What Do You Care What Other People Think? is a collection of autobiographical writings by Richard Feynman, assembled with Ralph Leighton. The book includes reflections on Feynman’s childhood, his family and his relationship with his first wife, Arline, whose illness and early death had a lasting effect on him. These personal accounts are presented alongside episodes illustrating his curiosity, independence and approach to scientific reasoning.

A substantial part of the book concerns Feynman’s work on the presidential commission investigating the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. He describes his efforts to understand the technical causes of the accident, his discussions with engineers and managers, and his public demonstration of how cold temperatures affected the shuttle’s O-ring seals. Across both personal and professional episodes, the book examines independent judgement, evidence, uncertainty and the pressures that can shape institutional decision-making.