Feynman = Science
*military

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What a gift this man was to the world. It's a great thing that so many of his antics were recorded. I've said this before: if you have any interest in this guy, Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman is a must-read. Quick read, totally worth every minute.

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*quality

Sounds a lot like an Abbott and Costello routine. Great delivery.

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*audio *talk *promote

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*talks

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It is a very good, and funny book.

To those who don't know--Feynmann's wife was in a Tuberculosis (TB) hospital in Albuquerque. She died while he was at Los Alamos. When he talks about the last letter she sent (7:28) he's talking about the LAST letter she wrote to him.

>> ^RhesusMonk:

What a gift this man was to the world. It's a great thing that so many of his antics were recorded. I've said this before: if you have any interest in this guy, Surely You're Joking M.r Feynman is a must-read. Quick read, totally worth every minute.

>> ^Boise_Lib:

It is a very good, and funny book.
To those who don't know--Feynmann's wife was in a Tuberculosis (TB) hospital in Albuquerque. She died while he was at Los Alamos. When he talks about the last letter she sent (7:28) he's talking about the LAST letter she wrote to him.
>> ^RhesusMonk:
What a gift this man was to the world. It's a great thing that so many of his antics were recorded. I've said this before: if you have any interest in this guy, Surely You're Joking M.r Feynman is a must-read. Quick read, totally worth every minute.



HAHAAAA His wifes dead!...wait that wasn't one of the funny pranks?!

By the way I wish he would've just walked away from the project if he was given this much trouble. These are the smart people and they're being pushed around like they're morons by asshole army guys. Fuck them, they want to unleash the power of the atom have them figure it out. Till then and I know this sounds very "Ayn Randish" but take your big brain and go elsewhere. Where people will be happy to see you instead of constantly viewing you with suspicion.

>> ^Yogi:

By the way I wish he would've just walked away from the project if he was given this much trouble. These are the smart people and they're being pushed around like they're morons by asshole army guys. Fuck them, they want to unleash the power of the atom have them figure it out. Till then and I know this sounds very "Ayn Randish" but take your big brain and go elsewhere. Where people will be happy to see you instead of constantly viewing you with suspicion.


I know what you're saying and i agree in sentiment, but uh... where? It's not like there's a john galt to build a secret country for the intelligent and fair of the world.

I imagine a man like feynman wouldn't expect preferential treatment anyway, why would being intelligent entitle you to being exempt to rules designed for the safety of potentially thousands?

I mean, Feynman had an amazing brain; he could have been good at anything, but his interest lay in physics and he was great at it. Now take another guy with an amazing brain, but his interest lies in writing. Movie stars get paid millions and millions and millions. How many brilliant writers do you know with mansions vs. how many movie stars that can't act but were merely born 'more attractive' than others but have mansions and plaudits?

The world just doesn't work like that even if it should. If you want money and special treatment then you don't want to be going into physics, trust me on that one.

Edit:
Hell, how many of the world's businessmen would join Galt's "strike" in OUR world? They'd strike for money but they'd never strike for honesty and fairness.

>> ^dannym3141:

>> ^Yogi:
By the way I wish he would've just walked away from the project if he was given this much trouble. These are the smart people and they're being pushed around like they're morons by asshole army guys. Fuck them, they want to unleash the power of the atom have them figure it out. Till then and I know this sounds very "Ayn Randish" but take your big brain and go elsewhere. Where people will be happy to see you instead of constantly viewing you with suspicion.

I know what you're saying and i agree in sentiment, but uh... where? It's not like there's a john galt to build a secret country for the intelligent and fair of the world.
I imagine a man like feynman wouldn't expect preferential treatment anyway, why would being intelligent entitle you to being exempt to rules designed for the safety of potentially thousands?
I mean, Feynman had an amazing brain; he could have been good at anything, but his interest lay in physics and he was great at it. Now take another guy with an amazing brain, but his interest lies in writing. Movie stars get paid millions and millions and millions. How many brilliant writers do you know with mansions vs. how many movie stars that can't act but were merely born 'more attractive' than others but have mansions and plaudits?
The world just doesn't work like that even if it should. If you want money and special treatment then you don't want to be going into physics, trust me on that one.
Edit:
Hell, how many of the world's businessmen would join Galt's "strike" in OUR world? They'd strike for money but they'd never strike for honesty and fairness.


Well I'd go back to a university or just go work somewhere else. I'm not saying STOP working on physics...I'm saying stop working for the army if they're going to treat you like crap. They treat you right or you move on, you're not in the army, you have expertise they value.

@Yogi

I understand. I don't know the history of it, but perhaps his inclusion was in some way not optional? Or perhaps he felt morally obliged to help. If he merely suspected that he had expertise valuable to the protection of his country, he may be easily coerced into doing something to protect his family, or some other propaganda story.

I remember reading a scientist's musings on helping develop the bomb, but i can't remember who it was. It may well have been feynman but i did a project on einstein recently, could have been him. I belive they said something to the tune of working really hard in conjunction with other great minds to develop something, almost for the pride of developing it, but also for their country, and not considering the consequences of what they were working on. Only in retrospect did they wish they had considered their actions first.

My brain wants to tie that story to this, because it would fit nicely and explain why he didn't just leave. I'll try and find the information.

From what I recall (from reading his books, and a biography) he was young and wanted to help the war effort. I think the quote was his, but also that if he had been a bit more mature he would probably have still done the same... just not without considering the consequences.

The safe cracking etc. was just thumbing his nose at authority, being a smart alec, and trying to point out that the regulations were stupid and the safes weren't that secure... the directive sent out in response was that everybody should keep their safes locked while Feynman was about.
>> ^dannym3141:

@Yogi
I understand. I don't know the history of it, but perhaps his inclusion was in some way not optional? Or perhaps he felt morally obliged to help. If he merely suspected that he had expertise valuable to the protection of his country, he may be easily coerced into doing something to protect his family, or some other propaganda story.
I remember reading a scientist's musings on helping develop the bomb, but i can't remember who it was. It may well have been feynman but i did a project on einstein recently, could have been him. I belive they said something to the tune of working really hard in conjunction with other great minds to develop something, almost for the pride of developing it, but also for their country, and not considering the consequences of what they were working on. Only in retrospect did they wish they had considered their actions first.
My brain wants to tie that story to this, because it would fit nicely and explain why he didn't just leave. I'll try and find the information.

Just about the very definition of "wit". Mmmh.

I've read all his books. Awesome to hear these stories 'live'.