What Are You Reading Now?

[libby]

The Meaning Of It All, a book by Richard Feynman

Checked it out at the library near me today, and this evening read 40 pages without stopping.

Funny how I found out about Feynman. Went to WV in June for annual get together with some friends. One man brought his son Gary, and while we were chatting during breakfast at Hampton Inn, the conversation turned to books. I said I grew up reading science fiction and that, over the years, that led me to an interest in quantum physics, and I'd thought about taking some classes but didn't have the required math. Later Gary handed me a piece of paper with a name written on it (Richard Feynman), asked if I knew who he was. I said the name sounded familiar but couldn't remember why. Turned out Gary is an electrical engineer, and Feynman a Nobel prize winning physicist. I thought anything he wrote would be way above my head, but so far ....

Here's the Publisher's Note:

"It is our great honor to share these brilliant and illuminating lectures, published here for the first time.

In April 1963, Richard P. Feynman was invited to give a three-night series of lectures at the University of Washington (Seattle) as part of the John Danz Lecture Series. Here is Feynman the man revealing as only he could, his musings on society, on the conflict between science and religion, on peace and war, on our universal fascination with flying saucers, on faith healing and telepathy, on people's distrust of politicians-- indeed on all the concerns of the modern citizen scientist."

"Pure gold, pure poetry, pure Feynman."

From what I've read so far, it could have been written yesterday.

[libby]

Talking about black holes in the Scary Science thread yesterday made me remember something: not long before my son died he bought me a book: 

A Brief History of Time, From the Big Bang to Black Holes, by Stephen Hawking

After he died, I put it away, along with other things that reminded me of him. Stopped listening to music, stayed busy, and time passed.

Yesterday evening I was sitting in my easy chair, half watching TV, when I  remembered the book ... now how coincidental is that? Anyway, found it and began reading, and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was written in a down to earth, folksy way. 

Thank you, Davy. (I still miss him but it doesn't hurt so much when I think about him now.)

[libby]

THE QUANTUM SPY, a Thriller, by David Ignatus. It's about quantum computing. I do not understand how the computers we have work, but I like spy novels, and quantum theory fascinates me, so when I saw that it was endorsed by Leon Panetta and Michael Hayden, both former CIA directors, I couldn't resist buying it.

[Palehorse]

Power and Empire by Marc Cameron under the Tom Clancy banner.

Also a spy novel surrounding insurgence and spying . . . So far, so good. . .

[libby]

I'm behind on my reading period because of the lure of politics    since Donald Trump came on the scene.

[Palehorse]

On deck for me is ; The People vs Alex Cross - James Patterson. I'm a sucker for his Cross series. I own them all.

And I can't help it. 🤔

[Locutus]

I'm reading, or at least trying to read, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. 

[libby]

I'm reading, or at least trying to read, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. 

Sounds interesting.  He is one of my favorites. As for "trying to read" sounds like me. I keep dictionaries close at hand. 

[Anne]

Sidney Sheldon now, I haven't decided what's next. Maybe something old.