Lectures on physics
by Richard Phillips Feynman · first published 1964
48% recommend41% neutral10% critical
Why HN recommends it
Intuition-driven physics lectures that explain electromagnetism, relativity, calculus and quantum ideas with unusual clarity; suits learners with some calculus, and even PhDs, wanting deeper insight than usual textbooks.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…undergraduate physics textbook ever written. Did you know that magnetism arises from electrostatics and relativistic length contraction? It’s right there. You should also get yourself a copy of Feynman’s Lectures on Physics. Warning. Read it for intuition, motivation, the story of Mr. Bader, and entertainment. It’s at much too advanced a point of view to help you solve nuts and bolts physics exercises, which is what you…
on “Ask HN: How do I learn math/physics in my thirties?” ↗Hi, After a year-long break I'll continue studying math this fall. What I want is some refreshment on calculus. Does anyone know something similar to Feynman's Lectures on Physics, just on calculus? Feynman's books were really fucking awesome and I would like a similar fun read for calculus: derivation/integration, series, and multivar (and beyond, if possible but for now this…
on “Ask HN: A good book on Calculus?” ↗To some extent, this reminds me of Feynman's Lectures on Physics. The lectures were originally given to undergraduates at Caltech (so not "advanced theoretical physics"), but they rely more heavily on intuitive explanations than mathematical derivations compared to…
on “What is it like to understand advanced mathematics?” ↗If you haven't already, I highly recommend Feynman's Lectures on Physics: http://feynmanlectures.caltech.edu While much more advanced than typical introductory texts, it does provide deeper insights than typical introductory texts, which makes it worth the investment.
on “Mathematics for Physics (2009) [pdf]” ↗Feynmans lectures on computer science: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FJ6RRK7/ref=as_li_tl?ie... You might be familiar with Feynman's Lectures on Physics, but his lectures on Computation (based on a class he taught and his work in 'Connection Machine') aren't any less amazing. Through this short book, Feynman guides us through the concept of computation…
on “Ask HN: What are some of the best well-written books on computer science?” ↗Since you mentioned The Road to Reality, I have to put in a plug for Feynman's Lectures on Physics.
on “5 Great Science Books to Expand Your Mind” ↗Feynman gives the same explanation in his awesome Lectures On Physics, volume 1, the chapter titled "Algebra". One of the great works of 20th-century literature.
on “Why is e^(pi i) = -1?” ↗Have you ever read Feynman's Lectures on Physics Volume 2 (Electricity and Magnetism)? One of the things I love about it is that it starts with Maxwell's equations, in their non-simplified form, then goes into the special cases of electrostatics, magnetostatics,…
on “Electron Band Structure In Germanium, My Ass ” ↗There were several books mentioned in HPMoR that seem like good recommendations. I know for a fact that Feynman's Lectures on Physics is superb. See http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/ for the texts.
on “Ask HN: Which book have you re-read recently?” ↗You're looking for Feynman's Lectures on Physics. It's a 3 volume set (and accompanying audiovisuals are available on youtube) that gets at exactly this kind of thinking. For example, the double slit experiment came out of a really simple question.…
on “400 Years of the Third Law – An overlooked and neglected revolution in astronomy” ↗Also reading Feynman's Lectures on Physics [0]. He presents loads of topics in a way that I think captures a lot of the beauty and cleverness of physics while focusing more on building intuition and understanding than on specific math techniques…
on “Ask HN: What talks or videos do you suggest to watch on a long flight?” ↗You might try Feynman's Lectures on Physics. They're available free online [0] or you can get a nicely bound boxed set. [0] https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/
on “Ask HN: How to self-study physics?” ↗Feynman’s Lectures on Computation: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FJ6RRK7/ref=as_li_tl?ie... You might be familiar with Feynman's Lectures on Physics, but his lectures on Computation (based on a class he taught and his work in 'Connection Machine') aren't any less amazing. Through this short book, Feynman guides us through the concept of computation…
on “Ask HN: The book that did it for you in math and/or CS?” ↗Feynman’s Lectures on Computation: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FJ6RRK7/ref=as_li_tl?ie... You might be familiar with Feynman's Lectures on Physics, but his lectures on Computation (based on a class he taught and his work in 'Connection Machine') aren't any less amazing. Through this short book, Feynman guides us through the concept of computation…
on “Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and problem solver?” ↗…books by George Gamow interested me, as did books on astronomy and astrophysics. I can’t say what newer books would help, though I will give that a look. To learn the basics, something like The Feynmann Lectures on Physics. Description and links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Feynman_Lectures_on_Physic... The lectures online: https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/info/ But if you are serious, know that there…
on “Ask HN: What is the best way to get into Physics as a coder?” ↗