Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman
Review by Razan M., Youth Reviewer
Physics was not my favourite subject. While it was very difficult, it was simultaneously cool to learn about. That’s why I decided to pick up the book “Six Easy Pieces”, written by Richard Feynman, a famous physicist known for his work in quantum mechanics and his amazing teaching style. The book is actually a collection of some of his famous physics lectures. In it, he provides a brief overview of the map of physics, exploring Newton’s laws, conservation of energy, forces, quantum mechanics, and the relation of physics to other domains.
Having known about most of what was discussed in the book, I found it relatively easy to follow. I like how this book doesn’t sound like a textbook; it’s not boring or filled with boring problems. “Six Easy Pieces” attempts to explain the big ideas of a topic by using analogies, and is explained in a simple, digestible manner that is especially valuable when you're learning something as difficult as physics. Secondly, I liked how this book focuses more on theory rather than solving problems; something that was heavily emphasized in school. The only suggestion I would have for this book is that there should have been another section on physics applications to the real world, especially in the field of quantum mechanics.
I would be interested in reading more books transcribed from lectures that are organized in a similar format. Overall, this was a short, interesting read and I recommend it if you have some basic physics background (the book assumes you do) before you read it. I rate this book ? stars.
Find Six Easy Pieces at Kitchener Public Library!