Books

A worthwhile read : "I Am the Smartest Man I Know" by the Norwegian Nobel Laureate in Physics - Ivar Giaever . His accomplishment - an experiment he did for fun that confirmed the BCS theory of superconductivity - when he was all of 30 years old! Some useful historical tidbits and good advice too. Don't work in groups when you're learning - you'll end up copying the work of the smartest person.  After Josephson's first encounter with Bardeen and Bardeen discounted all of BJ's theories, Brian : "Is this the Bardeen of the BCS theory?" [yes] "He's not that smart after all." At another conference, Bardeen, giving the keynote, said : "It's lovely outside. I hope everyone will join us for a round of golf." (not [sic]) The Norwegian settlement of Iceland : If you ran into trouble with the law in Norway at that time, the penalty was to be declared “fredlos” (no peace) which meant that anybody could kill you with no penalty. F...

One of my favourite bits (only people on top of their game would want to meet someone who defeated them out of goodwill. Terrific stuff). Tells you why the British where invincible on the sea. On the 6th of October, 1783, Suffren finally sailed from Trincomalee for France, stopping at the Isle of France and the Cape of Good Hope. The homeward voyage was a continued and spontaneous ovation. In each port visited the most flattering attentions were paid by men of every degree and of every nation. What especially gratified him was the homage of the English captains. It might well be so; none had so clearly established a right to his esteem as a warrior. On no occasion when Hughes and Suffren met, save the last, did the English number over twelve ships; but six English captains had laid down their lives, obstinately opposing his efforts. While he was at the Cape, a division of nine of Hughes's ships, returning from the war, anchored in the harbor. Their captains called eagerly upo...