the other bestselling Feynman book? Maybe if I happen upon it. I won't put it on my wish list.
I am now reading Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire. It's off to a dreary start.
It feels like two books combined. Part 1 is basically what I was led to expect: a series of mostly lighthearted anecdotes from Feynman's life, generally having something to do with either his early interest in science or his work-related travels. That said, the standout chapter is about his first wife -- who provided the titular rhetorical question -- dying. (The Internet consistently disagrees with this edition on how to spell her first name.)
I'm afraid even the lighter stories don't strike me all that funny. Nor was Feynman a Spalding Gray type, weaving a spell as he told stories. (To be fair, I never tried Gray in written form.) I suspect that Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! is significantly more enjoyable.
Part of the problem for me is that Feynman is only fitfully humble. He notes his weaknesses but sounds just shy of gloating half the time, which might explain a couple disputed accusations of sexism. Sometimes he seems inconsistent, as when he professes atheism but later mentions "the gods," perhaps as a figure of speech. Had I made his acquaintance, I think I would have found him a little annoying. And then I'd worry what he might say about me in his book, which doesn't refrain from identifying people who come across negatively by first and last name.
Nevertheless, I took enough interest to be a little disappointed when the anecdotes ended too soon. While none of them get into anything that could qualify as a claim to fame, they do aptly illustrate a nerdy mindset more based in reality than Don Tillman's. And Feynman makes an insightful observation or two.
Part 2 is almost entirely about Feynman's part in assessing what went wrong with the Challenger. Yes, it takes up about as many pages as the rest combined. Hey, these things progress slowly in Washington.
Overall, I liked this part better. The STEM details, at their most prominent, could make my eyes glaze over, but the story as a whole felt important. The investigation was an ordeal for Feynman, largely because there was only so much cooperation. It's not like anyone regarded him as royalty, even toward the end of an illustrious career. This difficulty hints at the answer in summary: NASA's right hand didn't know what its left was doing.
Feynman came to understand and respect the commission leader, who provided his greatest stumbling block, but he wasn't sure whether to blame certain discovered problems on NASA officials' corruption or incompetence; either way, they were appalling. The more I read, the gladder I was not to work for a government agency. Yep, that's my main takeaway.
Also in the book are some photos, private letters from Feynman to his wife, sketches with notes, and a 1955 speech. Of those, only the speech appeals to me. When he doesn't have an editor, it's harder to tell he's smart. But that must go for all of us.
Will I check out the other bestselling Feynman book? Maybe if I happen upon it. I won't put it on my wish list.
I am now reading Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire. It's off to a dreary start.