Book of Dust (The Beginning and the End of Time Thereafter) by Agnes Denes (review)

ability is the square of a final arrow, but Feynman observes that "the price of gaining such an accurate theory has been the erosion of our common sense". As he says, "We must accept some very bizarre behavior". For those artists interested in the mathematical basis of beauty, this is a good beginning, leading into the linear and nonlinear systems described so well by Peter Kahn [2]. There are aspects of abstract art that approach the beauty of mathematics in spirals and fractal geometry. Clouds in the sky are nonlinear systems of great beauty, as are trees and musical expression. Indeed, one of the objectives of Leonardo is to provide a forum for expression of the beauty of life in all its forms, and how they are related in simplicity. It takes a great teacher like Feynman to demonstrate the simplicity of quantum electrodynamics and mathematics. The computer-generated image of a dragon described by Michel Bret [3] is a new approach to such beauty. Perhaps this book transcends the limitations of the imagination of physicists, not to speak of the limited imagination of artists and musicians, biologists and politicians! It is an 'island in the sun'. References 1. See P. Tourrenc and P. Teyssandier, La Grointruion experimeruale, Vol. 15 (Paris) pp.186-19J. 2. P. Kahn, Mathematical Methods for Scientists and Engineers (New York: Wiley, 1990). 3. Michel Bret, "Procedural Art with Computer Graphics Technology", Leonardo 21, No. I (1988) p.8. WHAT DO YOU CARE WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK? by Richard Feynman. W. W. Norton, New York, NY, U.SA, 1988. 255 pp., illus. Trade, $17.95. ISBN: 393026590. Reviewed lJy Leo Narodny, Marlin's Bay, St. John, Barbados, WI. Leonardo da Vinci would have been proud to meet his modern counterpart , Richard Feynman, who died of cancer in 1988. The value of science in modern life-"a key to heaven or hell"--describes Feynman's belief that modern man needs to live without dogma or prejudice. The travesty of Feynman being refused admission to Columbia University because of his Jewish faith (a 'quota' system was in place at the time) was 494 Current Literature underlined when he received the Nobel Prize in physics. This book describes his early life working on the Manhattan Project and his loving first wife who died of tuberculosis. His delightful sense of humor and his unique ability to teach quantum electrodynamics with 'body language' are again apparent, as in his earlier book Surely Yau 'reJoking, Mr. Feynman! The second part of this biography describes Feynrnan's work with the Rogers Commission investigating the Challengershuttle disaster. The brilliant description of the lack of communication between top management and staff workers in four widely separated locations should be a guide to future space projects. The simplicity of a rubber ring-seal failing at low temperatures - forecasted at low levels of operations but overruled by top levels-has its analogue in the optical reflectors of the Hubble Space Telescope , highly polished and system perfect otherwise, but not a good focus in space! The chapter "An Inflamed Appendix " describes Feynman's attempt to penetrate the official whitewashing of the investigation of the Challenger disaster . The engineers had guessed that the failure rate might be 1% but management believed that it was on the order of one failure in 300 years of daily flying! Feynrnan's summary appendix on the reasons for failure was 'inflamed' by repeated attempts to cover up the failures in management. The executive officer never gave a copy of Feynmari's report to anyone until after it was altered beyond recognition . The comment of David Acheson that "We should say something for the President" evoked Feynman's reply, "Why can't I be careful and scientific when I'm writing a report to the President?" As Feynman reports, "The exaggeration at the top being inconsistent with the reality at the bottom , communication got slowed up and eventuallyjammed. It's possible that the higher ups didn't know, or just said they didn't know." The title question "what do you care what other people think?" was asked by his wife and inspired him with courage. This is a magnificent book. BOOK OF DUST...