Rating: 
Summary: Not a very good biography...
Review: ...in that the author repeatedly goes for two or three pages without even mentioning Feynman! He shoots off on a tangent and gives us a quick history of someone else, or brings up some obscure references to some obscure books he's read before. There's a lot more in the book about quantum electrodynamics than there is about Feynman's own life. Spend your money on "Surely You're Joking" or "What Do You Care?" instead and get some true pleasure out of Richard Feynman's life, as opposed to plodding along through this book. I almost gave it up after the first couple chapters, but finally made it through it all.
Rating: 
Summary: Not just the life of Feynman, but Feynman's view of life.
Review: A man as brilliantly lucid as Richard Feynman deserves a biography equally brilliant and lucid. James Gleick achieves this. And though Richard Feynman is painted in human tones, the reader still experiences the mystique which surrounded this legend of science.Some of the most enjoyable sections of this book deal not with physics or biography, but Feynman's philosophy and refreshingly rational worldview. This book is a testament to the power and beauty of a great intellect, in its all its humanity. My only reservation with this otherwise astounding book is that it was, at times, a bit too glowing and not critical enough. Feynman is presented as a scientific hero, but as we all know too well, even heros are not without their faults. As for these, as Feynman himself said, "it does no harm to the mystery to know a little about it."
Rating:
Summary: A Tremendously Fine Book on Feynman....
Review: A wonderful book on a towering and enigmatic figure in American science. Particularly interesting to me: Glieck's account of Feynman's formative years, his education, his self-education. Though Glieck does not use the term, Feynman's life in science illustrates time and again Harold Bloom's notion of "The Anxiety of Influence" in the development of genius in literature. (Bloom's idea clearly has greater generality.) Highly recommended. Occasional overlong disquisitions -- e.g., on the "nature of genius" (Feynman's life SHOWS us, Glieck doesn't need to tell us, or not at such length). All in all, a terrific book.
Rating:
Summary: This book made me a believer in Feynman.
Review: After reading this book, I went ahead and bought the Feynman Lecture's on Physics (the three RED books). I plan to name my future son after Feynman.
Rating: 
Summary: A bit tedious
Review: As another reviewer states, it offers an interesting glimpse into Feynman's early life. However, I found it became a bit ponderous when it talked about physics. Not as good at explaining concepts as Gleick's earlier (and, IMHO, better) book "Chaos".
Rating:
Summary: One of the most inspiring books I have ever read
Review: Definitely one of the best books I have ever read. It
is a biography of Richard Feynman, a person with magician
calibre talents as a physicist and a performer. Gleick writes with clarity and excitement, giving the reader an intimate feel of how a "genius" of the 20th century lived
and felt. I doubt anyone can read this book without feeling
a sense of awe and wonder at the mind and soul of Richard
Feynman. I am SURE you will feel SMARTER just by reading this book!
Rating:
Summary: Among The Best Feynman Biography
Review: Detailed information on the subject and Richard Feynman. Well written, lots of quotes and stories. The best Feynman biography I've read.
Rating:
Summary: A BRILLIANT ACCOUNT OF AN ENCHANTING MAGICIAN,CLASSY.......
Review: Feynman has always been my hero and this book probes deep into the Feynman psyche-witty,sometimes funny and yet sombre at other times 'Genius' is truly in Feynman tradition-clear,original and sharp.One line from the book sums it all:'Feynman,mystifiangly brilliant at calculating,strangely ignorant of literature,passionate about physics...'a great book about a great man....
Rating:
Summary: Excellent companion to Feynman's own writing
Review: Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman, Gleick
Q: "I read both of Feynman's autobiographies! Why would I need to read a biography?"
A: "Because it's awesome." Gleick, firstly, goes far deeper into Feynman's life than Feynman did. Feynman didn't consider his books to be autobiographies; they were "Adventures of a curious character." They were a few hilarious events picked from his long, full life. Gleick's book covers many of the hilarious aspects, but also covers the painful and formative aspects. Also curiously missing from Feynman's books were his science. Feynman wrote about his adventures, Gleick covered the adventures, the disasters, and the science. Brilliant, enthralling reading. Highly recommending to anyone who enjoyed Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Which is, in turn, recommended to anyone who likes funny stories. It reads fast, BTW.)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent companion to Feynman's own writing
Review: Genius: The Life and Science of Richard Feynman, Gleick
Q: "I read both of Feynman's autobiographies! Why would I need to read a biography?"
A: "Because it's awesome." Gleick, firstly, goes far deeper into Feynman's life than Feynman did. Feynman didn't consider his books to be autobiographies; they were "Adventures of a curious character." They were a few hilarious events picked from his long, full life. Gleick's book covers many of the hilarious aspects, but also covers the painful and formative aspects. Also curiously missing from Feynman's books were his science. Feynman wrote about his adventures, Gleick covered the adventures, the disasters, and the science. Brilliant, enthralling reading. Highly recommending to anyone who enjoyed Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! (Which is, in turn, recommended to anyone who likes funny stories. It reads fast, BTW.)
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