Genius

The Life and Science of Richard Feynman

By: James Gleick

Narrated by: Dick Estell

To his colleagues, Richard Feynman was not so much a genius as he was a full-blown magician: someone who “does things that nobody else could do and that seem completely unexpected.” The path he cleared for twentieth-century physics led from the making of the atomic bomb to a Nobel Prize-winning theory of quantam electrodynamics to his devastating exposé of the Challenger space shuttle disaster. At the same time, the ebullient Feynman established a reputation as an eccentric showman, a master safe cracker and bongo player, and a wizard of seduction.

Now James Gleick, author of the bestselling Chaos, unravels teh dense skein of Feynman‘s thought as well as the paradoxes of his character in a biography—which was nominated for a National Book Award—of outstanding lucidity and compassion.

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.

Feynman Life and Science

This book is half biography and half science. Feynman was one of a kind and had a remarkable career. You can???t help thinking that this is how brains are supposed to work. The science exposition is clear and easy to follow. The narrator is a perfect match to the material.

Great book, performance is uneven

Fascinating (obviously) material very well presented. My only complaint is the narration. I certainly want to cut the narrator some slack because of the topics in the book. However, the mispronunciation of Murray Gell-Mann's name is pretty bad. Not just that, but when he book gets to the part that ACTUALLY DISCUSSES the common mispronunciation, the narrator changes his pronunciation to the correct one. Fine, I get it, but hen he goes back to his earlier, incorrect pronunciation later in the book. Other pet peeves include 'jargon' (JAR-GAHN, as if it were two words) and 'coital' (he somehow manages to give it three syllables.

Again, great book, but some of these avoidable miscues took me out of the narrative.

Enjoyable and highly educational

The author manages to eloquently capture his colorful main character but also teaches the non scientist a great deal about physics and mathematics in an understandable way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.