The Feynman Lectures on Physics is a classic that must belong to everyone's library. This edition is very well designed, but the paint in the cover keep getting off into my hands. The cover of my Volume I is already totally ruined. You don't buy a book if you do not intent to read it. Disappointing.

My background: An engineer with an aspiration to learn more physics.

It has been over 3 years since my last college physics class, and having heard from friends and reading online about these lectures, I finally bought them here instead of spending twice as much at the local bookstore. I own a copy of Serwey's physics book, and the difference between the two is remarkable.

I can read Feynman's book with excitement. He writes or lectures in a way that keeps me engaged with what he has to say, and he also provides excellent examples of interesting cases. For instance, in his treatment of gravitation, he numerically calculates the trajectory of the earth given an initial velocity and position. I knew it was possible to do such a thing, but the fact that he provided a table of numbers and just went ahead with the calculation without skipping the detail brought me great enthusiasm. I don't even remember my astrodynamics book covering the simple calculations of such things from the fundamental principles in such detail.

Aside from the nitty gritty, his reading is enjoyable. I pass out when reading Serwey's book, simply because it isn't written in a very enthusiastic and engaging way.

However, Feynman's lectures are good for refreshing your understanding, not doing problems. I imagine that someone with a copy of Feynman's lectures for the understanding and Serwey's problems and examples for the nitty gritty, who works the problems, will understand physics well enough to continue studying more in-depth subjects on their own. That says a lot about both volumes.

Feynman doesn't just teach physics in these books: he teaches you to think like a physicist should. One complaint I've heard is that there's not enough math in them. "Too many words." (Kinda reminds you of Armadeus.) There are plenty of books that have the math. These books offer insight -- something that is very hard to come by in formal physics education.

The introductory material in Volume 1 is highly quotable. You can get your money's worth right there.

When I started Volume 2, I'd had undergraduate electricity and magnetism and found it dry and boring. After Volume 2, I was so pumped, I wanted to teach the subject.

I read Volume 3 when I was starting graduate quantum mechanics. My first final was oral, two-on-one. The professor had a second prof sit in with him to quiz each student. They opened with a few questions on the uncertainty principle. I started rattling off some of the insights I'd gotten from Volume 3. These guys must not have read it, because they were blown away. They'd ask a question and I'd answer and then follow with a hook to keep them coming back. I spent an hour of the two-hour exam on the uncertainty principle! Talk about getting off on the right foot with a new prof!

These books have been an inspiration to me for the last 40 years. Whether you're a student or a Ph.D. -- and especially if you teach at any level -- you must not be without them. They will improve your understanding of physics, and they'll equip you to better communicate it.

I realize that I've sounded a little over-the-top in this review. If I said less, I'd be understating my honest opinion.

Tim Naff, Ph.D.

Not much to say. I bought this set for my boyfriend for x-mas and he loves it!

Caltech had unbelieveable foresight in knowing how good Feynman would appear to future generations. The teaching techniques are still unbeatable. Worth spending six months reading these.

Physics is like sex - it may lead to practical results, but that's not why we do it.
^_^

My sister bought this set for me 33 years ago when I was 14 and just finishing Resnick and Holiday. It was fun, inspiring, sometimes obtuse but lead me to appreciate physics as an "engineer's" textbook like R&H never could. I am not a physicist but physical thinking has never left me largely because of these lectures. Most critics of these lectures simply can't follow Feynman. I will confess that I couldn't at times either but when I could, it's exhilarating!

A masterpiece!
If you study physics, you must have it.
It's the Holy Bible of the Physics

I feel there are enough reviews of this material that you can decide for yourself on whether to purchase them or not. I am merely writing this review because of the BUY WITH... option that might confuse some buyers into purchasing this AS WELL AS Feynman's Tips on Physics. You should note that the Definitive and Extended Edition already contains this book, and it does not need to be purchased seperately. Most people are aware of this, but I wanted to simply warn those who might not have noticed.

I am a mobile telecom software professional by career but have great interest in Physics. Perhaps my interest was recently renewed and I read/try understanding on a lot of advanced and interesting topics. But somehow I felt that I would need a refresher on my school time physics (as I was almost out of touch with Physics for almost 13 years). Based on the previous recommendations I went ahead for these lectures and I find that I made the right choice. The best part for me was that the lectures explain the 'why' of Physics, rather than just presenting equations illustrating the principles of Physics. Also, I found myself developing some dramatic new understanding on elementary principles of Physics, which I never had earlier. I would recommend a book like Resnick & Halliday + Irodov (my personal school time favourites) for some problem solving for physics first-timers as a complement to these lectures (as they do not contain problems ... I have no issues with that, I just like knowing more on what Feynman had to say on Physics).

This is the best collection of Physics lectures for undergrads, I have ever seen, it is very thought provoking and stimulating for their development of scientific vistion, highly recommended.

Like Public Enemy said:

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE!

Get ready for some blasphemy to set your head straight:

These books just aren't that great!

Everyone and their uncle and their uncle's uncle have been telling me over and over again how great the Feynman Lectures are. Professors, friends, colleagues-- even the Amazon.com community, as you can see by the other reviews. Long ago, I bought into the hype, and bought myself a set.

Now, years later, after struggling again and again through these volumes (espeically volume 3)--- and thinking over and over again "well, it must just be me," I finally have to conclude that, "NO, it is NOT just me."

The fact is, these books just aren't that good.

How can I say such a thing? Let me give you some reasons.

First of all, the math is kind of lacking. "Yeah yeah," I can already hear you saying "but this is an INTRODUCTORY book, so there SHOULD be very little math." Well, yes and no. While he does talk about physical situations to try and get his points across, he often sort of leave stuff out that a few little equations would make much clearer-- and this is most tremendously frustrating. He tries to do something that may simply be impossible--- to write an introductory physics book for a physics audience-- not a POPULAR audience like, for example, James Gleick-- without many equations. Because of that, for people who are trying to really learn something, it is almost impossible, because just when you think you might be getting it, it's on to another topic. This makes the whole thing rather disjointed and frustrating. I really could not get a deep grasp of things from these books.

Second, there are no problems-- not with calculations and numbers. Again, I know you're gonna argue. But for me, I need at least one or two examples with CALCULATIONS.

Finally--- and I know I'm gonna get skewered for this one--- he is just NOT THAT GREAT AT EXPLAINING things! Blasphemy of blasphemies!! Saint Feynman the Great Expositor not that great at explaining things? Sorry, yes, that is what I think. This is a matter of personal preference, I guess, since a lot of people (ie. the rest of humanity!) think he is absolutely wonderful. I guess we will just have to agree to disagree!

If you REALLY want to see what it is like to explain something PROPERLY, try reading "Quantum Theory," by David Bohm.

THAT book will knock your socks off.

(And PS: Before you vote, remember the criteria is if this review was HELPFUL to you, not if you AGREE with it or not!!!)

I think the best part of these lectures is that they make the various equations and developments in physics quite understandable. He was an extremely good teacher. I think he could simplify/distill the ideas behind an equation by revealing the physical underpinnings of the concepts they were meant to describe - not many professors/teachers bother to do this. It's a must read for anyone in late high school to undergraduate years who plan on majoring in science. Reading these will make you realize how much your regular teachers/professors suck.

Additionally, on a personal level, he reads and sounds like my father instead of some academic I don't know, so perhaps I was able to relate to it a bit better in that way.

Anyways, it's great.

I could go over and over about the exceptional quality of the content presented in the Feynman Lectures, but I think millions of readers have already taken care of that. So I'm gonna focus on something that really distinguishes this edition from the others (besides, of course, all the corrections made to the previous editions): the physical characteristics of the books.

I was impressed at the quality of this collection. The books are all covered with a smooth red fabric wich really gives them a sophisticated look. They will look great anywhere. I placed my collection on the top of a shelf and I gotta tell you, that big red box really stands out.

The books are somewhat big and heavy, but that doesn't interferes with a confortable reading. You're not gonna have to place it on a table while reading it.

Now, I know this review may have sounded quite futile (why the hell is this fellow talking about how the book looks!?), but since everyone knows about how great and enlightening the Lectures are, I thougt I'd go on about some details that rather we admmit it or not, we care about.

So this is it: these books are beautiful, provide a comfortable reading, and they're THE FEYNMAN LECTURES ON PHYSICS!

I wasn't a natural in math or physics, but I was interested in learning more than one might learn at a junior college's first year physics program. And so I bought these books.

Feynman has a very interesting way of looking at things. Sometimes it is so unique that it opened my eyes to a whole different way of seeing problems presented in a more traditional fashion. A real conceptual eye-opener. And for this alone, the books are worth it. He also makes you want to learn more, by giving you a taste of things to come.

At other times, he is frustrating because he has a way of seeing that I couldn't understand. Maybe more mathematical than conceptual, but that wouldn't quite capture it. Sometimes he just presents things as straight forward that really aren't.

He's also sort of funny, in a strange way. It seemed like he was jealous of Einstein's discoveries -- like they were too easy for all the fame they gave the man. You can tell he's proud of his own intelligence.

But his comments on relativity, along with some other sources, helped me understand some key points. Like the principles that Einstein held inviolate, leading to his surprising conclusions. Or that objects travel to minimize their "proper time" in space time -- which you'd never hear in any other 1st year book. Stuff like that make these lectures great.

As others have commented, this should be a companion to a traditional text book, not a replacement.

Physics Majors!, spend the money on these books, but not until you are 1/2 way through a calculus based physics introduction, at least at the level of H R & Walkers's "Fundamentals of Physics." I agree with many other reviewers, these are not the best books from which to initially learn the subject. But I truly wish that I had read these when I was first studying Quantum Mechanics & Electrodynamics from Griffiths' and Mechanics from Marion & Thornton.

Feynman is most helpful by putting things in perspective and speaking to the aspiring physicist in you. By reading Feynman, you can get a better sense of how to ask questions about physics. As a graduate student, I really appreciate *how* Feynman teaches, I believe reading these can make anyone a better physics lecturer. There is a lot of material, don't be afraid to pick and choose. I highly recommend the chapters on optics in Vol 1. Between reading Feynman as an undergrad and Landau as a graduate student, all of the aspiring physicists out there should be set.

In this book, Feynman uses more than twenty pages to discuss the mysterious double-slit experiment. He regards it as "a phenomenon which is impossible, absolutely impossible, to explain in any classical way." His analysis implies that each single electron must pass through two slits at the same time. But how in hell does a single electron pass through two slits? Feynman provides no answer. In fact, it seems evident that the single electron can only pass through the two slits in a discontinuous way. Therefore, its motion must be not continuous but discontinuous. Such discontinuous motion is imaginable and comprehensible. It has actually been lucidly expounded in a recent book Quantum Motion - Unveiling the Mysterious Quantum World. A more popular introduction God Does Play Dice with the Universe can be found at my name (i.e. [..]).

Once we realize that motion is discontinuous and random in reality, we may finally understand the mysterious quantum world, where an electron can pass through two slits at the same time. Even Feynman might be satisfied with this answer.

Having undergone an Honours level Physics course, it was extraordinarily enlightening to discover Richard Feynman's view of Physics from these volumes many years later. Some 40 years after they were written, there is a huge value to the student (and past student ) still. Forget the "Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman" etc. These are the ultimate testament to Richard Feynman's understanding of physics and his ability to explain it. Unreservedly recommended to Feynman fans with a bit of Math to help understand it.

This series of books introduce the reader to physics from the foundations to more advanced theories. No prior knowledge of physics is necessary as the concepts are explained in a clear and uncomplicated manner. It is definitely the most enjoyable and educational physics book I have ever read.

This revised edition of Feynman's legendary lectures includes:


extensive corrections Feynman and his colleagues "received" and Caltech approved.

Now I'm pretty sure that this means Feynman and his colleages (dead) "recieved," and Caltech (Caltech's Dean of science who has nothin to do with Feynman or his collegial people that shared discussions and ways of thinking) approved.

Now basically, I've seen Caltech's Dean of Science as well as say Berkely's, etc, in action and these long since turned adminisrational guys couldn't hold a stick in witty or clear scientific thought to myself let alone Feynman, and I am skeptical as to whether this is the edition I would want to purchase. Anyone can make corrections to a piece of work over the course of 20 years succeeding it's initial induction. Shakespeare contains tons o what you could call errors. I'd like to see someone call it a working text and mess with his language. I'm skeptical and I'd like to hear more feedback from those that have read from original editions as this is not what should be considered one pinultimate "TEXT" and should not really in my opinion be used that way.

Amazon suggests buying "tips on physics" as a companion, but it's included in the set.

Excellent mid level physics texts, but do not kid yourself you will need at least a good high-school grounding to utilize these lectures. However, why does Amazon recomend to buy the "Tips on Physics" when its already included, THAT WAS UNFORTUNATE FOR ME!

Puts....essa coleção é perfeita. Simplismente incrível. A diadática e o caminho que Feynman toma para explicar Física é simplesmente apaixonante.
Para quem gosta de Física, é obrigatório.

The Feynman Lectures on Physics is a great series of books to introduce one to or review the basics of physics. Though Feynman's original ideas are vivid & easily understood, this extended edition expands further still on his concepts. Since Feynman's creation of this series it's become a staple in the physics community. Having been scrutinized carefully, and for so long, this edition offers many updates and includes details beyond those of previous editions. The box set also includes an additional book, "Feynman's Tips on Physics" which is not a part of the regular 3 volume set.

The Feynman Lectures on Physics is a great series of books to introduce one to or review the basics of physics. Though Feynman's original ideas are vivid & easily understood, this extended edition expands further still on his concepts. Since Feynman's creation of this series it's become a staple in the physics community. Having been scrutinized carefully, and for so long, this edition offers many updates and includes details beyond those of previous editions. The box set also includes an additional book, "Feynman's Tips on Physics" which is not a part of the regular 3 volume set.

My third set since 1970.
In the Fall of 1970 when I was a freshmen in college without means, support, or even enough money to pay room and board for the first term I bought the three volume trade paper set: "The Feynman Lectures on Physics" and the two volume set "The Rise of the New Physics by D'Abro" as if I could read and understand all in the two weeks time I had to kill before the start of classes.
My book buying instincts were wonderful then and now. I had very little money in those days and little free time to read. So, I read what I could and absorbed what I was able to absorb without proper mathematics foundations. Since those days I have learned a little more mathematics and have earned a little more money.
Time to read is still hard to find at the end of the day with fatigue and the fog of the daily grind numbing your senses and numbing your mind. Yet, I read what I can and find new understanding with each reading. I recommend these books to all as (among) the best self- help, self-study books written. Every kid has an intrinsic interest in physics, curiosity to explore, and time they need not justify for a dollar. It is fun exploring as a kid; all that I need is good lighting and a comfortable chair.

A must-have for anybody interested in Physics. These lectures are still unbelievably fresh and relevant after all this years. I wish I had these during my Engineering Physics studies instead of all the inferior textbooks I had to use...

Like another reviewer, I also have my original copies, frayed and going on 40 years in age, and like all the reviewers who have preceded me, I cannot recommend these volumes enough. Feynman's text is not, in my opinion, the best one for learning physics, but it is one of the best for getting to know physics, or at least the subject as seen through the eyes of a novel thinker.

Definitive is absolutely correct. A very impressive work that has already started me re-learning (after almost 40 years)algebra, geometry and calculus - this time with much more motivation and even pleasure - so that I can better follow the arguments.
Highly recommended to anyone wishing to learn more about the "hard" sciences that are so essential but worryingly unpopular with students today. If your maths is a bit rusty (or worse) be prepared for some preparatory work though.

The set is well done with very few mistakes, and a different approach to physics than most texts.

The definitive work of perhaps the most gifted teacher of Physics ever. Dr. Feynman was a master of drawing out and identifying what was important in a topic to help make it stick. He was never condescending and always humorous. His love for teaching and for Physics is evident in all his works and nowhere more so than here. More than "instructing," Dr. Feynman will woo you to love Physics as he did. What more could be said?

The more recent a physics textbook is, the more like this series it is likely to be, as Feynman's ideas gradually replace older concepts within the physics community. This is where it began, and it has the sense of excitement that few of Feynman's followers can match.

For those studying independently like myself, the limitation of the older book was the lack of problems. I found I could search for related problems on the internet - many lecturers put class problems there. Now there is even a website on the series, [...]

The most interesting problem I found on the internet was "if a tritium atom with its electron in the lowest-energy state decayed into a helium3 ion, what is the probability that its electron will be in the lowest-energy state?" Until I considered this question, I had not realized how much the series had taught me.

The more recent a physics textbook is, the more like this series it is likely to be, as Feynman's ideas gradually replace older concepts within the physics community. This is where it began, and it has the sense of excitement that few of Feynman's followers can match.

For those studying independently like myself, the limitation of the older book was the lack of problems. I found I could search for related problems on the internet - many lecturers put class problems there. Now there is even a website on the series, feynmanlectures dot info.

The most interesting problem I found on the internet was "if a tritium atom with its electron in the lowest-energy state decayed into a helium3 ion, what is the probability that its electron will be in the lowest-energy state?" Until I considered this question, I had not realized how much the series had taught me.

I purchased this for additional reading material while taking physics classes. It was helpful to have ideas explained in another way.

What to say about this set of books? It's a pleasure to read them ... and to learn the basic (and not he only basic) physics in such a way to be understood.

Said to be THE classic textbook for physics. It is, period. Highly recommended for any serious science student as a reference (it does not contain problem sets though). Suitable for self-study, the book covers a broad range of topics. But most importantly, Feynman brought those topics to life! The reader will come away enlightened, and in awe with the workings of the universe.

Good physics book, classic and clearly writing. Highly recommended!

Excellent set ....great for undergrad and beyond.

From the introductory paragraph, the Lectures shine with the intellectual genius and the humble love for teaching by one of the most greatest scientists in history.
Aside from being an indespensable reference tool for any scientist (covering almost all topics in physics in great detail), the Feynman Lectures take one to CalTech's classrooms to embark on a quest for knowledge led by a man who devoted his life to science, knowledge and educating others. It is not a simple coincidence that out of all of the awards that Feynman has won in his life (including the Nobel Laureate Nomination), his most prized one was the Oersted Medal for Teaching. A brilliant set of Lectures by a brilliant man...

Physics lectures performed at Caltech in the 1960s... that wouldn't sound very good weren't Richard Feynman the lecturer! He shows all his insight, delight and knowledge to first and second year students talking about Physics as easy and understandable as almost never before, but by no means less precise, deep or inspiring. This new edition is a masterpiece every Physics student should own, for the binding is awesome, some typos and conceptual mistakes (very very few in 40 years) were corrected and above all the new Tips on Physics supplement is included, a "new" book with some side lectures that were omitted in other editions regarding how to face and solve problems.

Richard Feynman is one of the most, if not the most, beloved physicist of all time for his very honest, unique and curious character. Not only in Physics but reading about his life in his other books one just finds almost an endless source of inspiration and amusement. With his books, lectures or anecdotes, you won't only grasp the concepts of Physics and Science from a very original point of view but you will also laugh!! Well, the quality of the books is supreme and I challenge you to find any other book about serious Physics (and actually taught at a prestigeous University) where you can find yourself smiling and laughing sometimes and enjoying the PLEASURE OF FINDING THINGS OUT...
(...)

These books aren't a "course handbook" for they don't follow the classic exposition, examples, exercises, solutions pattern as they are more a set of lectures. Hence they should go with other more standard texts. You will understand the Physics with Feynman, and only then (almost certainly) you will be able to work out all the other texts completly.

As an undergraduate physics major, I used this three volume set of lectures as a supplement to my texts. As a practicing physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory, I still use these wonderful books as references. Each time I do so, I am amazed at the clarity and originality with which Feynman saw AND explained things. The next best thing to having Feynman as a teacher, are the lectures he left for posterity. A hundred years from now, I'm sure these gems will still be used by young students of physics.

Sincerely,

Alex Alaniz Ph.D.

1. Please see the reviews of my own strong science fiction book: Beyond Future Shock about the near-terms perils and promise of advanced bio/nano technology in a world still roiled with Middle Age religious conflict and ever growing extreme wealth gradients.

2. I have REVIEWED many books from undergraduate to graduate in: PHYSICS, MATH, ECONOMETRICS, and HISTORY among other areas.

Richard Feynman's Lectures on Physics are classics, due to both the physics they contain as well as the different method of education that is displayed: do not hesitate to deal with complicated subjects early on, as long as you explain them clearly. This edition has corrections for all reported errors, and includes the new volume "Tips on Physics" by Feynman. If you thought about buying the Lectures; hesitate no longer! If you already have an older version (as I had): this is a worthy update.

As the proud owner of the original editions of the Lectures, I'm glad to see a new hardcover edition. (My copies still have the original prices--10.95, 10.50, and 11.50--stamped in them. But that was thirty years ago! I even recall Leighton having a shelf in his office with various translations of the Lectures lined up.)

It is sometimes claimed that the original lectures were a failure. In the April 2005 issue of Physics Today, Matthew Sands writes about the project that resulted in the Feynman Lectures. He disputes the claim that the undergraduates drifted away from Feynman's lectures in large numbers, and explains how Feynman's preface came about, and why he (Sands) finds it unduly negative.

It has always been widely agreed that the Lectures are insufficient as a standalone textbook, and best used as supplemental reading. Feynman's approach appeals to many readers, but falls flat with others. This is not surprising, as different people respond to different ways of explaining physics. As an historical aside, Feynman and Schwinger took such different approaches to developing quantum electrodynamics theory that it wasn't immediately clear that their formulations were even equivalent. Most physicists find Feynman's approach easier to learn, but others find it unsatisfying. People are different. Physicists are different. Even physics students are different. There is not, and will never be, one book that is the best for every reader. The Feynman Lectures are great because they have been so enlightening to so many people, not because they meet the impossible standard of being clear to every reader.

The Feynman lectures on physics are among the best physics books published. This edition includes the standard three volumes, with a new introduction and corrections, plus a separate book, Feynman's tips on physics. All four books are well worth reading.

The lectures are excellent because they give new insights, compared to the standard presentation. The faculty at Caltech used to sit on the lectures to learn more about physics. Considering these lectures were for lower division students, that is quite a compliment.

Please read reviews of earlier editions to get more insight into their content.