“Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!”

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! is an edited memoir collection by Richard Feynman and Ralph Leighton, first published in 1985. It brings together short anecdotes and recollections from the life of Feynman, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist, and it grew out of recorded conversations between the two friends. Rather than a single continuous narrative, the book moves through different moments and interests in his life, with a focus on curiosity, scientific work, everyday observations, and personal experiences.

It suits readers who enjoy unconventional memoirs, science told in a personal voice, and dry humor that comes from real situations rather than a plotted story. It also works well for anyone who likes a book they can dip into in any order, since many sections stand on their own. The tone is direct and conversational, so it feels closer to a lively set of stories and impressions than to a formal biography, with the appeal of something candid, playful, and sharp.