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Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman

Adventures of a Curious Character
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( 214,555 ratings, 8,714 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman is an engaging collection of autobiographical anecdotes from the life of physicist Richard P. Feynman. It covers his diverse and often humorous experiences in science, art, education, and pranks, providing a fascinating insight into his quirky and curious mind.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're fascinated by quirky anecdotes and brilliant insights from one of the most legendary physicists of the 20th century. It's a delightful mix of scientific musings and humorous adventures, revealing how a curious mind finds joy and wonder in everyday life.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman, Richard P. Feynman shares his extraordinary life experiences through a series of captivating anecdotes and conversations with his friend Ralph Leighton. This intriguing book takes readers on a journey through various episodes of Feynman's life, from his early childhood in Far Rockaway, New York, to his critical role in the Manhattan Project during World War II, and his eventual recognition as one of the world's most brilliant theoretical physicists. Along the way, Feynman's insatiable curiosity and irreverent sense of humour shine through, offering an inspiring glimpse into the mind of this exceptional scientist.

With a new introduction by Bill Gates, this intriguing memoir not only showcases Feynman's scientific prowess but also his insatiable curiosity about the world and his penchant for pranks and adventure. Feynman's knack for exploring the unconventional is evident in his escapades, ranging from playing the bongos to participating in safecracking challenges. His unique perspective on life and science offers an engaging narrative that entertains as much as it enlightens.

Richard Feynman, the recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1965, emerges as a multifaceted character in this book. He was more than just a theoretical physicist; he was an artist, a practical joker, and an exceptional storyteller. Feynman's dialogues with Ralph Leighton, which were recorded over several years, have been preserved in their candid, conversational form. This allows readers to experience Feynman's wisdom, humour, and relentless pursuit of knowledge as though they were part of his inner circle.

The result is a wise, funny, passionate, and utterly honest self-portrait of one of the 20th century's most remarkable individuals. Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman is not just a book for those interested in physics, but for anyone who loves a good story and a good laugh, making it a perennial favourite among readers of all backgrounds.

Immerse yourself in this heartwarming and eye-opening account of Richard Feynman's life, where every chapter is an adventure, every sentence a piece of wisdom, and every page a testament to the curious mind and playful spirit of a true icon.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman by Richard P. Feynman is often praised for its entertaining and insightful anecdotes from the physicist's life. Reviewers highlight the book's humour, wit, and ability to make complex scientific concepts accessible. Feynman's curiosity and unconventional approach to life and science make it an engaging read for a broad audience.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784877798

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 16 June 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Bill Gates

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 23.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 368

About the Author

Richard P Feynman (Author) Richard Feynman was, until his death in 1988, the most famous physicist in the world. Only an infinitesimal part of the general population could understand his mathematical physics, but his outgoing and sunny personality, his gift for exposition, his habit of playing the bongo drums, and his testimony to the Presidential Commission on the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster turned him into a celebrity. Freeman Dyson, of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey, called him 'the most original mind of his generation', while in its obituary The New York Times described him as 'arguably the most brilliant, iconoclastic and influential of the postwar generation of theoretical physicists'. Bill Gates (Introducer) 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.

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