Memories of a Theoretical Physicist

"Memories of a Theoretical Physicist", by Joseph Polchinski: 2017 Having only two bodies of knowledge, myself and physics, I decided to write an autobiography about my development as a theoretical physicist... But it is somewhat unique, a blow-by-blow history of where I started and where I got to. https://arxiv.org/abs/1708.09093 A parting gift of sorts from a leader in modern physics who passed away prematurely due to cancer. A true Summer Read as the author takes you on a ride from a smart kid in California, to Caltech, to working within an academic environment that allowed him to contribute in fundamental ways to understanding physical reality. My takeaways: [1] calculus is actually useful, [2] telling the truth and being transparent are invaluable assets, [3] discoveries are hard won. Clearly written towards advanced physics types but meant for a wider audience to give a backstage peek into the working life of scientists who push the boundaries of physics.