Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!

To kick off my series, I’ve chosen “Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman,” a biographical account of scientist Richard Feynman’s life, compiled from his recorded conversations. The reason for selecting this book is simple — it offers the perfect blend of entertainment and inspiration.

Key Takeaways:

The Joy of Curiosity in Life:

We often categorise activities as either fun or boring. However, there’s a trick to finding enjoyment in everything, even seemingly mundane tasks. Feynman, for instance, derived pleasure from learning how to break locks (or the ant lifestyle, just by observing their activities). Curiosity is the key, and if you’re curious, everything feels fun!

Experiencing Mindfulness through Work:

If you’re truly immersed in something, you can experience mindfulness, where everything else disappears, and only the task at hand remains. There’s a fun anecdote of how Feynman was once scared when he had to deliver a lecture in the presence of Einstein, Neumann, and the likes. But once he started, he was so much in the moment, that even those biggies (and his fear) disappeared.

The Importance of Adding Variability:

In a highly specialised world, it’s crucial to add variability to your knowledge. Best-case scenario, it could lead…