Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!

By: Richard P. Feynman

Narrated by: Raymond Todd

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

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)

Motivational

Any additional comments?

The man's education, and perhaps even more so intellect, yielded him the most interesting opportunities such that if a distracted student was mature enough to read it, he/she would realize the doors that open for a person who understood or really learn the principles taught in college. And to act on the experiences we all crave to live a fuller life.

Enjoyed this book far beyond expectation

The stories are laugh out loud fun and filled with practical and poignant insight. Highly recommend.

Fun and very entertaining

Where does Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This listen ranks at my top ten list.

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

Feynman's stories in Los Alamos, his insights on education and all the delightful and inspiring way of presenting physics.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I was moved throughout this book.

Amazed.

I usually don’t go for audiobooks, but as I could not find this book in my country I decided to give it a go one of the best decisions in my life. Highly recommend to anyone who likes quirky autobiography

Who knew a physicist could be so interesting!

What did you love best about Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!?

This book shows the less serious side of a man who took part in some historical times in the world of physics. The pranks he played were funny and ingenious, but what fascinated me was his interactions with some of the biggest named scientists of the past century. Of course, Mr. Feynman was an amazing contributor in his own right, but hearing his inside perspective was very interesting.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator was too folksy. It felt like a little kids was reading. I don't know if this is how Mr. Feynman really talked, but it was annoying.

insight from intelligence and interesting author

this book is a series of autobiographical short stories from a person thats life is filled with interesting stories. gives you insight into the thought process of a very intelligent human that has academic achievements that match his intelligence.

Great book about a great man.

Awesome book to learn about an extremely interesting man. The narrator does an excellent job conveying the story. Highly recommend the read.

What other Nobel Laureates sold art to brothels?

If science or math aren't your thing, don't worry! This is by far one of the most entertaining books I've done in a while.

Brilliant look at the colourful mind of Feynman

Mad at myself for not getting to it sooner despite having a copy as a kid. Feynman's experiments into art, music, safe cracking, computing, out of the body experiences, dating and bar hopping, gambling and more were really entertaining.

The lack of insights into the Manhattan Project was so disappointing at first, but made sense after covering more of the book since it's about Feynman himself.

The narrator did the content and the colourful character that is Feynman justice.

Unbelievably good

A genuine genius in the field of physics, one might think his life would be filled with bland stories about hard to understand experiments. This book is anything but. Richard Feynman was an absolutely remarkable human being and the story of his life unfolds in such a way that the title makes perfect sense. Dig in and enjoy.