This has been on my shelf for years but I finally took the plunge and I really loved it. Feynman is one-of-a-kind and his stories don't disappoint. You need no knowledge of, or even interest in, physics to enjoy his writings, so try it out. Also, the lecture on the CD included in this edition is fantastic.

p. 223 "It's not science, but memorizing, in every circumstance... Triboluminescence is the light emitted when crystals are crushed..." I said, "And there, have you got science? No - you have only told what a word means in terms of other words. You haven't told anything about nature - which crystals produce light when you crush them, why they produce light. Did you see any student go home and try it? He can't. But if, instead, you were to write, 'When you take a lump of sugar and crush it with a pair of pliers in the dark, you can see a bluish flash. Some other crystals do that, too. Nobody knows why. The phenomenon is called "triboluminescence."' Then someone will go home and try it; then there's an experience of nature." [O Americano, outra vez!]
p. 489 "Our responsibility is to do what we can, learn what we can, improve the solutions, and pass them on. It is our responsibility to leave the people of the future a free hand. In the impetuous youth of humanity, we can make grave errors that can stunt our growth for a long time... ... It is our responsibility as scientists, knowing the great progress which comes from a satisfactory philosophy of ignorance, the great progress which is the fruit of freedom of thought, to proclaim the value of this freedom; to teach how doubt is not to be feared but welcomed and discussed; and to demand this freedom as our duty to all coming generations." [The value of science]

همه‌ی این داستان‌ها واقعی هستند و راوی آن‌ها خود فاینمن است. بی‌تردید ریچارد فاینمن نگینی درخشان و اسطوره‌ای بی همتا در تاریخ علم است. روزنامه‌ی نیویورک تایمز می‌نویسد، فاینمن ناب- شوخ طبع، باهوش، گاهی هم هرزه… این کتاب چقدر خواندنی است.

و روزنامه‌ی واشنگتن پست در نقد این کتاب می‌نویسد، او انسانی مبتکر، باهوش، کنجکاو، پرانرژی، التقاطی، و تمام عیار سنت شکن بود که به علم عشق می‌ورزید، علاقه‌ی سیری ناپذیری به اصول اولیه

There are certain books which, if read at the correct time in a person's development, can drastically alter their life for the better. This is the best example of such a book.

Feynman's stories distill a lifetime of lessons into a light-hearted, pleasantly disjoint narrative. Each chapter is a separate story, but Feynman's life is so intensely interesting that it will keep you glued to this book until the very end.

Feynman was a brilliant and incredibly luck individual. Many of the stories in this book center on a particular bit of luck, but equally as many center on Feynman's curious, inventive mind.

If you're around the age of 14-17, and you have any interest at all in anything scientific, then it is absolutely imperative that you read this book.

If you're past that age, it's probably slightly too late to really change your life forever, but you should still read it, if only for the fact that it is a brilliantly written, engaging piece.

This one is a compilation of "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman" and "What Do You Care What Other People Think?" I adore Richard Feynman!

یادمه تو دوران راهنمایی، انداخته بودن تو کله‌مون که آیا اینشتین بخاطر تاثیرگذاری در ساخت بمب اتم، میره جهنم یا نه؟
فاینمن یکی از اون کساییه که تو ساخت بمب اتم، نقش جدی داشته. توی کتاب هم میگه چه حسی داشته نسبت بهش. زندگی جالبی داشته. چون برخلاف بقیه، نگاهش به زندگی خیلی روتین و شاید منطقی بوده؛ چه توی تصمیم گیریش در مورد شرکت توی پروژه ساخت بمب اتم، چه رفتن سراغ دخترهای مختلف برای رابطه و چه امتحان کردن عرفان و توهم و...
تهشم توی یک صحبت خیلی مهم، میگه که «هیچ انسان خارق العاده ای وجود نداره» به این اشاره میکنه که فضیلت خاصی نداشته. فقط نشسته کوانتوم خونده و حالا به عنوان دانشمند فیزیک کوانتوم شناخته میشه.
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کتاب تو برخی فصل ها به شدت خسته کننده میشه. توی فصل یکی مونده به آخر که اختصاص داره به حادثه شاتل فضایی، اطلاعات خیلی تخصصی و دور از روند عادی کتاب میشن.
در مجموع، زندگینامه جذابیه برای خوندن. اگر خودتونو ملزم به خوندن تمام فصل هاش نکنین.

Feynman was a great story teller. This book isn't a biography or an in depth look at his physics research. Instead it is a collection of stories from his like that happen to give some biographical or physics research details. The book came with a cd which is the audio from one of the talks in the book. If you're a first time reader of the book, listen to the cd first. As I listened, the stories in the book suddenly had his voice and became more interesting purely because I could hear his delivery style which enhances the story. I listened after finishing the book, but I think listening first would have made the book more enjoyable. Some stories in the book are better than others. In particular the details about Los Alamos, his early teaching, safe cracking and the investigation of the Challenger space shuttle accident were my favorites. The middle of the book was more of a slog to get through. I don't care how he got girls in Vegas or some of those other mid-life stories. Despite this, overall I enjoyed the book. Life is made up of a series of experiences and someone who can relate those experiences in an approachable way and with humor is highly valued. Richard Feynman seems to be that type of person. Despite his incredible intellectual abilities, he is able to teach and explain in an every man way. That is something truly worth striving for.

I was inspired, as an engineer and a curious person who often ponders things I think I have no business concerning myself with. I am more likely going to let myself just figure things out, and learn. I might learn real Japanese or fake Italian, I might learn how to pick locks or decide to no longer make decisions about my dessert. Whatever it is, it will crazy and rewarding.

In my (very humble) opinion, Feynman ranks right up there with Einstein and Oppenheimer. Calling him an interesting person is a gross understatement. It's unfortunate that it took an episode of "The Big Bang Theory" to bring him to my attention--not that I don't like the show (it's one of the few TV shows I look forward to)--but I guess the point I'm trying to make is that I'd never heard of this splendid individual before.

3 1/2 stars. I will go back and list the chapters I liked.

I imagine Feynman is the kind of person that comes to mind when people think all science majors are pompous assholes.

I was entertained, for the most part. I was encouraged to not be a lazy scientist (my whole reason for reading this, and the reason it gets at least 3 stars. It achieved its purpose for me).

I was annoyed though. And I can’t explain how without me seeming envious. I think there’s a way to exemplify how genius you are without practically saying “I’m a genius “.

I think of Sacks’ Everything in Its Place. I never got an arrogant feel, even though Sacks was continuously listing off his knowledge, his experiences, his way of thinking, etc.

I’m not sure what separates the two, why I was rolling my eyes with Feynman, but not with Sacks. Very curious.

Also (correct me if I’m wrong), but Feynman seemed like one of those people that shit on non-science majors. I’m not too hot about humanities either, but I refuse to judge how other choose to dedicate their lives.

Feynman’s bluntness is something I can respect, thought I’m not sure he knew just how blunt he was. For example, when it came to detailing his affairs to/attraction to women, it came off slimy sometimes (most the time).

I can’t believe he admitted to verbally abusing women to get them to sleep with him. It was funny to think he said “let me tell everyone this”. So on one hand I have to applaud him for being that honest, but then on the other hand I’m thinking “does he even know what’s wrong with saying this out loud?”

And I couldn’t even dig “Arlene”, which was supposed to be the more humanizing look at Feynman, according to the foreword.

I don’t know. I respect the scientist, but I think I’ll pass on the person.

Such an interesting man. He was truly an eccentric genius. Some of his stories were over my head with the information, but I kept wishing I would have liked to meet him in passing. Been a part of one of his adventures. And his thirst for the new and the interesting ignites many imaginations. Oh that physics had been this interesting.

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