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The Feynman Lectures on Physics now free

feynmanlectures.caltech.edu

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Re: The Feynman Lectures on Physics now free

#21

Post by gnu8 »

taneq wrote: post #16

> However, we want to be clear that this edition is only free to read online, and this posting does not transfer any right to download all or any portion of The Feynman Lectures on Physics for any purpose. I'm not entirely sure how to read this in my web browser without it being downloaded in the process.

They mean keep a local copy. Likely that was written by someone who uses the word download for all computer related operations.

I didn't have any intention to make a local copy but I am going to now, just to spite their ludicrous prohibition.

Re: The Feynman Lectures on Physics now free

#22

Post by tim333 »

lupire wrote: post #18
underyx wrote: post #13

Is this a nice way to finally catch up on physics for someone who never got much of it in high school? Or would Khan Academy still be preferable?

No. Feynman Lectures was an experimental set of lecture notes (not a textbook!) for presentation to elite Caltech students (who already studied a lot of physics in high school) who would find an introduction to physics far too easy and boring, and Feynman himself was pessimistic about how effective the course was. It's famous for being Feynman, not for being a great textbook.

It's great in many ways but mostly too hard for someone who dropped out in high school.

Re: The Feynman Lectures on Physics now free

#23

Post by ddingus »

gnu8 wrote: post #21
taneq wrote: post #16

> However, we want to be clear that this edition is only free to read online, and this posting does not transfer any right to download all or any portion of The Feynman Lectures on Physics for any purpose. I'm not entirely sure how to read this in my web browser without it being downloaded in the process.

They mean keep a local copy. Likely that was written by someone who uses the word download for all computer related operations. I didn't have any intention to make a local copy but I am going to now, just to spite their ludicrous prohibition.

It is a longer term cache.

:D

Re: The Feynman Lectures on Physics now free

#24

Post by michelpp »

It would be nice to get the audio released free as well. While not as useful as the books for actual learning (at least half of the audio is Feynman drawing furiously on a chalkboard and booming "and then this leads to this...") much of the beginning parts of each lecture are dedicated to well spoken overviews and ideas, and to hear them from Feynman himself is quite amazing. I've only been able to find some of the audio files for sale on Audible and on some rare bootleg torrents.

Re: The Feynman Lectures on Physics now free

#27

Post by _blz2 »

lupire wrote: post #18
underyx wrote: post #13

Is this a nice way to finally catch up on physics for someone who never got much of it in high school? Or would Khan Academy still be preferable?

No. Feynman Lectures was an experimental set of lecture notes (not a textbook!) for presentation to elite Caltech students (who already studied a lot of physics in high school) who would find an introduction to physics far too easy and boring, and Feynman himself was pessimistic about how effective the course was. It's famous for being Feynman, not for being a great textbook.

Can you suggest some good ones? From what I've seen in math texts, good books usually deal with one area (e.g. introductory real analysis) instead of covering multiple topics.

Re: The Feynman Lectures on Physics now free

#28

Post by HNLurker2 »

michelpp wrote: post #24

It would be nice to get the audio released free as well. While not as useful as the books for actual learning (at least half of the audio is Feynman drawing furiously on a chalkboard and booming "and then this leads to this...") much of the beginning parts of each lecture are dedicated to well spoken overviews and ideas, and to hear them from Feynman himself is quite amazing. I've only been able to find some of the a…

Let's use deep learning to remake Feynman voice!

Re: The Feynman Lectures on Physics now free

#29

Post by HNLurker2 »

vmilner wrote: post #26
underyx wrote: post #13

Is this a nice way to finally catch up on physics for someone who never got much of it in high school? Or would Khan Academy still be preferable?

https://theoreticalminimum.com/ might be a better bet, though assumes some familiarity with calculus.

Tangential https://youtube.com/watch?v=CQAcLW6qdQY

Re: The Feynman Lectures on Physics now free

#30

Post by stared »

lupire wrote: post #18
underyx wrote: post #13

Is this a nice way to finally catch up on physics for someone who never got much of it in high school? Or would Khan Academy still be preferable?

No. Feynman Lectures was an experimental set of lecture notes (not a textbook!) for presentation to elite Caltech students (who already studied a lot of physics in high school) who would find an introduction to physics far too easy and boring, and Feynman himself was pessimistic about how effective the course was. It's famous for being Feynman, not for being a great textbook.

> It's famous for being Feynman, not for being a great textbook.

I beg to differ.

I know no general course in physics which is close enough to the Feynman lectures on physics. And I've learned about Feynman from lectures, not the other way. (Arguably, he is famous thanks to his explanations skills.) And anecdotally, virtually all people I know that participated in physics olympiad adore this textbook.

(At least - Volumes I and II; III is interesting as supplementary material, but I recommend other core materials for quantum mechanics, vide: https://p.migdal.pl/2016/08/15/quantum-mechanics-for-high-sc...).

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