This book is a compilation of essays by the author on various topics, and the central theme is that of physics and physicists.From the introduction:Isaak Kikoin was one of those brilliant physicists who played acrucial role in the development of Soviet science.From the back coverThe book contains some of the articles Academician Kiokinpublished in the Kvant journal. The author describes in thesearticles the advance of Soviet physics as he witnessed it, hisencounters and work with other outstanding scientists, andsome interesting physical phenomena.Intended for school pupils, teachers, engineers and scientists.The book was translated from the Russian by Svetlana Landau and was first published by Mir in 1989.ContentsIsaak Kikoin by A. Alexandrov and V. Legasov 6The Advance of Soviet Physics (written to mark the 60th anniversary of theGreat October Socialist Revolution)  13Abram Ioffe (an essay to mark the centenary of his birth) 77He Had Lived a Happy Life (written to mark the 80th anniversary of Kurchatov’s birth)  107My Encounters with Debye (written to mark Debye’s centennial anniversary)  115Physics and the Scientific and Technical Progress 119Physics in the USSR (written to mark the 60th anniversary of the USSR)  141Science Is for Young 149The Photoelectromagnetic Effect 155What Is a Wave? 165How Physical Quantities Are Introduced  181Especially recommended is the last chapter How Physical Quantities Are Introduced, it is one of my favourites. I cannot help myself from displaying the illustrations in this chapter in the post.