The outrageous exploits of one of this century's greatest scientific minds and a legendary American original. In this phenomenal national bestseller, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard P. Feynman recounts in his inimitable voice his adventures trading ideas on atomic physics with Einstein and Bohr and ideas on gambling with Nick the Greek, painting a naked female toreador, accompanying a ballet on his bongo drums and much else of an eyebrow-raising and hilarious nature. A New York Times bestseller; more than 500,000 copies sold.
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Amazon 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
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Review
"There are two types of genius. Ordinary geniuses do great things, but they leave you room to believe that you could do the same if only you worked hard enough. Then there are magicians, and you can have no idea how they do it. Feynman was a magician" (Hans Bethe, Theoretical Physicist And Nobel Laureate)
"A storyteller in the tradition of Mark Twain. He proves once again that it is possible to laugh out loud and scratch your head at the same time" (New York Times Book Review)
"Quintessential Feynman - funny, brilliant, bawdy...enormously entertaining" (New Yorker)
"Buzzes with energy, anecdote and life. It almost makes you want to become a physicist" (Science Digest) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
"A storyteller in the tradition of Mark Twain. He proves once again that it is possible to laugh out loud and scratch your head at the same time" (New York Times Book Review)
"Quintessential Feynman - funny, brilliant, bawdy...enormously entertaining" (New Yorker)
"Buzzes with energy, anecdote and life. It almost makes you want to become a physicist" (Science Digest) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
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First Sentence
WHEN I WAS about eleven or twelve I set up a lab in my house. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
WHEN I WAS about eleven or twelve I set up a lab in my house. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
60 of 62 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
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By D. Bower
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.
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By Andrew Kerr
VINE™ VOICE
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
5.0 out of 5 stars
I've bought this amazing book 5 times now!
i first stumbled across this terrifically entertaining, funny and thought provoking book back in the 80s. I think I was on a visit to California from London. Read more
Published 11 days ago by Peter Rosengard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
The book came really quick. I watched the drama about Mr Feyman and NASA and thought he seemed an intriguing fellow.
Published 1 month ago by joanne bloomer
3.0 out of 5 stars
Merely feyn
An interesting enough book to dip in and out of but not one to be devoured cover to cover. Some of the anecdotes are amusing and diverting others are frankly boring and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Arkimk
5.0 out of 5 stars
VERY ENJOYABLE AND GUARANTEED TO AMUSE
its an excellent book written by a wonderfully intelligent and witty character such as Dr Feynman who was so much ahead of his time
Published 1 month ago by Elvis McC
5.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining read
A great man, wish he was still with us.
Wonderful read about the man, his time and achievements.
See uTube for more on Richard Feynman.
Wonderful read about the man, his time and achievements.
See uTube for more on Richard Feynman.
Published 1 month ago by jw
5.0 out of 5 stars
This the my son's favourite book.
He choose this book to be taken a foto with for his school book fair.He went with the book to Iceland and actually will read it in between the hot springs smoke.
Published 2 months ago by maria teresa vaos solano
5.0 out of 5 stars
100% Funny
Well worth a read trying to get inside the mind of one of the most entertaining and influencial physicists of the 20th century.
Published 2 months ago by MR C M COLLIER-WOODS
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great.
Was a last minute gift for my boyfriend at christmas. Is a really interesting look into Feynman's life and career.
Published 2 months ago by AJW
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read
Hands down one of my favourite books. After reading it you can have nothing but admiration for one of the world's most interesting and passionate people. Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. Crowder
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Inspiration Story
A really captivating and easy to read history of interesting events which really made me smile, Mr Feynman was a genius twice over - academically and socially.
Published 6 months ago by James Bond
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