Physics Is Fun: Memoirs of a Life in Physics

Are you looking for a great life in Physics? Are you looking for history? Are you looking for love? Are you looking for a human rights warrior? and more..? You are lucky! You do not need to read lots of book for each; this includes all of them, and more... Prof. Wilson shares with us candidly his long life in 80 chapters. This great story should be tasted..

5/5

This is an amazing story of a true “man of the world”. It is about the life of a world renowned scientist, highly respected by world statesmen and human rights activists. Professor Richard Wilson relates the main events in his life and the contemporaneous world events. From his childhood days in England, to his science adventures at Harvard and his world travels, the writer fills the reader with anticipation and expectations. This is the story of the Sinbad of Science. I loved it.

5/5

This book is not about formulas, but is about the experiences that Dr. Wilson had travelling throughout the world. He shares his knowledge of the places he visited, the history of the people and the human rights. One example is Chapter 37, “Armenia and Azerbaijan”. He provides a very accurate description of Armenia; this tiny ancient country, about its identify, it’s struggle to exist and survive as a nation. He deserves the 2012 Andrei Sakharov prize that he will receive next month.

5/5

I have a bias: Dick Wilson supervised my Ph.D. I found the personal parts of this memoir fascinating: Dick's pre-War British youth, coming of age at Oxford, moving to the US, and other travails of a bright young physicist. Fascinating too is the later material about risk assessment for toxics. The middle section (nuclear and particle physics) was exciting for me, but perhaps less "special" if only because much of this story can be found elsewhere. I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. You will too.

5/5