From a Life of Physics.

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Foreword: twenty-one years after; energy on earth and in the stars; pleasure from physics; expressing energy loss; solved in the subway; atomic masses; solid state; nuclear reactions in the stars; the lamb shift; wartime work; materials for space vehicles; new work on nuclear matter; methods in theoretical physics; cosmological speculation; success through method; impact of relativity; fruitful relaxation; from tensors to spinors; on the wrong track?; difficulty in quantum electrodynamics; theory, criticism and a philosophy; when a golden age started; first steps in physics.

Phenomenological theorybohr's conjecture; einstein on theory and observation; stability of laminar flow; sequel after twenty years; finding a mathematical mistake; rigorous and dirty mathematics; abandoning old concepts; quantum theory understood; einstein's fictitious experiments; electrons and the nucleus; changing the outlook of atomic physics; pair creation; phenomenon established; pauli's critical acumen; my general philosophy; the scientist and society; first sources; regularities in a complicated· world; ""unreasonable accuracy"" of physical laws; consequences of the scientist's work.

Changes in scienceemergence of big science; courage in guessing; the pleasure of exploration; the privilege of a satisfying life; from my life of physics; from childish curiosity; when all was new; deeper background; whirlpool of speculation; in five dimensions; kind scepticism; argument on radiation; the liberty of doubt; landau-greatscientist and teacher; early talent; unbelievable beauty; teaching -- his vocation; international recognition; the stock of gold.

A compilation of previously unpublished lectures delivered at the International Centre for Theoretical Physics by the pioneers and creators of modern physics --Bethe, Dirac, Heisenberg, Wigner, Klein and Landau (the sixth delivered by E Lifshitz). By sharing with us their own lives of physics, these outstanding physicists convey the sense of total dedication, the pleasure and elegance of scientific creation at its peak. Readers would acquire a deeper sense of the scope and nature of physics, and the insights of its fascinating diverse disciplines as the developments of modern physics are being.

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