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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
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful,
By John E. Davidson (Purley) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman: Adventures of a Curious Character as Told to Ralph Leighton (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:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surely an awesome read,
By
This review is from: Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman: Adventures of a Curious Character as Told to Ralph Leighton (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.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A warped genius in full splendour,
By A Customer
This review is from: "Surely You're Joking, Mr Feynman" (Paperback)
Well, what can I say about this book? The truth is, it left me in such laughing fits I looked utterly and totally maniacal while reading it in public. Who would have thought that a brain that he was (mind you he was a Nobel prize winner who worked with some of the greatest minds known to date, was involved in the making of the atomic bomb, lectured in Cornell, etc etc) was as warped as he?! I mean, this guy went through life playing pranks on people, doing the most weirdest experiments (such as ferrying ants to determine if they left trails and if they had a sense of geometry, and persisted in controlling his dreams to the point where he could navigate himself in full colour), tried to prove a point by peeing while doing a head-stand and hung out six times a week in a topless bar even while still a professor in Caltech! Feynman was a real character to say the least. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and truly don't remember the last time I loved a book this much for its style, its seeminly identifiable everyday-like experiences but with a hilarious Feynman twist to it, and most of all Feynman's life, pranks and adventures. Interestingly, he also tried to explain some (few) physics laws in humourous ways (probably for the scientifically impaired such as myself) and highlights the problem of rote-learning, which most encouragingly, he says is also practiced by MIT students. Finally, his insight into MIT and Princeton makes some of the best stories in this must-read book. A very enlightening and inspirational man. Very very very highly recommended.
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