If I’m honest, I don’t often enjoy nonfiction books — including biographies, memoirs, and the like. They often feel uneventful and bland in comparison to the vibrant, drama-ridden novels towards which I typically gravitate. For this reason, I had a difficult time getting myself to pick up Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman!, even after my dad’s repeated high recommendation of it during my quest to find the perfect summer read. I finally decided to give it a chance, begrudgingly. And boy am I glad that I did.

For one, theoretical physicist Richard Feynman is just an extremely funny person — certainly not the monotonous, boring man in a white lab coat that I had expected to meet. Readers get to experience Feynman’s humor through both his actions as a character in the book, and through his tone as a writer. Feynman brings a light-hearted, good-humored perspective to every situation, turning his autobiography into one of my favorite types of books: a feel-good book.

Furthermore, Feynman’s story was neither “uneventful” nor “bland.” Given his quirky and curious personality, his childhood was not a typical one — rather than entertain himself with toys and stuffed animals, he reveled in experiments of all sorts. As a reader, these unique childhood experiences made for a fascinating story. Not to mention, it was extremely inspiring to read about this inquisitive young child continuing to follow his passions, ultimately becoming one of the greatest scientific minds in the world. As Feynman continued to mature and follow his desire to discover the unknown, my own conscience was pounding: YOU CAN FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS, TOO!!!

Whether you’re someone who typically enjoys non-fiction or not, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman. Books like this are like candy for me: they’re fun and make you laugh out loud, yet they’re not lacking in insight and depth. Readers, you’re in for quite the ride; Surely You’re Joking, Mr. Feynman is a comical, but simultaneously inspiring read about a fun-loving genius’ unapologetically unique way of life, and his ultimate road to success.

The moral of the story? … I should listen to my dad’s recommendations more often!