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Quantum Man  By  cover art

Quantum Man

By: Lawrence M. Krauss
Narrated by: Lawrence M. Krauss
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Publisher's summary

A gripping new scientific biography of the revered Nobel Prize–winning physicist (and curious character) Richard Feynman.

Perhaps the greatest physicist of the second half of the 20th century, Richard Feynman changed the way we think about quantum mechanics, the most perplexing of all physical theories. Here Lawrence M. Krauss, himself a theoretical physicist and best-selling author, offers a unique scientific biography: a rollicking narrative coupled with clear and novel expositions of science at the limits. An immensely colorful person in and out of the office, Feynman revolutionized our understanding of nature amid a turbulent life. From the death of Feynman’s childhood sweetheart during the Manhattan Project to his reluctant rise as a scientific icon, Krauss presents that life as seen through the science, providing a new understanding of the legacy of a man who has fascinated millions. An accessible reflection on the issues that drive physics today, Quantum Man captures the story of a man who was willing to break all the rules to tame a theory that broke all the rules.

©2011 Lawrence M. Krauss (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

Quantum Man is a masterpiece.” (Walter Isaacson, New York Times best-selling author)

What listeners say about Quantum Man

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Richard Feynman's Science

As the narrator/author states up front, this book is more about the science of Richard Feynman than his life adventures that are well known. I was impressed, however, that the author could keep the science of particle physics interesting even for non-physicists. It is not that you don't have to pay attention. I'm a electrical engineer with a more than a few physics clases under my belt, but the text was sometimes a challenge to keep up with while driving around in the car (the way I learn most things these days). I have an e-book version also and now plan to take a more leisurely read to grasp a bit more.

What I really enjoyed from this book is how the author describes Richard Feynman's mental process in finding solutions. Most popular biographies of great people (especially scientists) center on personal relationships along a chronological path but I prefer to know how the subject thought and dealt with life, both the successes and failures.





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27 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very good book. Not an easy listen

This a very good book on the science of Richard Feynman. This is not the sort of book that you can listen to while driving and not paying attention. There are several science concepts that require concentration. I would say the book is about 65% science 35% history. If you read James Gleick's biography on Feynman(also great) there is not much more in terms of historical info. If you want more historical info read Gleick. If you want to learn about Feynman's science get this. I recommend you get both (I did).

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Above My Head

I live in Los Alamos, so always like to listen to books about the lives of the brilliant scientists who lived and worked here during the Manhattan Project. This book, however, is more appropriate for a physicist. I think it would be fascinating for anyone in that field. It was interesting to try to fathom Feynman's unbelievable brilliance and the book accomplished that by leaving me in the dust!

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6 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Story of a Great Physicist by a Great Physicist

If you could sum up Quantum Man in three words, what would they be?

Brilliant Genius Astounding

What was one of the most memorable moments of Quantum Man?

The oddly charismatic character of such a genius... Masterfully contrasted with the contemporaries of Dr. Feynman.

Have you listened to any of Lawrence M. Krauss’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Dr. Krauss is brilliant yet again because he doesn't sound like he is "Performing"... he truly seems to LOVE what he is conveying through his books. His passion is evident in all of the passages in this book!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made my brain hurt thanks to the sheer quantity of genius compressed into this one man! I am humbled by the vast amount of knowledge developed and disseminated from Dr. Feynman.

Any additional comments?

If you have any interest in Quantum Physics... this is a MUST!

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book for science history buffs

This is an excellent book about Richard Feynman's contributions to physics over his long, storied career. It is not a biography, although one has a great sense of the man by the end.

The author discusses his contributions to theoretical physics in detail and a basic familiarity with the concepts of relativity and quantum mechanics are required. There are no equations, so math skills are not required but if you are not already acquainted with the fundamental problems of modern physics there won't be much for you to enjoy.

The performance was excellent. I was genuinely surprised at the end to find I had been listening to the author the whole time. I suppose the text required someone well versed in theoretical physics but his performance is engaging and inflects and enunciates better than some professional readers I have listened to.

I would highly recommend the book for someone who is a fan of Dr Feynman's and wants a better understanding of why he is such a legend in the world of physics.

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    5 out of 5 stars

What's not to love about Dr. Feynman?

Would you listen to Quantum Man again? Why?

Who wouldn't love a bongo-playing Physicist? He left many in the dust when it comes to mathematics and Dr. Krauss writes an intriguing biography. Great stories intermixed with concepts I'll probably never understand but according to Dr. Feynman, it doesn't matter because its about the journey, its about adventure and discovering new things.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

READ GENIUS INSTEAD.

Both Feynman's life and work make great fodder for writers. This is why there are so many books on the man. The real problem comes when someone comes along and writes something head and shoulders beyond the rest, blowing them out of the water. James Gleik is the man and GENIUS is the book that has blown the rest away.
This reminds me of when I read Shelby Foote's The Civil War. After reading that, the 10 or so books on the civil war I read after seemed pathetic, even though they were very highly rated. This isn't quite the same as whats going on here, at least to the same degree. I just thought I would throw that in.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

good read on a great mind

I'm not a scientist, but I enjoy reading about it, especially when it comes to its history. This is an excellent biography of a man with a great mind. Almost every aspect of the physics was over my head, but I enjoyed learning how Feynman's mind worked. A unique character to whom we are still learning just how indebted we are.

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

A convoluted rushed rabbit hole sequence

For anyone who hates running, this is a marathon. For the runners of the world, sorry I don’t have an analogy. I took some physics courses in college years ago and have always enjoyed theoretical physics. This book left me in the dust. If I stopped to relearn information it would have been more enjoyable but I honestly wasn’t prepared for that type of time investment. The book feels like a rushed college lecture. I wanted to quit but I trudged on and it wasn’t fun.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fun with Feynman

An enjoyable exploration of the life and science of Richard Feynman... the man and myth.

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1 person found this helpful