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Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

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Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

By: Richard P. Feynman
Narrated by: Raymond Todd
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About this listen

One of the most famous science books of our time, the phenomenal national bestseller that “buzzes with energy, anecdote and life. It almost makes you want to become a physicist” (Science Digest).

Richard Feynman, one of the world’s greatest theoretical physicists, thrived on adventure. His outrageous exploits once shocked a Princeton dean’s wife to exclaim: “Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman!”

In this phenomenal national bestseller, the Nobel Prize–winning physicist recounts in his inimitable voice his experiences trading ideas on atomic physics with Einstein and Bohr and ideas on gambling with Nick the Greek, painting a naked female toreador, accompanying a ballet on his bongo drums, and much else of an eyebrow-raising and hilarious nature. Woven together with his views on science, Feynman’s life story is a combustible mixture of high intelligence, unlimited curiosity, eternal skepticism, and raging chutzpah.

©1985 by Richard P. Feynman (P)1997 by Blackstone Audiobooks Professionals & Academics Science & Technology Funny Inspiring Thought-Provoking Witty Suspenseful

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Critic reviews

"A chain reaction is not a bad analogy for Feynman's life. From a critical mass of gray matter it goes off in all directions, producing both heat and light." ( Time)
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I was expecting heavy going, well you would wouldn't you? But this was a pleasure to read; stories from theoretical physics through to picking up girls in a bar, all told by a 20th Century genius.

I couldn't recommend this highly enough.

An absolute joy to read

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This is a great book with an interesting insight to Dr. Feynman's life. I would highly recommend this book to anyone but especially to people with an interest in science as the concepts mentioned and lessons to be learnt are valuable to those aspiring physicists.
Glad I was able to listen to this as it is a lot more efficient than reading.
I hope you too choose to read this and enjoy it as much as I did. Thank you!

Very intriguing and motivational!

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Not a lot of science, just a wonderful story about a wonderful life. Raymond Todd does a wonderful job.

wonderful listen

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

Yes, Feynmano won a Nobel for physics and even though he wasn't find of awards I am glad he got it. Truly an inspirational character

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

He fixes radios by thinking! This is in the beginning of the book and had me laughing. I felt proud of young feynman.

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

Outstanding narration. I would definitely get more books read by him. Truly bought it to life and kept it entertaining.

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

Laugh a lot but learn a lot too.

Any additional comments?

Recommended for all budding scientist and professionala alike. Fantastic stuff!

Must listen!

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Everything from science, philosophy, dating, soft drugs, education and military in trepidation. An interesting fella.

A true testament

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A great perspective on a great mind but also filled with many "it's not just me then" moments.

Perspective

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amazing story telling
super reading
very entertaining and informative
recommend for everyone not only scientists !

brilliant

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This man has had an incredible life and to see the world though a man who's as inquisitive as Feynmann truly is amazing, I recommend this book to any and everyone!!!

Great listen!!

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It's rather normal to present extraordinary people as ideals and pure good. I love this book for the way it shows the amazing personality of Richard Feynman in a way that doesn't make him a statue but a living human being with his good and bad sides.
Very well written and perfectly performed audiobook!

Allowing people to understand an extraordinary man

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When I started listening to this, I wasn't sure about it, as he sounded a tiny bit arrogant. But then I realised that he just tells things straight. So if he's good at something, he'll say that, but if he's bad at it, he'll also freely admit it and laugh at himself unashamedly. Feynman is almost childlike in his curiosity about the way the world works and his enthusiasm for things, particularly safe-cracking and beautiful women! His life is a series of adventures and circumstances that would sound unbelievable if you didn't know they were true - his curiosity and openness leads him into all sorts of daft encounters and circumstances that are entertainingly described to the listener with humour and a lightness of touch.

The book is just a series of little events (apart from his winning the Nobel prize), so if you want huge excitement or deep scientific explanations you won't be happy, but he is entertaining company. You probably won't enjoy this book if you've never come across Feynman and his work before - you don't need to know lots (I don't understand it in any depth), but a sense of his significance in the world of physics would be helpful. The narrator gets the tone just right, as if you're sitting having a chat with the great man himself. Very enjoyable.

A Curious Nature

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