#16 Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman
You know what, after some considerations, I think writing review of books sounds like a pretty damn good idea. This is definitely not my first time attempting to write a review, I wrote a short one of Elon Musk's book. However, that one was sloppy as hell. So, this time, I will take my time and hopefully you enjoy reading this.
Near the end of last year, I made a promise to myself that starting from 2019, I will try my best to read 1 book per month (it doesn't sound like a lot, but for a person who never read books besides textbooks it does). In January, I bought this book that has the same title as this post.
Why I bought this book
You know, when you imagine what kind of person physicists are, they seem kinda boring and love to discuss difficult things using complicated words. Even teachers nowadays can fit into that description just fine. Have you gotten into this kind of situation? You ask your teacher about certain topics you don't understand, he/she explains it, you pretend to understand and you leave the room feeling more confused than ever before. I have experienced this a lot, especially in Japan, where teachers don't speak in my mother language.
Until I came across this one guy, his name is Richard Feynman. He is a brilliant physicist. He invented the Feynman Diagram to describe the behavior of subatomic particles. He also wrote a paper regarding quantum electrodynamics (i don't even know what that means) and got the Nobel Prize because of it. He also invented the Feynman Diagram to describe the behavior of subatomic particles. The bottom line is, this guy is a real deal.
Since I am interested in science, I thought, "Wow that's interesting. Let me look for his biography". Long story short, I got one on Amazon and completely read it in about 1 month (it's kinda long, i know).
Thoughts
There is something about this guy that makes him very fascinating, both as a physicist and a person.
As a physicist, he stated that when he discuss physics, he forgets who he is talking to. I remember one time, when he was working at Manhattan Project, Wolfgang Pauli visited his workplace, discussed something with him, and he felt what Pauli said was wrong. He immediately said "That can't be it!". Apparently, Pauli was impressed by his quirk and told his son "Every time you want to discuss an idea, go to this guy". I feel like that part of the book speaks directly to me.
Anyone can appreciate a person like Feynman. Why? I believe there is a flaw in anyone's logic. I realized this during my own thoughts. Sometimes that mistake was so trivial, I didn't even realize that was a "mistake". For that reason, it's just nice to have companions to remind you of those.
As a person, he is VERY curious. He wanted to do anything that caught his interest (e.g. fixing radio, studying the behavior of ants, etc.). Funny fact, he is quite good at playing bongos. I'll include the photo of bongos below just in case you don't know what it is. I know playing bongos is kinda random but don't you sometimes wish you can play a guitar? or solve a rubik's cube? don't you want to learn those little, often overlooked, skills?
The way this book is written is fun and unlike the other, it's not written in a chronological order to emphasize each event. I will lie if this book is perfect though. In a certain chapter, he discussed a very deep philosophical things, and I don't understand that. I don't know that's because English is not my first language or I can't grasp a complicated idea, or even both.
Deep inside my heart, I want to be like him. In my head, a perfect person is the one who is smart and also funny. Funny person has this magical power to turn the most awkward situation to an enjoyable one. You know, when you are with a girl and both of you are silent because you have no other topic to discuss about but instead you throw a joke and yet she doesn't laugh. Instead of melting the ice, you make it even worse. I know you guys have this experience, right? It kinda feels amazing and by amazing I mean being punched at stomach 10 times. I have strived to become that "perfect person" but instead I become this awkward ball of meat.
Rating : 7.5/10
Who it is for
1. People who are interested in science
2. People who have a ton of leisure time and don't know how to spend it (this is me btw)
Who it is not for
1. People who can't read long and boring philosophical things
2. People who don't find joy in science
Near the end of last year, I made a promise to myself that starting from 2019, I will try my best to read 1 book per month (it doesn't sound like a lot, but for a person who never read books besides textbooks it does). In January, I bought this book that has the same title as this post.
Why I bought this book
You know, when you imagine what kind of person physicists are, they seem kinda boring and love to discuss difficult things using complicated words. Even teachers nowadays can fit into that description just fine. Have you gotten into this kind of situation? You ask your teacher about certain topics you don't understand, he/she explains it, you pretend to understand and you leave the room feeling more confused than ever before. I have experienced this a lot, especially in Japan, where teachers don't speak in my mother language.
Until I came across this one guy, his name is Richard Feynman. He is a brilliant physicist. He invented the Feynman Diagram to describe the behavior of subatomic particles. He also wrote a paper regarding quantum electrodynamics (i don't even know what that means) and got the Nobel Prize because of it. He also invented the Feynman Diagram to describe the behavior of subatomic particles. The bottom line is, this guy is a real deal.
Since I am interested in science, I thought, "Wow that's interesting. Let me look for his biography". Long story short, I got one on Amazon and completely read it in about 1 month (it's kinda long, i know).
Thoughts
There is something about this guy that makes him very fascinating, both as a physicist and a person.
As a physicist, he stated that when he discuss physics, he forgets who he is talking to. I remember one time, when he was working at Manhattan Project, Wolfgang Pauli visited his workplace, discussed something with him, and he felt what Pauli said was wrong. He immediately said "That can't be it!". Apparently, Pauli was impressed by his quirk and told his son "Every time you want to discuss an idea, go to this guy". I feel like that part of the book speaks directly to me.
Anyone can appreciate a person like Feynman. Why? I believe there is a flaw in anyone's logic. I realized this during my own thoughts. Sometimes that mistake was so trivial, I didn't even realize that was a "mistake". For that reason, it's just nice to have companions to remind you of those.
As a person, he is VERY curious. He wanted to do anything that caught his interest (e.g. fixing radio, studying the behavior of ants, etc.). Funny fact, he is quite good at playing bongos. I'll include the photo of bongos below just in case you don't know what it is. I know playing bongos is kinda random but don't you sometimes wish you can play a guitar? or solve a rubik's cube? don't you want to learn those little, often overlooked, skills?
This is bongos. |
Deep inside my heart, I want to be like him. In my head, a perfect person is the one who is smart and also funny. Funny person has this magical power to turn the most awkward situation to an enjoyable one. You know, when you are with a girl and both of you are silent because you have no other topic to discuss about but instead you throw a joke and yet she doesn't laugh. Instead of melting the ice, you make it even worse. I know you guys have this experience, right? It kinda feels amazing and by amazing I mean being punched at stomach 10 times. I have strived to become that "perfect person" but instead I become this awkward ball of meat.
Rating : 7.5/10
Who it is for
1. People who are interested in science
2. People who have a ton of leisure time and don't know how to spend it (this is me btw)
Who it is not for
1. People who can't read long and boring philosophical things
2. People who don't find joy in science
Leisure time, huh :'D
ReplyDeleteIt must be a great holiday there in Japan while im stuck here with some high school stuffies which is not like what we saw on sinetron :V
Semangat ya mas belajar di Jepangnya! Doain bisa nyusul!
私も日本へ留学するために頑張ります!
Yeah you know, when we don't have any idea to discuss and trying to make a joke but its not funny anymore. its become awkward moment, i hate that moment
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