Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

Endlessly interesting

This is a fantastic book, and you urge it to continue as Feynman leads us through his life, from the mundane to the truly extra-ordinary. What really sets this book apart is the complete, unashamed honesty with which he approaches every situation. That one man could have won the Nobel Prize (that "damn" prize), worked on the atomic bomb, become a paid musician and paid artist and given evidence in a trial supporting a strip club just sums up the sort of character Feynman was. Someone who loved life and embraced every opportunity. That enthusiasm comes through in his breathless-at-times writing style and unstructured format, but you really don't care. It's like listening to the world's most interesting person talk in a bar.

The only slight downside is the variable audio quality and the narrator's penchant for doing voices and accents, which can be jarring at times. It certainly doesn't ruin this fantastic book though.

24 people found this helpful

Wish I'd known him!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would, particularly to somebody who understood some maths & physics.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!?

People thought he was being pretentious because he learned Portuguese when living in Brazil. They set out to tease him by introducing him to a lady who had been brought up in China and greeted him in Chinese. He boldly replied with a bit of nonsense which sounded Chinese and she said "Wouldn't you just know it, I speak Mandarin and he speaks Cantonese?!"

What does Raymond Todd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I actually have the book, but he makes some wonderful sound effects and noises which you don't get from the printed page.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Mainly it made me laugh, but the chapter when he witnessed the first A-bomb test made me sad - particularly when he went on to like, admire and work with Japanese colleagues.

Any additional comments?

If you're not sure and think this might be a bit stuffy and erudite, take a chance on it - you'll be glad you did.

9 people found this helpful

Great stories, Narrator is quite weak

The material is great, the narrator however is very flat. Would still recommend for fans of Feynman.

8 people found this helpful

Flawed fun

I first read this book about 30 years ago along with its sequel and, later, Gleick's biography. I was much taken with Feynman in those days and he was very much in my mind a few years ago when I was fortunate to visit the Altai mountains (and witness the throat singing) that he so wanted to visit in his dying days.

I picked this recording up in a recent sale and looked forward to reacquainting myself with the book and the man. I was not disappointed with the anecdotes, his zest for problem solving and his mischievous sense of fun.

I remembered from before his contempt for philosophy and for culture in general but, at the risk of criticising an icon, this time I was struck, however, by the sexism. I didn't recall this from the last time I read it, and that probably says much about how attitudes have changed. I was also struck by a lack of compassion and empathy at times.

Feynman remains undiminished as one of the greatest physicists and scientific communicators of all time; I was just a little more aware of his flaws on this listening (though all 'geniuses' are lacking in some area).

6 people found this helpful

Disappointing

I loved the paper book, so looked forward to this. However the quality let it down. it's not a dreadful recording, but the presenter's voice came across as too childish which seemed to change the tone of some parts of the book and there were a few repeated sentences. Somehow the excitement of a genius that played with science felt more like a blundering amateur.

12 people found this helpful

The Greatest Showman

A set of amusing, entertaining and thought provoking anecdotal stories from a man who was rightly described as a genius. Richard Feynman was capable of many other things but he would fail miserably at being lazy, boring and stupid. A lover of showgirls, pranks and exposing corruption and failures in the system, his absolute self-confidence and scorn for convention got him into some amazing scrapes. From bar brawls, scaring the neighbourhood with his maniacal drum and breaking into safes, he was a true force of nature and was also able to understand its myriad of intricacies. This is a fascinating insight into a man with a brilliant mind and an insatiable zest for life. He was passionate about his teaching profession and his students, but was also one of the scientists who developed the nuclear bomb and his thoughts on this achievement make sobering reading.
This is only a snapshot of an incredible life but there is enough here to make you thirst for more.

5 people found this helpful

Fascinating man

I have read in one review that the reviewer considered Mr F to be self centred and a womaniser. I disagree very strongly, in all his brilliance he has a certain naivety and sees things in a straight uncomplicated manor. I found this book fascinating and read well. My only complaint is that the editing wasn't up to Audible's usual standards, there were a few passages that were repeated - as in - for the recording process to be able to be picked up accurately. There was also one spot where the words 'jumped', even when I backtracked and played it again in case I had done something accidentally .

All in all an excellent read

5 people found this helpful

Interesting Insight

This is an interesting insight into the life of a scientist with a very unusual mind and outlook on life. The narrator's tone suits the piece. It also gives a good picture of life in America in the 50's and 60's. Although the book seems quite long, and the tone can be a little monotonous in places. I would suggest reading in stages - not all at once.

3 people found this helpful

Excellent - interesting, witty and insightful!

One of the best audiobooks I listened to. Extremely enjoyable and some lovely insights to life:)

Well worth a listen!

3 people found this helpful

A wicked genius - a beautiful life

I know more about the world having read this world - and it is even more fun than I suspected

3 people found this helpful