QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter

OK, I have to a give a book by Feynman at least three stars. It did give me something, a crude idea of how physicists solve these problems. But As Feynman states pretty early, its just a procedure, no one really understands what is going on, what the mechanisms are. I'd like to ask some other physicists if they agree with that, perhaps its true. But what I actually wanted was a discussion of the mechanisms by which photons interact with matter. I think the title is misleading, it implies that the book explains how photons interact with matter. If it is really true that the mechanism is a complete mystery as Feynman states, then why exactly should I want to follow a very esoteric technique for solving problems in optics?Also, this is not a book for a layperson, even with its lack of equations, the knowledge it presumes is far beyond a layperson, layperson here means someone with a doctorate in some other branch of physics. I have no idea why a genuine layperson should be interested in this book. I have an undergraduate background in math and physics and a doctorate in molecular biology, have done work involving biophysics using FRET to measure the motion of proteins interacting. The level of this discussion was not for a layperson.

So this is what physicists do. They observe light and make mathematical formulas based on the observations of the behavior of it. This is how physicists see the world. Tiny particles bouncing this way and that, sometimes in predictable ways. This is as simple an explanation of photons that I have ever read. It is all clearly explained and the math isn't too difficult. I wonder of the utility of this formulation? I will never set up experiments such as these, so I will never be able to test the theory presented here. But it is interesting to see how physicists see the world. Or at least the tiny proportion of the world that they do observe.

This book will absolutely blow you away! If you're an armchair physicist and you thought you understood the universe, prepare to be blown away! The physical universe is NOTHING like you've ever imagined. If you thought Star Trek was way out there, you ain't seen nothin' yet! And the strangest part of all, is this branch of physics has stood up to scrutiny more than any other idea in the history of science! It's just plain freaky, but real!The only reason I don't give this book 5 stars is because the author committed a massive science flaw: He said, "There are no gears or pullies inside these things. Don't even look for them." Imagine that! A scientist telling you to do no more research for further answers! That cost him a full star in my review.Put this book on the top 10 reading list of all time!When you're done, search for information about faster than light transmission, quantum entanglement, and the real science of teleportation.Also, required reading: Alber Einstein's "Relativity, the Special and the General Theory" (or is it the General and the Special Theory?). You can't read one without the other. In my opinion, they make a complete set.

I thouroughly enjoyed this book. Very simple explanation of the essence of "e to ix" to any one not exposed to math. I passed the book on to an uncle. Then I was sorry I did it as soon as I handed the book because I remembered it's now out of publication. In the end still happy to have an English teacher exposed to this book.

Absolutely incredible. It will suck you in and you will be amazed at how clearly Feynman can explain concepts without making you feel like a moron. While some paragraphs will require a couple glances the material is easy (for the most part) to understand and follow. Absolute must for those who enjoy science and physics.

This book is intriguing, which is odd because I'm not a physics major and certainly know very little of the subject.That being said, however, I can't help but feel interest when I read the book because it is intuitively explained and for a novice, that's a big thing.There are times when the things simply can't be explained that well given their difficulty and that's acceptable because this book succeeds in everything else it attempts to do, which is to inform the reader of something which we encounter and yet do not normally think about.

An excellent set of lectures detailing Quantum Electrodynamics. Feynman does an excellent job at transcribing them into a form that best suits any reader, casual or physicist.

You'll learn more about quantum physics from this book than from any other, short of a college course with mathematical content. Read it. Give it to children. Amplify it's educational effect. Make the world a better place.

Great Book.

Birthday gift for my grandson who says he is very happy with the book and that it is very good on its subject.