Fantastic journey into the life of a genius

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	• Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Adventures of a Curious Character) Richard P. Feynman, Ralph Leighton W. W. Norton & Company, 1997 - 350 pages average customer review:based on 232 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Fantastic journey into the life of a genius

This book was an absolute joy to read. I found that I could not put it down. It makes a great book for a small break in the day because each topic is only a few pages. I will warn you that reading just one topic may be difficult. If you enjoy science, physics, how things work, brilliant minds, you will love this book.

A Brilliant Book by a Brilliant Man

"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" is simply one of the best books I've read. It's funny, witty, informative, and interesting. But most of all, it's entertaining.

Despite my utter infatuation with this book, I believe a "Reader Beware" is in order: To truly enjoy this book, I would suggest that you have at least some interest in science. Feynman's antics aren't difficult to understand, but if you don't like science, you might feel a bit on the outside of some inside jokes.

As for the accusations regarding Feynman's arrogance, they're not unfounded. But it boils down to this: a smart guy poking fun at some dumber guys. I found it funny. Some people don't. If you've never giggled in class when someone gave a really dumb answer to a question, you may not enjoy this book.

Overall, "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" is an excellent piece of literature. It's an incredibly fun read.

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A hilarious yet important book

Yes, it's true that Feynman was a great scientist. Fortunately, for those not well-versed in physics, it's not necessary to know anything about it to enjoy this book. His escapades are funny, and, if some thought them cruel, I don't think that was his intention. He learned from everything around him, from how people act, to cracking safes (which he did to point out security flaws), to learning about the fascinating world of ants. His sense of humor shines through in all his stories, so that makes this book great fun to read as well as a great resource into the mind of an intelligent and thoughtful man. I cannot recommend this book enough.

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He's a magician from first to last

I can't really add much to the hundreds of reviews already posted but to say one thing in response to a common criticism I've read. Many have criticized this book for its poor writing style. This would be a valid critique - if Feynman had actually sat down and written it. Nearly the entire book is transcript from a series of taped conversations between Feynman and a friend, and the effect is amazing. Enjoy!

Brilliant But Insufferable Guy

I'm in the camp that believes Feynman was a brilliant scientist but somewhat of a jerk. His practical jokes, though perhaps brilliantly conceived, were often hurtful and arrogant. His stories about his bar-hopping and womanizing lack credibility. I'm not impressed that he knew how to play bongo drums -- who doesn't? And then there are his "cultural" pursuits. I know other scientific types who look down on the arts and believe they are easy. As a result, we get a lot of scientists who think they can write, compose or play music, do art, write poetry, etc., when, in fact, they are usually embarassingly terrible at those things. Feynman is guilty of that; his prose is mundane and cliched. Where was his editor? On the other hand, I was very impressed by Feynman's passion for correct learning, that is, to make sure you UNDERSTAND something, not just rely on rote. That's valuable. Ditto for his belief that if a person does not live up to another person's expectations, it's the fault of the person who set the expectations too high, not the person who failed to meet them. I enjoyed the vignettes of other great thinkers. I appreciated his plea for total intellectual honesty in all endeavors. And although I think Feynman was a wiseacre, I have to admit that he had me laughing in a few places. I believe Feynman was a great man -- perhaps more accurately, a great nerd. I'm glad I read the book, but in its entirety, I would have to say it merits only three stars.

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