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  • Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

  • By: Richard P. Feynman
  • Narrated by: Raymond Todd
  • Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (12,015 ratings)

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Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

By: Richard P. Feynman
Narrated by: Raymond Todd
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Publisher's summary

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

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)

What listeners say about Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

Average customer ratings
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant and funny

What an interesting guy! Loved the storytelling. Highly recommend. Going to listen to more books about Richard

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Inspiring and entertaining

Loved this book! Narration was very good. Feynman was a very cool guy, of course exceedingly smart, and also very honorable.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Enjoyable listen

Good natured writer, writing about life’s experiences. Gives you insight as to how a genius thinks and the risks he’s willing to take for the purest science.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

the adventurous scientist

I've always admired Mr. Feynman as a scientist and reading his life's adventures made him all the more appealing

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A wild life

This guy lived a wild and curios life full of adventure, discovery, play and excitement

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Endearing

This book demonstrates that the most brilliant teacher of the 20th century was also a dear man. No lukewarm list of achievements, this spyglass peeks in on the daily life of genius as child through his extraordinary and colorful life.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Timely even now.

An oldie but a goodie!
What more can I sat?
Stay of F Feynman and Las Vegas hooker just one of diverse diamonds...

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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New favourite

Feynman sure had an interesting life. Great stories in here for all types of readers or listeners. Very well narrated, too! Probably the most enjoyable audiobook I've ever found. This is now no doubt also one of my favourite books in general.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

He rocked the life

Absolutely loved it!
For me, story describes not a behavior that you expect from a respected professor but it makes it the the coolest book I have ever red related to science. Besides, the stories itself are hilarious but each have a clear really truthful observation about realities that force you think and analyze more in your life. And besides, such light and playful perception of the world is just delightful

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

an interesting read about an exceptional mind

the narrator is phenomenal. the story is written very well, and is engaging.... it doesn't get too technical.

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