The Curious Mr. Feynman (Update)

The Curious Mr. Feynman (Update)

From Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

May 22, 2026 · 1h 3m · Episode 575

About this episode

The episode explores the life and ideas of physicist Richard Feynman, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking in a world filled with poor ideas.

From the Manhattan Project to the Challenger investigation, the physicist Richard Feynman loved to shoot down what he called “lousy ideas.” Today, the world is awash in lousy ideas — so maybe it’s time to get some more Feynman in our lives? (Part one of a three-part series originally published in 2024.)

Topics covered

  • science
  • ideas
  • critical thinking
  • history
  • psychology

Keywords

  • Richard Feynman
  • Manhattan Project
  • Challenger investigation
  • critical thinking
  • lousy ideas

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