One of the greatest physicists of the twentieth century, Richard Feynman possessed an unquenchable thirst for adventure and an unparalleled ability...
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Oct 06, 2010
Manny
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We were having a discussion about safety at NASA in another thread and I thought of this book, about half of which consists of an account of Feynman's role in the investigation following the Challenger disaster. One of the other reviewers complained that this section was too long, but I found it completely fascinating.
Feynman was always very good at asking tough questions and at describing things as they are, not as they are supposed to be. The most famous bit is where he's at the pr More...
Feynman was always very good at asking tough questions and at describing things as they are, not as they are supposed to be. The most famous bit is where he's at the pr More...
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Feb 26, 2008
Joe
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I promised myself that i would review this book without comparing it to Surely You're Joking, the seminal work of a curious character. So here goes...
What Do You Care was pretty good but there was a lot of focus on the Challenger explosion, perhaps more than someone looking for a light, charming read could bear.
I found myself really enjoying the stories due to my adoration for this man I was never fortunate enough to meet, but I felt that the book (while only a memoir of More...
What Do You Care was pretty good but there was a lot of focus on the Challenger explosion, perhaps more than someone looking for a light, charming read could bear.
I found myself really enjoying the stories due to my adoration for this man I was never fortunate enough to meet, but I felt that the book (while only a memoir of More...
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Mar 27, 2009
Kim
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Really difficult to review this without comparing it to "Surely You're Joking", which is a shame since this book is pretty good all on its own, but is a bit scattershot (which it admits right at the beginning), and about half of it covers the Challenger explosion in more details than I really cared about. For the Feynman completist or NASA disaster junkie this will be really interesting, for the average reader probably not.
However the first essay, about how parents can inst More...
However the first essay, about how parents can inst More...
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Jun 10, 2011
Bojan
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Richard Feynman is one of the most famous twentieth century Physicists. He is one of those rare scientists who have managed to go beyond the success in the narrow confines of his field of research and become a public celebrity. A big part of this success comes from his persona which combined incredible brilliance with the irreverent and down-to-earth attitude to most problems in life, be they "big" ones like working on the atomic bomb, or the everyday ones that almost all of us are fam
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Apr 05, 2011
Kate
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This book was in my re-read-me pile and I'm glad I read it. Feynman's anecdotes are always amusing and usually thought-provoking, and having read the compilation of letters to and from him that came out a few years ago, I had some more background to some of them - particularly the character of his first wife.
This book really shines in the second half which details Feynman's efforts to investigate the Challenger accident as part of a presidential commission. Not only is it fascinating More...
This book really shines in the second half which details Feynman's efforts to investigate the Challenger accident as part of a presidential commission. Not only is it fascinating More...
Feb 12, 2011
Erik
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The powers that be were foolish enough to ask Richard Feynman to be on the special commission tasked with investigating why the space shuttle blew up. They must not have known he would actually pursue an answer. The head of the commission was William Rogers, Nixon's Secretary of State whom Kissinger made sure had no real duties or powers in that role, so he was the perfect guy to sabotage this space shuttle commission, making sure it accomplished nothing. And were Feynman not on it, Rogers proba
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Oct 02, 2010
Katie
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Why should you read this book? Because Richard P. Feynman won a Nobel Prize in physics and you haven’t, kiddo, that’s why. Ok, now we’ve got that out of the way and we can talk about Feynman’s ego, which will take the rest of this space, and possibly the rest of Goodreads’ bandwidth.
Actually, I really enjoyed Feynman’s memoir. The first part recalls his education as a scientist, mostly recalling his father, his first wife, and his school friends. This is highly recommended for an More...
Actually, I really enjoyed Feynman’s memoir. The first part recalls his education as a scientist, mostly recalling his father, his first wife, and his school friends. This is highly recommended for an More...
Feb 10, 2010
Danna
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Hooray for serendipity! A random choice of audio-book for the daily commute has resulted in an exceptional experience. Definitely not necessary to have read the first book "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! Adventures of a Curious Character" though I'm going to look for that next. I highly recommend this to everyone, and found the audio version to be a special treat. I don't think I would have enjoyed it quite so much if I'd read it silently; it's meant to be a conversation, and l
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Oct 09, 2009
Kathleen
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Feynman was a great story teller, but not necessarily a great writer which is unfortunate. I could have loved this book--I did love this book--but the writing drew me out at points. For instance, the tense confusion irritates me sometimes while I read this book. Still, the stories are absolutely worth it.
The latter half of the book is given to Feynman's participation in the Challenger Investigation and it is truly fascinating. His style of investigating--asking very simple ques More...
The latter half of the book is given to Feynman's participation in the Challenger Investigation and it is truly fascinating. His style of investigating--asking very simple ques More...
Jul 12, 2009
Nicholas
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Apr 15, 2009
Sarah
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This is five star because of one particular essay, called 'The Value of Science' In that essay, Feynman conveys his sense of wonder with the natural world and likens that sense of awe and mystery with religious experience - one few people not educated in science have the priviledge to encounter. He also emplasises something I believe, but have never seen written about explicitly before - that one huge contribution of science is the realisation that it's entirely possible to live your life and
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Jul 24, 2009
Jack
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Insights into the life and mind of the great physicist. Poignant recollections of his first wife, Arlene (who died in nearby Albuquerque while he was working at Los Alamos in 1945). Also contains one-of-a-kind look into the workings of the Rogers Commission, which investigated the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster.
Jun 19, 2011
Charles
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Not sure how this ended up on my bookshelf at school, but I'm sure glad I picked it up on a whim. It was a quick read, and I learned very much.
I started with the second half -- Feynman's narrative of his investigation into the Challenger space shuttle explosion. Much to my relief, his explanation never got too technical for me. Having several good friends who work for NASA, I found myself relating to his anecdotes about the dangers of bureaucracy. I enjoyed the investigation, i More...
I started with the second half -- Feynman's narrative of his investigation into the Challenger space shuttle explosion. Much to my relief, his explanation never got too technical for me. Having several good friends who work for NASA, I found myself relating to his anecdotes about the dangers of bureaucracy. I enjoyed the investigation, i More...
Aug 16, 2011
Jess
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Someone recommended "Surely You're Joking, Mister Feynman" to a Facebook friend of mine and now I can't stop being sad that Feynman died before I had a chance to stalk him obsessively and try to meet him by pretending to understand what the hell he's talking about in all the scientific parts of his books. My one sad claim is that I dated a guy who graduated from the college where Feynman taught. Over a decade after Professor Feynman died, but still...
I'd recommend starting More...
I'd recommend starting More...
Dec 19, 2009
Cv
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First of all, there is nothing wrong with this book. It's engaging, well written, and glimpses the life of a man who helped shape science and our culture in his generation and in many generations to come. If I have any problems with the book, it's that I've read these tales before; several times. I like Feynman a lot and I respect nearly unrivaled genius. I think there are lessons to take from his life and use - his work ethic, and especially his analysis of every aspect of life, nature, and
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May 02, 2010
Brackman1066
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I can't say I read this in one sitting, because some of the essays were reprinted in other books I'd already read so I skipped them. So technically, I didn't read all of it last night.
Still, I wasn't expecting this to be a page-turner. The second half of the book, dealing with Feynman's work on the commission to investigate the Challenger explosion, really drew me in. My own interest in things NASA is pretty much just reflected light from my husband's fascination with space explorati More...
Still, I wasn't expecting this to be a page-turner. The second half of the book, dealing with Feynman's work on the commission to investigate the Challenger explosion, really drew me in. My own interest in things NASA is pretty much just reflected light from my husband's fascination with space explorati More...
Jan 11, 2011
Mangoo
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After having read the first volume of his memoires, this second part of Feynman's adventures is a bit disappointing. The first part of this book has the same tasty flavour of the previous book, or it is even more intimate when it deals with the author's relationship with his first wife Arlene (who spoke the sentence titling the book). Then comes the whole part dedicated to the Challenger disaster commission, which to me seems too long and boring (maybe because I am not a US citizen). Feynman's c
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Feb 21, 2010
Mike
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More by the Laughing Physicist. (Okay, I suspect no one ever coined that phrase about Feynman, but they could have!)
Why did I give this one a four stars instead of five like the first volume? It wasn't because the book is any less entertaining, that's for certain. Simply put, the first volume/book had such an impact when I read it that I just had to put it at five stars. Had I read them in reverse order then this is the volume that would be scored a five. (That's symmetry for yo More...
Why did I give this one a four stars instead of five like the first volume? It wasn't because the book is any less entertaining, that's for certain. Simply put, the first volume/book had such an impact when I read it that I just had to put it at five stars. Had I read them in reverse order then this is the volume that would be scored a five. (That's symmetry for yo More...
Jul 10, 2011
Anton
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jan 04, 2011
Trilok
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I read this after reading "Surely You're Joking, Mr.Feynman" . It was another chance to venture into the mind of a mischievous fellow who has a unique perspective on life and just happens to be a genius. This book revolves around two large themes/events. The first half of the book focuses on Feynman's first love, Arline, and the second half revolves around Feynman's investigation of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. The first half is Funny, romantic (Gasp!) and sad, while the seco
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Nov 09, 2009
Melody
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This audio CD of Feynman's second collection of autobiographical bits is a lot of fun to listen to. The part about the President's Commission on the Challenger Shuttle disaster was very powerful and wryly funny. Feynman was such a scientist, so intent of finding things out that he simply ignored the conventions, if he was even aware of them, and his wide-eyed, naive search for answers was always a delight. The only part of this book I didn't like is the appendix- which was the entire Feynman rep
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Mar 26, 2009
Chris
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Exceptionally fascinating story, though far shorter than I expected or desired. Feynman has a well-earned reputation for explaining things clearly, and this book puts that skill to good use in the realm of his personal life and the examination of the Challenger disaster.
The personal-life stuff is interesting because, well, he's an interesting person who's had enough noteworthy experiences to make them fresh to read about. But I'm a huge fan of the shuttle program (since, when I was More...
The personal-life stuff is interesting because, well, he's an interesting person who's had enough noteworthy experiences to make them fresh to read about. But I'm a huge fan of the shuttle program (since, when I was More...
Aug 05, 2009
Nikita
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Unlike his previous book of stories "Surely You're Joking, Mr.Feynman", which covered his life from childhood to adulthood, this book centers mostly about one story- that of his appointment to research the Challenger disaster, while the rest of the book is a somewhat haphazard collection of drawings, letters, and more short stories about his adult life, the highlight of which is the story about his first wife.
While the story about the Challenger disaster is interesting, and there More...
While the story about the Challenger disaster is interesting, and there More...
Sep 11, 2010
Ross
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I enjoyed this autobiographical work from one of the greatest scientists of our time. The first half of the book is both charming and touching and would be of interest to any reader. Richard Feynman was not only a great physicist, but also a wonderful human being.
The second half of the book becomes quite technical dealing with his work in 1986 on the commision to analyze and report on the the space shuttle Challenger disaster. I doubt this would be of great interest to individuals not t More...
The second half of the book becomes quite technical dealing with his work in 1986 on the commision to analyze and report on the the space shuttle Challenger disaster. I doubt this would be of great interest to individuals not t More...
Dec 02, 2010
Austin
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Very good read- the first half of the book is a few stories from Feynmans early life and how those experiences shaped his later years. The majority of the book is about his investigation of the Challenger explosion and the multiple failures that led up to it. His extremely plain and logical way of writing (and thinking) is a joy to read. I think the most important thing I came away with is the principle of knowing something completely, not just being satisfied with a name or general concept and
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Mar 24, 2009
Rhonda
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This is more of Richard Feynman at his best. Although I have no reason to doubt that Feynman was a blatant narcissist,these writings are nevertheless important to understanding modern physics.. as well as some other oddities about one of Physics' most curious characters. This book is extremely funny and thought provoking and extremely interesting. If nothing else, this book is a wonderful means of understanding how to develop one's own self esteem. You begin to undesrstand how simple interest
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Oct 22, 2009
Asymmetrical
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Not nearly as much fun as Feynman's previous memoir, Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman. This book focuses on two events: the death of his first wife, and his involvement in the investigation of the Challenger disaster. The self-effacing, try-anything attitude of the first book doesn't come out so cleanly this time around, and occasionally Feynman speaks as if taken in by his own (very substantial) cleverness. So while it was worth reading, it was a bit of a disappointment.
Okay, s More...
Okay, s More...
Nov 26, 2008
Peter
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Feynman became one of my personal heroes after reading this book. He possessed that unique blend of genius, humanity and prankster that enabled him to conduct the official inquiry into the Challenger disaster just a few years after joining a Samba band in Rio. His writing is at once both historically interesting and highly personal. Most importantly, his recollection of caring for his dying wife will stay with you for many years to come.
This book is a follow-up to "Surely You More...
This book is a follow-up to "Surely You More...
Dec 23, 2009
Bunga Mawar
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Membaca buku ini, sekali lagi saya menaruh hormat pada sosok2 ilmuwan yang tidak pernah merasa lebih hebat dari orang lain hanya karena ilmu akademis yang mereka miliki.
Kelihatan dari judulnya, buku ini narsis banget, ya? Richard Feynman menulis tentang dirinya sebagai "genius fisika paling cool sedunia"? Walaaah... ternyata itu bisa2 penerjemah dan penerbit edisi Indonesia buku ini kok :p.
Nah, buku yang akhirnya saya selesaikan membacanya setelah hampir sebu More...
Kelihatan dari judulnya, buku ini narsis banget, ya? Richard Feynman menulis tentang dirinya sebagai "genius fisika paling cool sedunia"? Walaaah... ternyata itu bisa2 penerjemah dan penerbit edisi Indonesia buku ini kok :p.
Nah, buku yang akhirnya saya selesaikan membacanya setelah hampir sebu More...
Mar 07, 2011
Eric
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I thought this book was going to be so much better than it actually was. The first half had a lot of great Richard Feynman moments- great stories, observations, complaints, opinions, etc. But the second half, ugh, what a bore, for the most part. The second half talked about his role on the commission that investigated the Challenger space shuttle explosion of 1986. There were a few good moments during this part, but 90% of the second half was pointless, unless you like learning about bureauc
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