Tuva or Bust!: Richard Feynman's Last Journey

I began reading this book, because after having read all about Feynman's life from such books as 'Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman!', and 'What do you care what other people think?' etc., I was quite intrigued to see that there was another story that I hadn't heard of about him. But no. This book hardly talks about Feynman and Tuva. The majority of the book features the back-and-forth letters and telegraphs sent between the author and the Soviets, trying to arrange the trip. Most of the mentions we get on Feynman are that he is dying and that he was too weak to come to this event or that event. Only at the end of the book do we actually get to read about the trip... In the EPILOGUE. (Spoiler----------) But Feynman dies before he even goes... The reason I gave this book two stars instead of one star, though, is because of obscure the information we actually were given about Tuva itself, (excluding Feynman) which was quite interesting to read about. Unfortunately, the latter-half of the book stopped focusing on the merits of going to such a country, and instead it was entirely about all of the people Ralph Leighton had met in setting up the trip (which roughly took about a decade). In summary, this book is only partially about Feynman, only partially about Tuva, and mostly about Ralph Leighton and the people he corresponded with. (Spoiler again-------) And of course Feynman doesn't even go on the trip which is advertised on the cover as 'Feynman's Last Journey'! This book is simply an attempt by Ralph Leighton to further capitalize on his books about Feynman - A scam!

It was all just accidental. I stumbled upon this book through a documentary that I rented, called Ganghis Blues. I like all types of music and thought "A documentary about Blues music, cool..." After realizing what a fortune of life I had found in this movie, I was drawn to everything TUVA. SO, to the book I go. The book of course came before the documentary, and obviously was an influence in the boys who produced it. When was the last time a book did something for your soul? This one touches your soul, your heart and your longing to achieve a goal or live out a dream. Aaaah. I loved it.

If you're reading this review, you've probably read dozens of witicisms from Richard Feynman, one of science's most colorful characters. Though the name suggests otherwise, this is really about a Feynman inspired journey. Ralph Leighton and Richard Feynman spot a stamp from Tuva, which inspires Leighton's journey around the world. What makes the book an interesting read is that you can easily follow Feyman's curious energy in the actions and writing of the author. This really brings the heart of the book's value - this type of intellectual curiosity is not just the property of Richard Feynman. Anyone can chase a journey because it's fun or because it's there.I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and hope that you do too.

When I was a kid in the 1950s I collected stamps and had quite a few from a mysterious little land called "Tannu Tuva". It always intrigued me because though I could find it on the old globe we had at home (made before the USSR swallowed the unfortunate Tuvans in 1944)I never heard the slightest news from there, nor did I ever hear of anyone going or coming from that little red country sandwiched between the yellow Soviet Union and green Mongolia. Time passed. A lot of time. Fast forward in fact, forty years. One day I saw a new book advertised--TUVA OR BUST. I could scarcely believe that somebody else in America remembered that hapless little country that once issued diamond and triangle stamps with yaks, camels, archers, and horsemen on them. Yet, they had it at our local bookstore. I bought it and read it as soon as I got home. What a treat ! I had never heard of Richard Feynman, not being a physics aficionado, but he turned out to be a great character. I enjoyed reading about his years-long efforts with Ralph Leighton to get to Tuva. They went through all kinds of trouble and interesting side voyages. I strongly recommend that you read this book. For me, reading the book was only a beginning. I listened to the plastic disc of Tuvan throat singing that came with the book, and subsequently bought tapes and attended Tuvan concerts by the group Huun Huur Tu in Boston. I also became a "Friend of Tuva". You can find their website on the net. I still drive around with my 'Tuva or Bust' bumper sticker. All of this stemmed from reading this delightful book on a faraway, unknown country and two people's adventures trying to get there. A very pleasurable experience.

Watch for "Genghis Blues" a Sundance Film Festival winner. The story of a blind blues singer who hears the Tuva-style throat singing over the short-wave radio and learns how to do it. He then contacts Leighton's "Friends of Tuva" and what a great story of how a motley group visits Tuva and one member enters the throat singing contest. A must-see film for fans of this book. Let's get the book BACK in print!

I began reading "Tuva or Bust" as a result of my admiration for physicist Richard Feynman. Although subtitled "Richard Feynman's Last Journey," "Tuva or Bust" is more about the efforts of the author, Richard Leighton, to get permission and the means to visit a Soviet republic formerly known as Tannu Tuva in the 1980's because "any country whose capital is spelled 'Kyzyl' must be worth visiting." The book is simultaneously an adventure story, a manual on how to do research and a loving (in a manly way) tribute to the genius of Richard Feynman. I learned more from this little book than from the last half-dozen tomes consumed. As an added bonus, (the hardcover edition, at least) contains a vinyl record with samples of Tuvan "throat singing" in which the singer produces two notes simultaneously!