There are boring sequences here, but the best of these letters, both to and from Feynman, reveal an ethical, courteous, modest, and intelligent man. He refused to accept honorary degrees, because he thought they devalued the degrees one had to work for. He played a big role in determining the technical cause of the '86 Space Shuttle accident. As a young man, during WWII, he was part of the Manhattan Project in New Mexico. He was considered a great teacher. All this is well known. What I liked was reading his own written words. The book could have been shorter by a quarter, however, due to the presence of letters that really did not further understanding of the man. No matter, I enjoyed it.

Perfectly Reasonable Deviations is a must-read for admirers of the celebrated physicist. The Manhattan Project-era letters are understandably sparse in their scientific content (thanks to wartime censors) and focus mainly on his terminally ill first wife. These letters suggest how Feynman masked his pain with his jokester image. (He makes no mention of his brief, unsuccessful second marriage.) The letters are mostly non-technical and are readily accessible to anyone with even a passing interest in physics, although casual readers might find them occasionally obscure. This collection will allow readers to enter Feynman's brilliant, very human mind.

This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.

Only one word : beautiful. Reading the letter conversations between Dr.RPF and his family, friends, strangers, students etc from the beginning till the end makes me appreciate his effort, brilliance and sincere heart. Some letters are fun, some are a bit technical but still very enjoyable to read.

Very enjoyable (if reading someone else's letters is appropriate :) )

Didn't want to read this at first because I assumed reading someone else's letters was kind of creepy, but I got the audio book for free and figured that the man has been dead for long enough to not matter. Anyways, this book is sort of like a companion to his autobiographical Surely You're Joking and What Do You Care, as it presents the same events from a closer perspective. Like the autobiographies it was a mix of really intriguing, funny, and the occasional sad story, however the Arlene letter in this one probably gives it the title of "most sad". Also the part where someone from Feynman's old frat writes him a letter and mentions how one time Feynman wanted to watch him and his girlfriend make out - it was kind of funny but underscored how much Feynman missed Arlene since he was in university.

I'm sure one day there's going to be another Feynman bio pic/musical/piece of popular media and all of these books will become relevant again. They'll probably have to release an edited version of Surely You're Joking too, because one of the chapters is quite controversial.

Anyways, great book, although this is where I draw the line on how much information I will consume about Feynman's personal life. I swear I won't read a biography.

Physics is made up of understanding simple questions. The complexity arises in trying to represent those understandings. Plus - this book was a look into his spirit - which seems to be more important in this case.

I think this is the book - that captured Feynman - out of character!

My dad's favorite so gave it a go. This is a collection of Richard Feynman's letters compiled by his daughter, offering an intimate glimpse into the physicist's life. While many know Feynman for his groundbreaking work in quantum electrodynamics or his role in the Manhattan Project, these letters reveal a deeply human side: a devoted father, a patient mentor, and an individual who maintained his curiosity and humor throughout his life.

The letters span decades of Feynman's life, from his early career to his final years, and showcase his remarkable ability to communicate complex ideas with clarity and wit. Whether writing to students seeking career advice, responding to scientific inquiries, or corresponding with his family, Feynman's distinctive voice shines through - direct, honest, intellectually minded, and often playful. Particularly moving are his letters to his first wife Arline, who passed away from tuberculosis while Feynman was working on the atomic bomb project, revealing a depth of emotion and romanticism that contrasts with his public persona.

What makes this collection truly special is how it demonstrates Feynman's consistent approach to life and learning - the "perfectly reasonable deviations" of the title. Through these letters, we see how he encouraged others to think independently, question conventional wisdom, and maintain a sense of boldness and wonder about the world. The book serves not just as a biographical document, but as an inspiration for anyone interested in pursuing knowledge with both rigor and joy.

Very good, and likely the best I've read of/by/on Feynman. I've always felt that the Feynman depicted in Surely You're Joking and Gleick's Genius felt pained – maybe a bit largely than life, if you will. While it's perfectly understandable, the picture of a fun-loving, quirky, womanizing physicist always felt overly romanticized. Reading his unadulterated communication felt voyeuristic, but my model of Feyman evolved and felt altogether more humanistic.

An absolutely brilliant physicist and a gem of a human, though he has his moments of anger, misunderstanding, and even in some cases, pettiness (the overly blithe attitude that's been associated with him always felt a bit off). Admittedly, some of his communication with his first wife made me tear up – I can only hope to feel the same level of connection with someone. While 50% or so of his letters felt trivial, the few letters I'm going to be re-reading for years made this worth the slog. Highly recommended for Feynman enthusiasts.

While I think one may not want to start their intro to the life and accomplishments of Richard Feynman with this work, they would be mistaken to miss it. The personal intimacy at which so many of these letters shed life on Feynman, beyond what's already so well-covered in his other works, was truly a joy to read (listen to).

"Don't you have time to think?" is a much better title and the message is: "Don't pay attention to 'authorities'. Think for yourself.". Live long and prosper to Feynman's ideas and attitudes!

Amazing insight into Feynmans life

I loved this book. I borrowed it from the library, but I definitely want to add it to my library, too. It lets you experience the daily life of a genius. Richard Feynman is one of the most colorful scientists I happened to know.

You will read through his letters to see his genuine and sincere thoughts about anything you can think of, including science, life, relationships, etc.

I admire his sense of humor and way of thinking. This book is a gem.