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Amazon.co.uk Review
A series of anecdotes, such as are included in Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman, shouldn't by rights add up to an autobiography, but that's just one of the many pieces of received wisdom that Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman (1918-88) cheerfully ignores in this engagingly eccentric book. Fiercely independent (read the chapter entitled "Judging Books by Their Covers"), intolerant of stupidity even when it comes packaged as high intellectualism (check out "Is Electricity Fire?"), unafraid to offend (see "You Just Ask Them?"), Feynman informs by entertaining. It's possible to enjoy Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman, a bestseller ever since its initial publication in 1985, simply as a bunch of hilarious yarns with the author as know-it-all hero. At some point, however, attentive readers realise that underneath all the merriment simmers a running commentary on what constitutes authentic knowledge: learning by understanding, not by rote; refusal to give up on seemingly insoluble problems, and total disrespect for fancy ideas that have no grounding in the real world. Feynman himself had all these qualities in spades, and they come through with vigour and verve in his no-bull prose. No wonder his students--and readers around the world--adored him. --Wendy Smith
Review
Quintessential Feynman--funny, brilliant, bawdy . . . enormously entertaining.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
44 of 45 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Richard Feynman was a great physicist, a truly original thinker and for many years a hero of mine.
This book is basically a collection of anecdotes about his life and his worldview. No scientific background is required to enjoy this book - it is fantastic - unremittingly entertaining and informative - accessible to all.
The stories cover, amongst other things: his childhood, his time at Los Alamos working on the atomic bomb (including his safe breaking escapades), failing his medical with the US Army for psychiatric reasons (you will never put your hands out in the same way again), learning Portuguese (and his reasons for selecting Portuguese over Spanish), learning to paint, learning the bongo drums and his general intolerance of stupidity.
Overall it is a fantastic and easy read - it is almost impossible not to enjoy this book
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I love this book. I have read it many times and have also given it as a gift to a number of people all who have enjoyed it. To think that it is written by one of the greatest physicists of all time makes it all the more surprising. If there is one person who I would like to go back in time to meet it would be Mr Feynman.
The guy was a genius but also completely down to earth. If you read this book and go away with the impression that he was immodest and big headed like other reviewers felt I would be surprised. This is a man who felt embarressed by winning the Nobel prize, a guy who hated giving lectures at prestigous societies but would never give up a chance to lecture at a high school physics class, who went to Rio to join a Salsa band and march in the carnival, who spent much of his time as Las Alamos annoying the censors and learing how to crack safes. - A curious charater indeed.
All in all if you are interested either a) in physics, b) in interesting people or both read this book. If you want a more in depth but less personal view of Mr Feynman then read James Gleik's Genius.
The guy was a genius but also completely down to earth. If you read this book and go away with the impression that he was immodest and big headed like other reviewers felt I would be surprised. This is a man who felt embarressed by winning the Nobel prize, a guy who hated giving lectures at prestigous societies but would never give up a chance to lecture at a high school physics class, who went to Rio to join a Salsa band and march in the carnival, who spent much of his time as Las Alamos annoying the censors and learing how to crack safes. - A curious charater indeed.
All in all if you are interested either a) in physics, b) in interesting people or both read this book. If you want a more in depth but less personal view of Mr Feynman then read James Gleik's Genius.
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm delighted to see how many other reviews there are for this fantastic book. For so long, I thought I was one of the few who'd discovered this book, but it seems not. And that's a Good Thing, because I think EVERYONE should read this book.
Yes, Richard Feynman possessed an incredible mind. Yes, he was a brilliant theoretical physicist. But more important than any of that was his lust for life, and thirst for knowledge. And it didn't matter to him what he learned - whether it was safecracking, playing bongo drums, mixing paints, or how to sleep with women!
This book is just Feynman's recollections, as dictated to the author. As a consequence, it's ridiculously easy to read - no highbrow theory or dull prose here.
If you have an ounce of curiosity in your body, buy this book. You will learn a great deal about science, and be fascinated by Feynman's stories. You'll also learn quite a lot about Feynman (and he was a thoroughly entertaining guy!), and most of all, you'll be infected with Feynman's own lust for life and thirst for knowledge.
When you finish it, you'll be sad that you never met this amazing man when he was alive. But console yourself in the knowledge that there's a lot more of Richard Feynman for you to discover in his other books.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Book
Good book, well written. Book came very quickly, was a good price and was well packaged. Good service as usual.
Published 2 months ago by Terence Price
Made me laugh
My knowledge of physics is non-existent, yet I enjoyed this book very much.
That's because it's really the amusing biography of a truly remarkable man (Feynman was a Nobel... Read more
That's because it's really the amusing biography of a truly remarkable man (Feynman was a Nobel... Read more
Published 2 months ago by susie
Hilarious!
This collection of Mr. Feynman's adventures is a very entertaining read. The stories vary from his childhood mischief to his encounters with Lady Luck in his adult
years. Read more
years. Read more
Published 11 months ago by gamblor
great, inspirational book
If you are looking for literature and fine writing, forget it. But if you are looking to spend time with an amusing and inspirational man, you can't be wrong. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Benoit
Welcome to the Richard Feynman show!
A book full of fascinating anecdotes, hilarious life stories and insightful scientific scenarios in the every day life of a truly special character. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Sammy
Fantastic ...
A fantastic read for anyone interested in science, maths or physics or even someone who just likes reading interesting and funny autobiographies. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Paul Thomas
Terrific book
Richard Feynman was a genius and worked on a number of historically important projects, including the development of the atomic bomb. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Mole
Ingenu Theoretician Who Missed A Lot But Scored Some Successes
About forty apparently first-person chapters or stories - collected by Ralph Leighton (who played the piano, and also drummed, with Feynman). Read more
Published 17 months ago by Rerevisionist
Brilliant
It is a very personal book about the life of this genius. The book is extremely funny and written in a way a child could read, with a large amount of adult lessons within. Read more
Published 18 months ago by D Mc Cann
Fun and Physics on time
This book apart from a couple chapters on maths (Feynman calls them basic) is a fascinating insight into a great brain. Not only informative, but amusing and sad all at once. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr. Clifford D. Leftwich
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