Surely you're Joking Mr Feynman: Adventures of a Curious Character Paperback – 7 Jun. 1992

I love this book. Constructed from a series of interviews, it covers Richard Feynman's life from childhood to probably the late 1970's.Clearly it's from his point of view, and only covers areas he felt like discussing, so there's very little about his marriage (although there is another book which has more detail on that), and nothing about the Challenger disaster (again, another book).But the anecdotes are interesting, some are hilarious, and I've managed to get my son to read and enjoy this as well. His time with the Manhattan Project is a particular source of amusement, and his move to Brazil is another rich fountain of anecdotes.The Big Bang Theory has probably brought his name to the attention of another generation of people.You've probably got at least 2 series' worth of material in this book.

Feynman is a genius, I am not. However, I also don't produce or research major theoretical physics papers in topless bars. Judge that as you may, but this book is a fascinating insight into the psyche of a genuine genius who seems to be as eccentric as you might expect a mad physicist to be. Feynman also has depth, passion and strong opinions on the development of science, research and education as well as drumming. Whilst the first half of this book is light and entertaining, the second half follows Feynman's passion more and I found it all the better for it. I was slightly disappointed the book didn't explore his personal life, but I'm not sure we're supposed to know - his professional and social life are intriguing enough. This is a thoroughly absorbing book and well worth the read.

Richard Feynman is a genius in an unconventional way. He has an original way of thinking about problems and never seemed to things to seriously as he says himself he likes to play with physics. The book is not all about physics and also filled with wonderful anecdotes from his college days to later in his life. Feynman has a variety of interests from fixing radios in his younger days, to picking locks whist working on the atomic bomb, playing the bongo drums and trying his hand at Brazilian and Japanese. Whilst the book doesn't follow a strict chronological order the reader never gets lost.In summary, its an excellent book in my opinion, its easy to read and whilst I am still not finished it I find it to be a breath of fresh air. Richard Feynman is a man who plays with things because he is interested in them and never takes things to seriously, he just has to quench his thirst for a solution. In my opinion he is guy who really enjoyed life to the full! When you read it you will see what I mean!

This book is a collection of anecdotes by Richard P. Feynman who was a Theoretical Physicist famous for winning the Nobel prize and his earlier work on the Manhattan project responsible for creating the first Atomic Bomb, the two being unrelated. In spite of the stereotypical image of theoretical physicists, or even leading scientists in general, "Dick" was renowned for his character which endeared him to many who knew him and as well as having a keen intellect this book also shows his fun-loving creative side and the fact he was also a great story teller.The stories in this book begin early on in his childhood when he was tampering with and repairing valve-based radio's through to his time studying at MIT and Princeton then through his years at Los Alamos working on the Bomb going onto his later years teaching at Caltech and in Brazil where he learned to speak Portuguese and play Samba music. Each story is well described and as long as necessary, it's been well edited so you're rarely reminded that these were story's that were not delivered for a book but were told in a far more personal setting. The layout and organisation build an image of how his character was developed throughout the years and his curiosity and love of science as well as his ignorance to social etiquette shine through the words on the pages. The later chapters deliver his passion for genuine scientific method and thorough hard work and attention to detail which would be a good moral for anyone to take from reading this book.Very enjoyable throughout, a must for anyone with or without an interest in science and the key figures who influenced all of our lives.

A BBC Radio 4 book review programme left me expecting more. It's an OK, quirky, episodic canter through incidents in this brainy physicists life. The book spills over with ingenuity and all manner of telling observations. It is also quite two-dimensional and souless. He's quite the centre of his own universe. All rather sad I'm afraid and not at all uplifting for this reader. His approach to women left me spluttering in my coffee. 3 stars may actually be too generous.

This is a beautiful, uplifting, funny bookSpend a little time with one of the most brilliant minds of our time, covering safecracking, physics, ants, gambling, samba music, and girls (lots of girls)You'll come away smiling, and - if you're like me - slightly sad that you never had the chance to know this amazing man in person

I thought about putting 3 stars, but the book clearly states it is a series of anecdotes.... And that's what it is. Read half of it, could not stand just reading random anecdotes about opening safes and whatnot for pages and pages. I did not find the anecdotes particularly insightful or engaging, and the writing style felt a bit all over the place in may sections - probably a reflection of his genious or something.I would have enjoyed having an insight into his thoughts, views on different issues, but again that's my fault, the book never said it did that. The anecdotes show his eccentricity, but that's not enough to make it interesting.