The Feynman Lectures on Physics

Lore & Background

At that time, Caltech faculty were concerned that introductory courses were outdated and did not cover recent discoveries. They decided to reconfigure the first physics course to generate more excitement, and Feynman agreed to give the course, though only once. Caltech recorded each lecture and photographed blackboard drawings, knowing it would be a historic event. Based on the lectures and recordings, a team of physicists and graduate students created the manuscript for The Feynman Lectures on Physics.

Reader's Guide

The Feynman Lectures on Physics is considered one of the most sophisticated and comprehensive college-level introductions to physics. Feynman himself was 'pessimistic' about reaching all his students, targeting the lectures at 'very enthusiastic and rather smart students' who had been discouraged by older courses. Some physics students find the lectures more valuable after studying traditional texts, and the books are sometimes seen as more helpful for teachers than for students. While the course was underway, attendance of registered undergraduates dropped sharply, but was matched by an increase in faculty and graduate students, though co-author Matthew Sands contested this claim. The lectures became Feynman's most widely read work, and his peers—scientists, physicists, and professors—were considered the main beneficiaries, as he was 'an extraordinary teacher of teachers'.

Did You Know?

• The book includes chapters on the relationship between mathematics and physics, and physics to other sciences.