A Fine Mania

Richard Feynman is a rare Nobel Prize-winning physicist who crossed over into popular culture. His Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! became a surprise best-seller, and since then a mini-industry of books and videos has popped up around his life and work.

I heard the course he taught (where he recapitulated his understanding of basic physics in a two-year course for undergrads) was actually pretty tough. But I can't help but think when I see footage of him (such as the example below that someone just sent me) that it must have been quite bracing to attend his lectures.