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Book Review: The Pleasure of Finding Things Out
My friend Bidisha, over in Frankfurt, is a prolific reader with books plastered on her every wall. So when she gifted me Richard Feynman’s The Pleasure of Finding Things Out, I had to take the tiny book seriously.
I never read Feynman in high school, even when I was fascinated by physics and wanted to pursue astronomy. Stephen Hawking’s Brief History of Time I did read, but not Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman or The Feynman Lectures in Physics. Now I know why they were so popular. The man, and his writing, is approachable, human, and exciting.
As a child, I once set a plastic pen on fire and held it under glass to see what happened. Another time, I would burn a cloth hanging, causing a fair bit of smoke - and alarm - at home. Somehow, I was delighted by my experiements, curious to know what would happen. But as Feynman points out, I never made the final step to ask - why?
For me, the book rests not on what Feynman did in Physics, but on what else he did besides. A prolific scientist, this book gives glimpses into a man whose every moment was given to ‘finding things out’, and for no other reason than for the pleasure it would give.
Equally, the book explains in no uncertain terms what science is - the ability, indeed need to doubt the accepted and verify everything by direct experience. And, despite his contempt for the ‘pseudosciences’, particularly social science, he still makes coherent links between Science and Religion, and Science and Society.
I follow this book with another - The Argumentative Indian - by Amartya Sen, celebrating India’s acceptance of heterodoxy. It is a theme Feynman returned to frequently - the danger of accepting past tradition.
I am skeptical of over-popular figures and books, for one does not know where the truth ends and the hype begins. That may be part of the reason I never read Feynman in school. Now, my skepticism is much tempered. What little remains, I think Feynman himself would appreciate, even if he be the subject of it.
Discussion
3 comments for “Book Review: The Pleasure of Finding Things Out”
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glad to know that you did get to read the book!
btw don’t know if my comments will appear, the previous time I tried it didn’t.
Yes, I’m a great Feynman fan. His curiosity about ant trails… a true scientist and engaged human being.
Feynman was a free-spirit, and his book “Surely…” was not about Physics, but about Physicists. It showcased that even a guiding intuition is enough for a curious kid to reach inexplicable depths of nature’s hidden troves, while at the same time follow independent walks of life.
However in the Social context of your blog, I shud mention his view on Equality - where he underlines and justifies the value of concentration of capital for development of society, and how the rich countries are foolishly blamed for all inequality around.
Hmm I guess we are rational enough to contend to this now
However if this specifically interests you, you can read my recent post on Feynman.
Good Day.