Ask HN: What are your favorite physics sites, documentaries, books?

#1

Post by good_vibes » Sun, Jul 23, 2017, 1:09 AM UTC

I'm suddenly very interested again in how the micro and macro are connected by laws of nature. I find the history of physics, as well as the characters, and insights fascinating. I could talk about it all day. I lost this passion for a few years but it's reemerging again.

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite physics sites, documentaries, books?

#2

Post by technofire » Sun, Jul 23, 2017, 4:30 AM UTC

> as well as the characters

While I cannot recommend any books on physics itself, I can recommend a couple light reads on Richard Feynman, the Nobel prize-winning physicist (links below). Each is structured as a series of short autobiographical stories so they're very easy reads that shed light on some of Feynman's life, both within and without academia.

[1] Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)

http://amzn.to/2gTVXa5

[2] "What Do You Care What Other People Think?": Further Adventures of a Curious Character

http://amzn.to/2gTWfOd

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite physics sites, documentaries, books?

#3

Post by DrScump » Sun, Jul 23, 2017, 6:52 AM UTC

A classic documentary is "Einstein's Universe", where a layman (Peter Ustinov, iirc) is introduced to Relativity.

"Space tells matter how to move. Matter tells space how to curve."

It doesn't cover Quantum Mechanics that I recall.

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite physics sites, documentaries, books?

#4

Post by QAPereo » Sun, Jul 23, 2017, 3:42 PM UTC

Physicsforums iS A pretty fantastic place to go, if you have a specific question or if you just want to read all of the answers to questions from people who actually know what they're talking about. It also has the benefit of very strong moderation, so it's not the Reddit experience .

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite physics sites, documentaries, books?

#5

Post by louthy » Sun, Jul 23, 2017, 3:59 PM UTC

Favourite book: QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter - Richard Feynman

Re: Ask HN: What are your favorite physics sites, documentaries, books?

#6

Post by mistermann » Sun, Jul 23, 2017, 4:03 PM UTC

Related question: why is there so little documentary content on https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_von_Neumann considering his significance and how recently in history he lived??

Can anyone recommend any documentaries or videos?