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With all due respect to Hawking - I don't think he's anywhere near as interesting as Feynman or Erdos. Feynman traveled to Brazil to learn Bongo drums on whim,
by smanek 17y ago
With all due respect to Hawking - I don't think he's anywhere near as interesting as Feynman or Erdos.
Feynman traveled to Brazil to learn Bongo drums on whim, he worked in a Strip Club, mastered the art of the pickup, broke into TS safes at the Manhattan Project, was a well known painter under a pseudonym, etc.
Erdos was basically homeless, and would show up at mathematician's doors unannounced looking for a roof - and while under their roof, would collaborate on some of the most ground breaking work of the century. He was a heavy drug user, active libertarian, etc.
I'm sure Hawking can compete in terms of intellect or work (I have no idea - I'm not capable of judging), but he is nowhere near as interesting.
- Eliezer 17y agoOh, come on! Hawking's supposed to go mountain climbing or something? Guy's got a legitimate excuse.
- smanek 17y agoHawking's story is extraordinary - but you can fill books with entertaining anecdotes Feynman's exploits (in fact, they have). Hawkings probably 'wins' in terms of sheer impressiveness of what he has accomplished and what he has overcome. But I still stand by saying that Feynman was more entertaining.
- Zancarius 17y ago> But I still stand by saying that Feynman was more entertaining. I agree that Feynman is entertaining, and he's something of a legend. I do feel that Hawking is not just fascinating in his own right but he's AMAZINGLY inspirational. Given the adversity he has faced for much of his life, the fact that he still pursues his love of science should be a lesson to all of us. To call his story merely "extraordinary" is doing a grave disservice to such an incredible individual.
- calambrac 17y agoYou didn't say 'entertaining' before, you said 'interesting'.
- calambrac 17y agoHe's been unable to feed himself since 1974, yet he's still managed to assert himself as a world-renowned physicist and pop culture icon. It takes a special kind of jackass to think that's somehow less interesting than working in a strip club (sorry, a "Strip Club").