DOI: 10.1007/s10948-006-0175-6 About Physics, Myself, and Ginzburgs

If you are also an admirer of Vitaly Lazarevich Ginzburg, you will recognize the present title as a reference to his most recent book, “About Science, Myself, and Others ” [1]. Hopefully, after reading this article, you will also recognize certain similarity in the style of writing. This is deliberate and meant to be a tribute—an acknowledgement that his tenets have been noticed, understood, and appreciated. It is also meant as a reassurance that his influence will continue to live long. The most striking aspect of that book, to me, is its openness—talking so directly and candidly about one’s private thoughts and feelings. I could see no deliberate attempts to impress the reader. If you have also read “You are surely joking, Mr. Feynman, ” you couldn’t but be stricken by the contrast. Don’t let me be misunderstood—Feynman is another of my personal heroes all the same; genius may come in all kinds of personalities. And Feynman is certainly not an exception at all. Most autobiographies of great men, scientists or otherwise, that I have had a chance to read [Despite our names, Natasha and I are nor Russians—we do not even speak Russion, although both of us can read it.] left me in wonder why the author felt such strong need to prove that he was really smart—as if anyone doubted. Now, while no