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Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) Paperback – April 17, 1997

by Richard P. Feynman (Author),‎ Ralph Leighton (Author),‎ Edward Hutchings (Editor),‎

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A New York Times bestseller―the outrageous exploits of one of this century's greatest scientific minds and a legendary American original.

Richard Feynman, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, thrived on outrageous adventures. Here he recounts in his inimitable voice his experience trading ideas on atomic physics with Einstein and Bohr and ideas on gambling with Nick the Greek; cracking the uncrackable safes guarding the most deeply held nuclear secrets; accompanying a ballet on his bongo drums; painting a naked female toreador. In short, here is Feynman's life in all its eccentric―a combustible mixture of high intelligence, unlimited curiosity, and raging chutzpah.

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

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A series of anecdotes 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 his engagingly eccentric book, a bestseller ever since its initial publication in 1985. 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 simply as a bunch of hilarious yarns with the smart-alecky author as know-it-all hero. At some point, however, attentive readers realize 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 vigor and verve in his no-bull prose. No wonder his students--and readers around the world--adored him. --Wendy Smith

From Publishers Weekly

History will remember Nobel Prize–winning physicist Feynman (1918–1988), for his work in quantum physics and his role in the investigation of the explosion of the Challenger space shuttle. Contemporary readers and listeners, however, will remember him best for his reputation as a free-thinking iconoclast whose personal adventures were hilarious, insightful and inspiring. Todd does a fabulous job of conveying Feynman's infectious enthusiasm and childlike sense of wonder with his energetic portrayal of the scientist. He's adept even in difficult sections, such as when Feynman "speaks Italian" and "Chinese"—inventing completely made-up but accurate sounding languages. Todd does a good job of portraying Feynman's inquisitive manner and conveys the book's message and attitude with aplomb. While he sounds nothing like the late physicist (Feynman— the subject of James Gleick's Genius—had a thick Long Island accent and sounded more like a cross between Yogi Bear and The Honeymooners' Ed Norton), Todd's clean, polite voice is a revelation. Based on the Norton paperback. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audible Audio Edition edition.

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Product details

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition (April 17, 1997)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0393316041
ISBN-13: 978-0393316049
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 1,183 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5 in Books > Humor & Entertainment > Humor > Science & Scientists
- #5 in Books > Science & Math > Essays & Commentary
- #19 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Scientists

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What a very interesting man!

October 9, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I enjoyed learning about Richard Feynman. What an interesting man with such intense sense of curiosity. A simple and a humble genius with great sense of humor and knowledge. I wish I could have met him and had a conversation with him.

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Amazon Customer

A human insight.

April 28, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A unique insight into the human side of genius.
He did it his way- partying, musician and loving husband.

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Computer teacher

November 27, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A quick read that is very entertaining and somewhat educational.

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surely youre joking

November 10, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

good read if you take into account the time it was written

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best of the series

August 7, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I think this one is the best of the series.

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Words of wisdom on more than just science

May 18, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Feynman, in simple language, takes you through the many adventures of his life. From radio repair, to the atom bomb to learning the bongos he shares his story and his opinions on life, science, education, and pompous buffoons.

Unlike many autobiographies he does not attempt to improve your opinion of him, but rather tries to help you improve the way you see the world. This book should be mandatory reading for educators, scientists, and those that want to live a full life full of adventure like Dr. Feynman.

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Brilliant and Funny!

November 17, 2009

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I read this Feynmann book many years ago, lost it and have recently purchased it again and re-read it. I'm pleased to say that the stories in it are just as funny, fascinating and diverting as I found them the first time round, possibly more so. Readers who want to sample Feynmann's humor should check out the story "Uncle Sam Doesn't Need You", in which he gets rejected from the draft to the military on psychological grounds! The story on his cod Italian ("Latin or Italian?") is also very amusing. The book also gives some insight into Feynmann's scientific mind: take for example the story about how he fixed radios as a kid, the one about his time as a chemist, or the one about his time on a course in cell biology. Feynmann was an amazingly versatile individual, who was up for practically anything.

The book has a verbatim feel to it, probably because it was transcribed by Robert Leighton from conversations with Feynmann. Possibly because of this, the language is direct in a rather attractive American way.

For those interested in further Feynmann adventures there is a sequelWhat Do You Care What Other People Think?: Further Adventures of a Curious Character. This also contains something very serious and instructive: an annex on Feynmann's work on the enquiry into the Space Shuttle challenger accident. A fascinating complement to these books is Alan Alda's essay on the play he put on about Feynmann, covering in particular the difficulty of capturing such a rich personality in a 90 minute play. This can be found in Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself

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Feynman is one of the greats and wonderful to read that he has his down to earth ...

March 14, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Feynman is one of the greats and wonderful to read that he has his down to earth interests like us normal people :)

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Most recent customer reviews

This book was recommended by a friend who was the same person who ...

This book was recommended by a friend who was the same person who recommend I get a kindle. My first book on kindle and because of eyesight issues Kindle has allowed me to start...Read more

Published 2 hours ago

Federico Berndt

Really good book about the life of one of the greatest scientists in the 20th Century.

Published 19 days ago

I recommend this book, I believe the author is honest in his memoir, which is refreshing and his interests besides physics, as well as the physics are fascinating, surprising,...Read more

Published 20 days ago

Entertaining book, written in Feynman's voice. It gives insight into the workings of a creative mind powered by insatiable curiosity, and spiced with a lot of humor.

Published 24 days ago

Funny and smart

This is a fun read. I felt like I was listening to the story of Richard Feynman's life as I was reading the book. He definitely had some great adventures, and did amazing things.

Published 25 days ago

Good, easy to read book.

Published 27 days ago

I wish I had Feynman as a professor

What a character! Pure genius, polymath, a lover of science and thinking, learning and exploring. I only wish I got to sit in some of his lectures.Read more

Published 27 days ago

Simple, fun, priceless.

Great book by one of the best in his field. Feynman is a joker with a great personality. Must read!

Published 28 days ago

It was unadulteratedly boring.

I only got about 2% into it. It was unadulteratedly boring.

Published 28 days ago

A must read for anyone interested in Science or Engineering.

Published 28 days ago

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