Genius

The Life and Science of Richard Feynman

By: James Gleick

Narrated by: Dick Estell

Length: 20 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of the national best seller Chaos comes an outstanding biography of one of the most dazzling and flamboyant scientists of the 20th century that "not only paints a highly attractive portrait of Feynman but also . . . makes for a stimulating adventure in the annals of science." (The New York Times).

©1993 James Gleick (P)2011 Random House

A GREAT READ OF A GREAT MAN

This is the best bio on RICHARD FEYNMAN by far, and it comes as no surprise that the author is JAMES GLEICK. Gleick is one of the greatest living science writers. His subject this time is the great RICHARD FEYNMAN. A scientist who is fascinating on all fronts- personal and professional.
In other writers hands this cornucopia of great material is wasted. Gleick is the right man for the job and he doesn't disappoint. He choreographs a memorable dance intertwining the personal and professional sides of this enigmatic,extroverted, exuberant, genius. whose life is a favorite study of scientific students and others like myself who have been lucky enough to discover the entrancing story of his remarkable life and work..
This is a highly readable and thoroughly enjoyable biography that anyone can benefit greatly from reading. As expected Gleick does a masterful job of disseminating all of Feynman's remarkable scientific discovery's and inventions in a manner anyone can not just come to understand- but appreciate as well . Thats a tall order that Gleick is renown for pulling off (see my review on his book on chaos theory) As far as I can recall, the narration is also quite good for both books.
Once youve read genius- or even before you read it, check out all the wonderful interviews with Feynmans on u tube. This is a great book about a great man. Highly recommended.

Read any book by James Gleick

Excellent journalism, and storytelling. I’m frustrated by the audible narrator, Miss pronouncing words and names throughout the reading.

Wonderful Biography!

Like Bird & Sherwin's biography of Oppenheimer, Farmelo's account of Dirac, and Issacson's book on Einstein, Gleick's tome on Feynman brings to life the man whom one of his colleagues called "50% genius, 50% buffoon"--and then amended his comment to "100% genius, 100% buffoon!" Lots of personal accounts of the wacky, intense genius that Feynman was, with wonderful details of his work and how he helped to recreate science in the nearly mystical world of quantum mechanics.

I'm a theoretical physicist! Loved it!

The book is quite readable and enjoyable for a layperson, but it is even more special for a theoretical physicist! I loved the many insights about science and live that Feynman an this book could offer me! Thanks!

A genius or a bongo playing magician

A great combination of biographical information and the Physics of Richard Feynman.
The narration is also very good.

Loved Chaos. Boring performance. Fascinating life.

It’s good to read an outside biography of Feynman as Surely You’re Joking is a narrow perspective on a more nuanced figure.

A wonderful glimpse into a remarkable man

If there was a stronger word than "genius", Richard Feynman would surely be worthy of it. The book is remarkably narrated and remarkably informative -- about science, about a life, and about the human spirit. I wish I had known Richard Feynman. James Gleick thankfully has helped me see just how much I've missed by never having had that opportunity. Well done Mr Gleick.

Sloppy reading and quality control

This person should not be allowed to read other books without an elementary school teacher listening in to correct his pronunciation. Off the top of my head, there was "can't-EE-un" for Kantian; "one one" for 1:1 (one to one); "craydoh" for credo; "post co-EYE-tal" for post coital; "para-dim" for paradigm; "C-E-R-N" for CERN (usually pronounced "surn"). There were regular cases of emphasizing the wrong syllable, like "exPERimental" instead of "experiMENTal". Fortunately the book itself is outstanding and frankly I had no problem looking past this mild lack of skill. It is, nonetheless, worth noting.

Love the topic, a little hard to follow

Love the topic, the style of story a little hard to follow at times, and it appears some of the key names aren’t pronounce correctly.

a remarkable tour de force

the narrator did a good job on this book, as well. What an interesting life.. !