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Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!: Adventures of a Curious Character Paperback – Feb. 6 2018
麻豆区
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Richard P. Feynman, winner of the Nobel Prize in physics, thrived on outrageous adventures. In this lively work that “can shatter the stereotype of the stuffy scientist” (Detroit Free Press), Feynman recounts his experiences trading ideas on atomic physics with Einstein and cracking the uncrackable safes guarding the most deeply held nuclear secrets—and much more of an eyebrow-raising nature. In his stories, Feynman’s life shines through in all its eccentric glory—a combustible mixture of high intelligence, unlimited curiosity, and raging chutzpah.
Included for this edition is a new introduction by Bill Gates.
- Print length352 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherWW Norton
- Publication dateFeb. 6 2018
- Dimensions13.97 x 2.54 x 21.08 cm
- ISBN-100393355624
- ISBN-13978-0393355628

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Product description
Review
Quintessential Feynman—funny, brilliant, bawdy…enormously entertaining.—The New Yorker
Books like this are temptations—to give up reading and devote life to rereading…The book is a litmus paper: anyone who can read it without laughing out loud is bad crazy.—Los Angeles Times Book Review
A chain reaction is not a bad analogy for Feynman’s life. From a critical mass of gray matter it goes off in all directions, producing both heat and light.—Time
Feynman is legendary among his colleagues for his brilliance and his eccentricity…It’s not hard to smile all the way through.—Newsweek
About the Author
Ralph Leighton lives in northern California.
Product details
- Publisher : WW Norton
- Publication date : Feb. 6 2018
- Edition : Reissue
- Language : English
- Print length : 352 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0393355624
- ISBN-13 : 978-0393355628
- Item weight : 1.05 kg
- Dimensions : 13.97 x 2.54 x 21.08 cm
- Book 1 of 2 : Feynman Series
- 麻豆区 Rank: #9,585 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Molecular Physics Books
- #1 in Molecular Physics (Books)
- #11 in Scientist Biographies (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
Richard P. Feynman was born in 1918 and grew up in Far Rockaway, New York. At the age of seventeen he entered MIT and in 1939 went to Princeton, then to Los Alamos, where he joined in the effort to build the atomic bomb. Following World War II he joined the physics faculty at Cornell, then went on to Caltech in 1951, where he taught until his death in 1988. He shared the Nobel Prize for physics in 1965, and served with distinction on the Shuttle Commission in 1986. A commemorative stamp in his name was issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 2005.
Bill Gates is a technologist, business leader, and philanthropist. In 1975, he co-founded Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen and today he is chair of the Gates Foundation. Bill is the founder of Breakthrough Energy, an effort to commercialize clean energy and other climate-related technologies, and TerraPower, a company investing in developing groundbreaking nuclear technologies. He has three children.
Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read book recommendations and more.
Ralph Leighton (born 13 November 1949) is a biographer, film producer, and friend of the late physicist Richard Feynman. He recorded Feynman relating stories of his life. Leighton has released some of the recordings as The Feynman Tapes. These interviews became the basis for the books Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! and What Do You Care What Other People Think?, which were later combined into the hardcover anniversary edition Classic Feynman: All the Adventures of a Curious Character. Leighton is an amateur drummer and founder of the group Friends of Tuva. In 1990 he wrote Tuva or Bust! Richard Feynman's Last Journey.
Customer reviews
Customers say
Customers find the content incredible, fun, and inspiring. They also describe the humor as entertaining, uplifting, and witty.
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Customers find the content incredible, fun, and inspiring. They say it contains unforgettable and hilarious moments during Feynman's life. Readers also say the book is one of the most fascinating and entertaining they've ever read.
"...exactly what to expect when I first started reading it, but it's a fun read that had me laughing all along the way." Read more
"Great read. Very funny and good for how to think about things." Read more
"This book is not what I expected. However, it is a good read." Read more
"...a fascinating character and the work he did over the years is incredible to read about - his era seems like another world to someone born shortly..." Read more
Customers find the book entertaining, uplifting, and hilarious. They describe the author as intelligent, innovative, and witty. Readers mention Feynman is always having fun, playing tricks, and chasing girls.
"One of the best book I have ever read. This is hilarious, witty and the point is this is not from any entertainer or comedian, but from on the most..." Read more
"As witty and relevant today as it was when first released...." Read more
"This book contains unforgettable and hilarious moments during the life of Richard Feynman...." Read more
"Entertaining and interesting life of physicist." Read more
Top reviews from Canada
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- Reviewed in Canada on May 28, 2025Verified PurchaseA great gift to anyone who is a little geeky.
Especially if they enjoyed “Big Bang” and remember the references to Feynman
- Reviewed in Canada on November 18, 2023Verified PurchaseThis book contains unforgettable and hilarious moments during the life of Richard Feynman.
It's a lovely book that takes you through the life of the 20th century physicist, which covers many aspects during Feynman's life.
It's a great book if you want to learn about the condition's of Los Alamos, or life as a professor at Caltech.
- Reviewed in Canada on June 9, 2025Verified PurchaseEntertaining and interesting life of physicist.
- Reviewed in Canada on February 10, 2024Verified PurchaseCan you imagine him being very nervous as Einstein is invited to hear his talk! Once he was actively teaching with chalk in his hands he overcomes his anxiety and shines. Amazing.
- Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2023Verified PurchaseWe own this book - my husband is a scientist and this is one of his favourite books.
I ordered 2 books: for my grandson and a friend.
- Reviewed in Canada on August 17, 2012Verified PurchaseIt warms my heart to know someone like Richard Feynman existed. I have been a Feynman fan for a year or so now since discovering his interviews on youtube. I don't want to say that this book alone is 'life changing', but the interviews, the book, the stories; the character and outlook and philosophy of Richard Feynman has been life changing for me. He had this way of going through life having so much fun, learning so much, and not giving a damn about the silly conventions and traditions and general attitudes of timidness of others. He had a kind of fearlessness that is truly inspiring... The book is full of gems that reveal more of his character. It is very readable and diverse in the stories. It might be worth noting that this book requires zero prior scientific knowledge.
Fantastic!
- Reviewed in Canada on April 24, 2021Verified PurchaseThis book shows that you don’t need to be a super nerd to be a scientist. Feynman is always having fun, playing tricks and chasing girls. Most of all this book taught me about the importance and beauty of true understanding.
Thanks Feynman. I want to study mechanical engineering even more now. I want to study hard so I understand well enough to do great things.
- Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2020Verified PurchaseThis was a Christmas gift for my husband
He enjoyed the book, however I was very disappointed when it arrived and the front cover had been bent back leaving a large crease. Too late to send it back for another. it was the first thing he noticed
Top reviews from other countries
- M. KroonReviewed in the Netherlands on May 2, 2017
4.0 out of 5 stars Scientist are also regular folks
Verified PurchaseNice anecdotes of a brilliant man. Mr. Feynman strikes me as a man that I would like to have a beer with - he is nothing like the stereotype scientists we see in movies these days.
- NickReviewed in Germany on January 11, 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and fun reading
Verified PurchaseThe best quality of this book is how interesting it is. I knew who Feynmann was but I never got to know what made him the acclaimed physics he was and now I know. Surfing the internet I read many comments about what kind of person he was, because honestly by reading the book, you can conclude he wasn't the best person in the world, his way of fooling around and the way he acted most of the time weren't the best. But I think that because of this and the fact he was one of the greatest physics of that time we can conclude how he actually wasn't special at all. He had just that curiosity since he was a kid that led to a very successful career in the world of physics. Now I'm not saying he wasn't a smart person because he actually was but curiosity played a big role in his life. So, this is definitely an easy reading, something you can read without worrying too much about the content of the book, but nonetheless this book encourages the reader to be more curiose about his/her everyday life.
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Arda Y?rükReviewed in Turkey on August 31, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Feynman'?n an?lar?ndan olu?an ?ok ak?c? ve keyifli bir kitap
Verified PurchaseE?er bilime, ?eylerin nas?l oldu?una ve arkas?ndaki hikayelere merakl?ysan?z soluksuz okuyabilece?iniz bir kitap. Feynman'?n üslubu her zamanki gibi ?ok ak?c? ve keyifli. Tabii ki fizik, matematik ve analitik dü?ünmeye olan ilgisini kitab?n her yerinde hissediyorsunuz.
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JKReviewed in Japan on May 14, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars 宇宙人ファインマン先生?
Verified Purchase题名どうり、何処までが真実でどこから冗谈话なのか分からない。分かるのは着者の思考法がユニークで自由阔达、何よりも兴味対象が并はずれ広い。量子力学が専攻だが、暗号解読、音楽、ダンス、教育、ストリップ鑑赏、玄人と素人への口説き方の违い?、言语(含む日本语)、幻覚症状等、何にでも手を出す。それらの合间に量子力学を研究し、ノーベル物理学赏を得るのだから、天才中の天才の头脳です。逆に、名誉や地位には一切兴味が无くノーベル赏を受赏したら、その権威でトップレス?バーに通えなくなると一度は辞退したとか? 异文化が好きでブラジル滞在时、悬命にノートを取る学生の授业态度に関心し、质问をしたら内容は丸暗记しているが论理を理解してないので、回答できないと知り哑然とする。今でもどこかの国は同じです。私は学生时代本书を読み、「学者の半分も量子力学を理解してない」との一节に触れ、物理学から离れました。宇宙人のような着者の试行错误と兴味の対象を広げる生き方は大変参考になります。
- Cristobal Sayrols EstradaReviewed in Mexico on April 19, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Biography of one of history's most curious characters.
Verified PurchaseHow can you not fall in love of a book like this? Set during world war 2, this book is a biography of one of the most influential and peculiar characters involved in the manhattan project. If you are interested in the history of the creation of the atomic bombs or are just looking for a book to have a good time then this is the book for you. This is a page turner.