[technofire]

> as well as the characters

While I cannot recommend any books on physics itself, I can recommend a couple light reads on Richard Feynman, the Nobel prize-winning physicist (links below). Each is structured as a series of short autobiographical stories so they're very easy reads that shed light on some of Feynman's life, both within and without academia.

[1] Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character)

http://amzn.to/2gTVXa5

[2] "What Do You Care What Other People Think?": Further Adventures of a Curious Character

http://amzn.to/2gTWfOd