5 HN users recommended this commentary3 months2024–2025score 3.5
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
HN recommends it as a sobering counterpoint to the Feynman myth for people whose view comes from Surely You're Joking.
Physicist Angela Collier's nearly three-hour critique of Richard Feynman's public legacy. She examines how his books, written with Ralph Leighton, shaped a mythologized great-man image, and covers his personal behavior.
“Her video on Feynman is long and detailed, and very sobering. I highly recommend it.” (HN, 2025)
Because she thoroughly de-articulates the fabricated mystique around Feynman, and openly discusses the toxic effect his legacy has had on science. (Including the fact that a lot of his legacy was fabricated by people that either admired him, or wished to capitalize on that legacy.) Her video on Feynman is long and detailed, and very sobering. I highly recommend it. It absolutely/expertly challenged everything I thought I knew about him. [this video]
Long, sobering takedown of the fabricated mystique around Feynman
He hasn't written a single book (surprising I know), I assume you're talking about "Surely you're joking, Mr. Feynman", which contains exaggerated anecdotes designed to make Feynman look like a hero. That one was written by a fanboy (Ralph Leighton) based on stories that Feynman told him, which have been revealed to be either fake or exaggerations (they found notes in his office of him writing and rewriting these hero stories). It's a terrible book, in my opinion. If you want to know why, Angela Collier says it better and in more detail than I could: [this video] Is that the video you're referring to? Watch the video and I think you'll see why he is "getting a bad rep these days".
Explains why Feynman's famous anecdotes are exaggerated and his legacy is criticized
Astrophysicist Angela Collier's video essay "the sham legacy of Richard Feynman" [0] is a good introduction. Her accounts of her own encounters with "Feynman bros" are heart-wrenching. [0] [this video]
Good introduction to criticism of Feynman's legacy
I recently learned[1] that he didn't write this book. He was telling stories to Ralph Leighton, who then wrote the books, and there is reason to believe many of the stories were embellished/enhanced. I'm kind of disappointed now that he didn't write the book himself, but I remember enjoying it when I read it as an undergrad. [1] [this video]
Explains Feynman's books were written by Leighton, with embellished stories
This Angela Collier’s video about Feynman’s legacy also furthers yours point. He is an engaging and prolific writer but he does lean too much into the “great man-myth” figure of his subjects while underreporting their flaws. [this video]
"the sham legacy of Richard Feynman" is about Feynman being famous because of this book rather than because of his physics. The YouTuber, an obsessed physicist who had spent months reading all Feynman books, provides a critical analysis and explains the cultural impact of "Surely You're Joking, Mr.Feynman!" [this video]
Critical analysis of Feynman's fame and the impact of his famous book
Angela Collier has a 3-hour video on the topic (The Sham Legacy of Richard Feynman: [this video] ) with funny takes and criticism. It has been a while, so I cannot remember if she was criticizing Feynman himself to some extent or how his legacy is being portrayed by the media. In the latter case, I am also a bit annoyed how he is constantly portrayed as some kind of a super star by American media, where the rest of the world does not really care that much.
Three-hour critical take on Feynman's legacy with funny moments
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