Written from scratch by Junic Andy So – Meston Ecoa
No assistance was received from any form of Artificial Intelligence.
No assistance was received from any grammar or vocabulary enhancing software.
One Paragraph Review
contains no spoilers
The book is a collection of anecdotes from Richard P. Feynman, an autobiography. It’s not chronological, so it took some time to get used to. I believe there should have been a more streamlined way of organizing the stories. But it did not matter. Through glimpses from this angle and then from another, collectively depicted the genius we perhaps only knew by a couple words – the Nobel prize, atomic bomb. He was far from the cold, high-functioning academic, a preconception I may have had, that genius is not an adjective I would opt for anymore. It would reduce his heart and his relatable personality to a single intellectual quotient. I would describe him as someone who is true to himself, receptive of his inner-voice, serious about having fun, serious about making others have fun. The opposite of pretentious. The way he tends to his own bursts of curiosity is deeply inspiring. In the face of a problem, well, not only when there is a problem, but pretty much in any situation, I would wonder “What would have Richard Feynman done?” and in my head he has already put on a grin. That would make him my hero.
Recommendation for Readers
contains no spoilers
Richard Feynman shares his stories, a first perspective window to what goes behind the scenes of a man with such renowned intellect. What was the making of the first atomic bomb like? What did it feel like to discover and explain for the first time a portion of the universe? Readers can also get to know about his personal life. His attitude towards teaching, bureaucracy, the educational system. His drive to commit to learning something that he is drawn to. How he pursues work, leisure, love. His personality, tendency and mind. This plain collection of anecdotes has a heartwarming ring to it. It is because it brings out the childlike, inquisitive way of being that many used to have, but possibly lost touch with. Witnessing a man who persisted with that ethos for the entire life is reminding of that quality. He is not the boring college physics professor. He is just a profoundly interesting person, who is quite smart.
Memorable Quote
Dean Eisenhart went on to say that it would be good if three or four people would volunteer so that the hypnotist could try them out first to see which ones would be able to be hypnotized, so he’d like to urge very much that we apply for this. (He’s wasting all this time, for God’s sake!)
Eisenhart was down at one end of the hall, and I was way down at the other end, in the back. There were hundreds of guys there. I knew that everybody was going to want to do this, and I was terrified that he wouldn’t see me because I was so far back. I just had to get in on this demonstration!
Finally Eisenhart said, “And so I would like to ask if there are going to be any volunteers …” I raised my hand and shot out of my seat, screaming as lout as I could, to make sure that he would hear me: “MEEEEEEEEEEE!”
Source
• book cover photo: shot myself
• Memorable Quote: An excerpt from the book. Page 79
