scope:

This book was derived from a talk that the author gave at the International Conference on Advanced Nanodevices and Nanotechnology in Hawaii. The book is about science and engineering, but is not on science and engineering. It is not a textbook which develops the understanding of a small part of the field, but a book about random encounters and about the strengths and the foibles of living as a physicist and engineer for half a century. It presents the author's personal views on science, engineering, and life and is illustrated by a number of lively stories about various events, some of which shaped his life. Written in a style that is at once lucid and engaging, this is an outstanding work that weaves the many threads of science into a rich tapestry.