Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman

*** As told by Richard Feynman. I didn't know anything about Richard Feynman before I read this book. Now I'm obsessed.

Feynman was one of science's great figures. He won the Nobel Prize, and may be most famous for his involvement in the development of the atomic bomb, although he was barely out of college at the time (he described himself as pretty small potatoes on the team, but he was there, wasn't he?). This book is a loose collection of stories and anecdotes he told to his friend Ralph Leighton. It's a hoot.

Did you know he didn't want the Nobel Prize? That he played music in a samba band in Brazil? That he was a renowned safecracker at Los Alamos? Feynman had insatiable curiosity, over-developed senses of mischief and adventure, and a wonderful sense of humor that all shine through in this book. Never mind the fact that he made major contributions to science; this guy was funny! He also had many insights on education and other issues that will drive you crazy just like they did him. Because it's a bunch of random stuff stitched together, there isn't a great deal of continuity, but it's still great fun.

If, like me, you don't know anything about Richard Feynman, this is a good introduction to the sides of him that aren't usually the focus of his memory (at least among those who didn't know him personally). If you do, you should read it anyway. You can also find it as an audiobook, which I'm sure is just as great, and will also reveal his surprising Brooklyn accent.

I just borrowed Genius, his biography, and I'm looking forward to reading that soon.

Posted by Joe on April 27, 2002 10:04 PM