Book Reviews - Review 220

This book derives from a series of lectures given by Nobel laureate Richard Feynman that introduce the theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED). QED is one of the pillars of modern quantum theory, and describes the probablistic interactions of electrons and photons. The topic sounds quite straightforward to start with, but pretty soon Feynman leaves the reader behind who doesn't have a grounding in maths or physics. Arrows representing individual quantum events are joined together to produce a single arrow whose square represents the likelihood of a cumulative quantum outcome. Simple in essence, but Feynman just keeps piling the arrows on top of each other at such a rate that it all becomes somewhat overwhelming.

The great physicist's fascination with geometrical intricacy, his expertise, and perhaps the limited amount of time he had in his lectures, mean that he dashes through QED quite a pace, rarely reiterating ideas or re-presenting them in slightly different aspects, in the way that the best science popularisers do, in order to make sure that something sticks in the reader's mind. He tends to bombard the reader with detail as it occurs to him, and is not adept at prioritising the facts that really help the non-expert to understand the essence of his subject.

That's not to say that there isn't much interest to be had from the book. Feynman is a witty writer, leaving the reader in no doubt either about the problems facing modern physics, or his low opinion of some of the work his colleagues have undertaken to resolve them. He was not a modest man, and his arrogance is not always attractive; but like many writers, he gets more readable as he gets more opinionated. And his contempt for the mathematical "tweaking" undertaken by many of his peers to get theory to match observed fact would seem to be justified - if less than tactfully expressed.

Readers who like to speculate on the philosophical implications of quantum theory should know that for Feynman, "philosophy" was a dirty word; he did not share Einstein's or Schroedinger's interest in abstract ideas, or their appreciation of intellectual endeavour outside science. For him, one feels that the reality was all in the mathematics; there was enough fascination and beauty in them to satisfy his tenacious and ingenious, but in some ways rather narrow intellect.