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Finding out about someone by reading their correspondence is a fundamentally different thing than reading their biography. Letters offer both more intimacy with the subject and at the same time a crucial distance--the exact distance the letter-writer intended from the people to whom he was writing. In Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track, Michelle Feynman collects her famous father's letters to reveal a warm, honest man with high expectations for himself, his loved ones, and the human race. Long before Richard Feynman won the Nobel Prize, he was a smart, skinny graduate student at Princeton, writing letters to his mother and relating the mundane details of college life. "Dear Mom.... The raincoat came O.K. It is very nice," he writes. By the time he finished his Ph.D., Feynman had fallen for Arline Greenbaum, who had already been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Their tragically short marriage is set in letters against Feynman's first job--working on the atomic bomb project at Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Even while working on top secret physics, Feynman was an enthusiastic correspondent, jumping eagerly at the chance to encourage a young scientist, correct a public misperception, or tell a goofy joke to his family. Self-effacing, charmingly down to earth, and occasionally cranky, these letters cover Feynman's entire career, although in the fits and starts one would expect from a collection such as this. His own words to students, spouses, daughters, and fellow scientists reveal Feynman's brilliance far more effectively than any biographical lens ever could. --Therese Littleton
Book Description
"I'm an explorer, OK? I like to find out!"
One of the towering figures of twentieth-century science, Richard Feynman possessed a curiosity that was the stuff of legend. Even before he won the Nobel Prize in 1965, his unorthodox and spellbinding lectures on physics secured his reputation amongst students and seekers around the world. It was his outsized love for life, however, that earned him the status of an American cultural icon-here was an extraordinary intellect devoted to the proposition that the thrill of discovery was matched only by the joy of communicating it to others.
In this career-spanning collection of letters, many published here for the first time, we are able to see this side of Feynman like never before. Beginning with a short note home in his first days as a graduate student, and ending with a letter to a stranger seeking his advice decades later, Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track covers a dazzling array of topics and themes, scientific developments and personal histories. With missives to and from scientific luminaries, as well as letters to and from fans, family, students, crackpots, as well as everyday people eager for Feynman's wisdom and counsel, the result is a wonderful de facto guide to life, and eloquent testimony to the human quest for knowledge at all levels.
Feynman once mused that "people are 'entertained' enormously by being allowed to understand a little bit of something they never understood before." As edited and annotated by his daughter, Michelle, these letters not only allow us to better grasp the how and why of Feynman's enduring appeal, but also to see the virtues of an inquiring eye in spectacular fashion. Whether discussing the Manhattan Project or developments in quantum physics, the Challenger investigation or grade-school textbooks, the love of his wife or the best way to approach a problem, his dedication to clarity, grace, humor, and optimism is everywhere evident.
.... on Richard Feynman:
"The most original mind of his generation." -Freeman Dyson
"An honest man, the outstanding intuitionist of our age, and a prime example of what may lie in store for anyone who dares to follow the beat of a different drum." -Julian Schwinger
"An original, brilliant, curious, energetic, eclectic, ebullient, gregarious, and consummately iconoclastic human being with a passion for science, a taste for first principles, and a view of reality that was uniquely his." - The Washington Post
"He is everything you want and expect a scientist to be: charming, skeptical, funny, blindingly intelligent." - The Guardian (UK)
"A chain reaction is not a bad analogy for Feynman's life. From a critical mass of gray matter it goes off in all directions, producing both heat and light." - Time
"For him knowledge did not describe; it acted and accomplished. . . . The science he helped create was like nothing that had come before." -James Gleick
"Here was both a showman and a very practical thinker. . . . It is unlikely that the world will see another Richard Feynman." -Paul Davies
"The more one reads of Feynman, the more one falls in love with his refreshingly enthusiastic view of the world." -Alan Guth
"He may have emitted light as well as words." -David Park
Customer Reviews:
Feynman raw.......2007-09-29
If you are familiar with feynman this is just what you would expect from this great man. This is him uncut and uncensord. When ever i feel like smiling and gain some inspiration i pick this book up and flip to a random page, it works everytime.
Feynman on Feynman.......2007-01-27
My main motivation for reading "Perfectly Reasonable Deviations" was to gain further insight into Feynman's personality and value system by the direct and reliable method of studying verbatim his interactions with other people. He has been so thoroughly enshrined (perhaps not unwillingly) as a brilliant, difficult, puckish character that I couldn't help being a bit puzzled about what he was "really" like.
In assembling this volume, Feynman's daughter Michelle has selected a variety of correspondence ranging from professional relations with colleagues to private exchanges with friends and, occasionally, complete strangers. I think it is in the latter case that we learn the most about Feynman. He was willing to pay close attention not only to people who admired him, but also to those who offered crazy ideas, or unfair criticism, or even ad-hominem invective. Well after becoming a Nobel prize winner, he continued to compose detailed explanations for, and invite replies from, people who could try anyone's patience. As an experienced debater-by-correspondence, he had a talent for cutting to the quick of a dispute and, while remaining perfectly courteous, nudging the contender into a corner from which escape was impossible short of offering something new or conceding the point. Whether arguing scientifically, graciously acknowledging praise, or simply trying to shake off a persistent bore, Feynman never failed to be insightful and thought-provoking.
The early part of the book covers Feynman's relationship with his first wife Arline, who died of tuberculosis in an Albuquerque sanatorium while he worked on the atomic bomb project at Los Alamos. His decision to marry Arline, regardless of her uncertain health and against the advice of friends and relatives, speaks to the strength and depth of his commitment. Many extremely personal letters are included which illuminate the couple's mutual devotion as well as his loving acceptance of the frustration and uncertainty forced on both of them by the relentlessly worsening disease.
Feynman's attitude toward religion is revealed in several places, particularly during a 1959 television interview. In addition to critiquing the widespread notion that morality is tied to piety, he says quite succinctly that "The religious theory of the world ...doesn't fit with what you see."
In a number of letters Feynman explains the prickly positions on academic conventions and courtesies that helped to make him a legendary outsider. A representative example was his refusal to provide evaluations of former students and colleagues when they were already at the requesting institution. He essentially said: Look here, this person is working right under your nose and you know more about him or her than I do, so decide for yourself!
There are a few instances where an alert editor could have caught misreadings, for example "Serbeis" for the [Robert] Serbers on page 76, and "1023" for ten to the 23rd power on page 174. All in all, this collection constitutes a fascinating and skillfully-produced window into one of the world's most intriguing minds.
Wit, wisdom, and always humble affection for people from the genius of our time.......2007-01-03
If there was one intellect that dominated the latter half of the 20th century, it would be Dr. Richard Feynman. Yet, despite winning a Nobel prize and his early work on the Manhattan project and his years of original yet simple and creative approaches to complex problems, his humility and true affection for other people never waivered. He was one of those rare people who could touch our hearts as effectively, possibly even more, than he could touch our minds. He was one who gave new meaning to the idea of thinking outside the box and who never passed up a chance to remind us all of what is really important in life.
Some of his letters will make you cry with the emotion he could express to those he loved. Others will strike you for their humility displayed in teaching without condescending or apologies to those he feared he had offended. A truly great man with a great intellect and great ability to communicate his thoughts. This is the human side of one who had been named "the world's smartest man" by Omni magazine. And we are all fortunate to know him through this collection.
Wonderful collection.......2006-07-28
Having read "Surely you're joking, Mr Feynmann", I had wondered about his relationship with his first wife, because she was hardly mentioned.
This book sets that right, with some fascinating and personal letters. In particular, the letter he wrote a year after her death hit me very hard, and I don't consider myself sentimental.
And that's just the first part of the book...if you like Feynmann, this is a must have.
Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the beaten Track.......2006-07-09
Feynman inspires the pursuit of truth in this spin-driven world.
Book Description
This illustrated volume contains every published story by the Brothers Grimm, from well-known classics like "Cinderella" to lesser-known tales such as "The Bright Sun Brings on the Day". Other enchanting fairy tales include:
• "The Frog Prince"
• "Hansel and Gretel"
• "Snow-White and Red-Rose"
• "Rapunzel"
• "Little Red Riding Hood"
• "Rumpelstiltskin"
Customer Reviews:
grimm.......2007-10-04
this book was just as good as i thought it would be very pleased with it and so is my young son who i purchased it for
i likey da booky.......2007-07-16
although the book is pretty long, there were a lot of stories that kept me interested. i always wanted to find out the true version of all my childhood fairy tales like cinderella, the frog prince, rapunzel, and so much more. my favorite of them all had to be "The Youth Who Could Not Shiver and Shake," that story was scary, funny, as well as amusing. overall the book, The Complete Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales, was and old time classic that could never be forgotten.
Good 'ol days.......2007-05-23
This book was amazing. It's nice to see the original tales in all their glory, not the wussed out pansy versions of today. Parents, if you TRULY love your children buy them this book now.
great.......2007-05-16
this book is amazing, and no home library should be without it. it's also delivered in great condition.
Simply the BEST.......2007-04-12
These are the stories in their true non-Disneyfied forms. A great collection, that I'd hold up against any other.
Book Description
For almost two centuries, the stories of magic and myth gathered by the Brothers Grimm have been part of the way children—and adults—learn about the vagaries of the real world. Cinderella, Rapunzel, Snow-White, Hänsel and Gretel, Little Red-Cap (a.k.a. Little Red Riding Hood), and Briar-Rose (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty) are only a few of more than 200 enchanting characters included here. Lyrically translated and beautifully illustrated, the tales are presented just as Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm originally set them down: bold, primal, just frightening enough, and endlessly engaging.
Customer Reviews:
excellent.......2007-07-04
"The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales" comprises all of the Grimm brother's dark and eerie tales. I recommend this book to all who enjoy endings that are not always happy.
The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales.......2007-05-13
This is a great book to read. It is long but after you start reading it you will love it. I do
this book is more intended for adults or older children not 5 or 6.......2007-04-26
this book is more intended for adults or older children not 5 or 6 year olds there's no pictures which all children love pictures the stories are old and very boring.the book is not intended for youngters.
Grimm's grim fairy tales.......2007-02-17
I read Grimm's Fairy Tales when I was about 7 years old, if not younger. This was one of my favorite books as a child, and I have not been traumatized by the tales in the least. However, if you have an extremely sensitive child that is easily frightened, perhaps you may want to find a different book. For the average child, I think it is a very good read, and it's fun to see the original versions of stories they most likely are already familiar with such as Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and many more.
unbelievably bad.......2005-12-09
this wasn't the book version i bought, but i bought a very complete version of grimm's fairy tales because i wanted to read fairy tales like i had earlier in my life. now i realize i was probably reading a hans christian anderson book before - translation, SOMEONE WHO COULD WRITE A STORY. the grimm's fairy tales were so bad, i was shocked.. i know these people lived in an earlier century, but the writing was on a third grade level, the morals were non-existent and the stories were just BAD. i know they come from an earlier century, maybe when people were less educated, but that's no excuse for ridiculously bad stories that are written horribly. i don't know what kind of drugs everyone is using to think that grimm's fairy tales are worth reading, but i'm here to tell the truth, they're beyond bad. i would type an example of the worst story i read, but i can't because i threw the book away! i can't wait to get a hans christian anderson book and read some real, interesting fairy tales that were written well.
Book Description
The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm
Perhaps no other stories possess as much power to enchant, delight, and surprise as those penned by the immortal Brothers Grimm. Now, in the new, expanded third edition, renowned scholar and folklorist Jack Zipes has translated all 250 tales collected and published by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, plus twenty-nine rare tales omitted from the original German edition, as well as narratives uncovered in the brothers’ letters and papers.
Truly the most comprehensive translation to date, this critically acclaimed edition recaptures the fairy tales as the Brothers Grimm intended them to be: rich, stark, spiced with humor and violence, resonant with folklore and song.
One of the world’s experts on children’s literature, Jack Zipes is a professor of German at the University of Minnesota and is the author of numerous books on folklore and fairy tales.
Download Description
Perhaps no other stories possess as much power to enchant, delight, and surprise as those penned by the immortal Brothers Grimm. Now, in the new, expanded third edition, renowned scholar and folklorist Jack Zipes has translated all 250 tales collected and published by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, plus 29 rare tales omitted from the original German edition, as well as narratives uncovered in the brothers' letters and papers.
Truly the most comprehensive translation to date, this critically acclaimed edition recaptures the fairy tales as the Brothers Grimm intended them to be: rich, stark, spiced with humor and violence, resonant with folklore and song.
"Splendid."
FAITH McNULTY, THE NEW YORKER
"Clearly the text of choice for any reader... Zipes' edition deserves to become the standard translation."
THE GERMAN QUARTERLY
Customer Reviews:
Lovely artwork, well written..........2007-05-18
I bought this cos I liked the cover. The stories aren't your typical kiddy stories either, they are the darker faerie tales that tell it like it is. I really enjoy owning this book. It's well worth it.
All the classics and then some!.......2006-02-11
This is a fantastic collection - a must have for any home library. I just wish it was hardbound! I really think that's all that needs to be said.
Colorful and Easy to Read .......2006-02-06
Growing up, the only fairy tales that I have ever known were those that have been sanitized -- no wonder I have always thought fairy tales are boring. My reading of this book has completely changed my views! What color, what spice!
Doesn't miss a thing..........2005-09-04
I like this newer edition, which includes stories I've never read before. I read a much older edition every time I visited my grandparents and knew I must get this for my children. There's something less mystical about holding a softcover book, but the stories are still as amazing.
Disney and children publishers usually censor the tales so they have weak and happy endings. The real tales have Cinderella's step sister's eyes pecked out or the evil Queen from Snow White dance in red-hot shoes. The time when the Grimm Brothers wrote down these German tales, was a violent time and the stories properly reflect that.
The only downside, is I'm not fond of the overly religious tales. I know these stories also go with the times, but they're not my favorite. Also, there are a few tales that are a little odd and don't seem to make sense to our modern mindset, but are still interesting.
where is the quality control.......2005-08-17
design of book is very poor--pictures totally unclear and print is crowded making it impossible to focus on the story. The translations are not bad but there is no effort to organize the material and put it in context
Book Description
Enchanting, brimming with the wonder and magic of Once Upon A Time, the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are the special stories of childhood that stay with us throughout our lives. But most Americans know them only secondhand, in adaptations that greatly reduce the tales' power to touch our emotions and intrigue our imaginations. Now, in the most comprehensive translation to date, here are the classic fairy tales as the Bothers Grimm intended them to be--rich, stark, spiced with humor and violence, resonant with the rhythms of folklore and song. Volume II contains 142 unabridged tales, including such bedtime favorites as "Snow White and Rose Red" and "The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes," as well as 32 little-known tales that the Brothers Grimm omitted during the course of their many revisions. These wonderful tales of life, passion, and make-believe appeal not only to children--who unabashedly love them--but to readers of any age.
Customer Reviews:
the book of my family.......1999-09-25
this is a wonderfull book it is written by my family and feel special to be a part of the family if you get a chance read it please email me at emreald@hotmail.com I will feel fourtanate to here your resopns
Average customer rating:
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Brothers Grimm: The Complete Fairy Tales (Wordsworth Classics) (Wordsworth Classics)
Jacob Grimm , and
Wilhelm Grimm
Manufacturer: NTC/Contemporary Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1853268984 |
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