The Best Short Works of Richard P. Feynman
Paperback, 270 pages
English language
Published Aug. 8, 2000 by Perseus Books Group.
Feynman discusses religion, computers, honorific societies, teaching, and the making of the atomic bomb (among many other topics). A background in science is not essential for appreciating this book.
"I believe that we should demand that people try in their own minds to obtain for themselves a more consistent picture of their own world; that they should not permit themselves the luxury of having their brain cut in four pieces or two pieces even, and on one side believe this and on the other side they believe that, but never try to compare the two points of view. Because we have learned that, by trying to put the points of view that we have in our head together and comparing them one to the other, we make some progress in understanding and appreciating where we are and what we are. And I believe that science has remained irrelevant because we wait until somebody asks us questions..." I think this quote pretty much sums what this book is all about. Everyone loves science's final product but failed to get involved …
"I believe that we should demand that people try in their own minds to obtain for themselves a more consistent picture of their own world; that they should not permit themselves the luxury of having their brain cut in four pieces or two pieces even, and on one side believe this and on the other side they believe that, but never try to compare the two points of view. Because we have learned that, by trying to put the points of view that we have in our head together and comparing them one to the other, we make some progress in understanding and appreciating where we are and what we are. And I believe that science has remained irrelevant because we wait until somebody asks us questions..." I think this quote pretty much sums what this book is all about. Everyone loves science's final product but failed to get involved in the whole process (which sometimes it's pretty much more rewarding than the final product itself).
What I like the most about this book and why I give it 5 stars is that Feynmann invites us, in his particular way, to make up our minds and get a closer look into things. He invites us to form a curious character and what will let us find the joys of science and finding things out.
