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daviest's review against another edition
5.0
Fascinating personal insights into what was a very well-lived life. These letters provide an intimate view into Feynman's life, which expose both his good sides and his bad ones (though I am obliged to say that there is an abundance of the former, and relatively few of the latter). His sense of honour and duty shines through the whole book.
sarah_dietrich's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this collection of Feynman's letters. Charming, surprising and inspiring - we would expect nothing less of Feynman, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that some were also very moving. There are lots of beautiful moments, but the letter that he wrote to his first wife a year and a half after she died is amazing, heartbreaking, hopeful. The only thing that I would have changed about this collection is that it could have benefitted from being edited down a bit further. Some letters were a bit repetitive and I think that overall the book would have been better if it was slightly shorter. It was a lovely touch that it was compiled by Feynman's daughter.
7anooch's review against another edition
4.0
What strikes me the most is that he never loses his sense of humor at his humbleness the older and more distinguished he gets. Gotta love Feynman.
markmtz's review against another edition
4.0
If you’ve read any books by or about Richard Feynman, then you have to read this collection of his letters, edited by his daughter, Michelle Feynman. The letters, written over most of his lifetime to family, friends, and complete strangers, tell you nearly everything you might want to know about the man.
Published in hardcover by Basic Books.
Published in hardcover by Basic Books.
nocto's review against another edition
3.0
Collection of letters to/from Feynman, edited by his daughter. Some bits interesting, other bits pretty tedious; expect every reader will find different bits interesting though.
roiho's review against another edition
5.0
Really nice book. Gives you the feeling of how Feynman was in person.
spilled's review against another edition
4.0
Yeah, sometimes Feynman's a cocky jerk, but aren't we all? These letters are just so darn lovely and human. For as many (often justified) snotty replies he gives, there are just as many instances of unexpectedness tenderness and support for people in the same quest to figure things out.
About a comment he made in the early '60s about the minds of women, he received loads of letters calling him sexist, an idiot, etc. When, in the more enlightened times of 1987, he was asked permission to reprint this article, Feynman touched on the issue with wry humor:
"Dear Professor Jodl:
You have my permission to translate and publish the article in your journal. But the world has changed--and I made a remark about 'a girl instructing another one how to knit argyle socks.' Could you add a footnote, by the author (me) to that paragraph: 'How wonderfully the world has changed. Today conversations among women on analytic geometry are commonplace.'
Sincerely,
Richard P. Feynman"
About a comment he made in the early '60s about the minds of women, he received loads of letters calling him sexist, an idiot, etc. When, in the more enlightened times of 1987, he was asked permission to reprint this article, Feynman touched on the issue with wry humor:
"Dear Professor Jodl:
You have my permission to translate and publish the article in your journal. But the world has changed--and I made a remark about 'a girl instructing another one how to knit argyle socks.' Could you add a footnote, by the author (me) to that paragraph: 'How wonderfully the world has changed. Today conversations among women on analytic geometry are commonplace.'
Sincerely,
Richard P. Feynman"
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism