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Isaac Asimov

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In Joy Still Felt: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1954-1978 Paperback – January 1, 1981

by Isaac Asimov (Author)

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The prolific and famous science and science-fiction writer continues the tale of his life, proceeding from the years immediately following his early successes and continuing through the writing of his 200th book

Print length

828 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Avon Books
Publication date

January 1, 1981
ISBN-10

0380530252
ISBN-13

978-0380530250
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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avon Books; First Edition (January 1, 1981)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 828 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0380530252
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0380530250
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces

Best Sellers Rank: #1,346,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #131,175 in Biographies (Books)

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Isaac Asimov

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Isaac Asimov (/ˈaɪzᵻk ˈæzᵻmɒv/; born Isaak Yudovich Ozimov; circa January 2, 1920 – April 6, 1992) was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was prolific and wrote or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters and postcards. His books have been published in 9 of the 10 major categories of the Dewey Decimal Classification.

Asimov wrote hard science fiction and, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, he was considered one of the "Big Three" science fiction writers during his lifetime. Asimov's most famous work is the Foundation Series; his other major series are the Galactic Empire series and the Robot series. The Galactic Empire novels are explicitly set in earlier history of the same fictional universe as the Foundation series. Later, beginning with Foundation's Edge, he linked this distant future to the Robot and Spacer stories, creating a unified "future history" for his stories much like those pioneered by Robert A. Heinlein and previously produced by Cordwainer Smith and Poul Anderson. He wrote hundreds of short stories, including the social science fiction "Nightfall", which in 1964 was voted by the Science Fiction Writers of America the best short science fiction story of all time. Asimov wrote the Lucky Starr series of juvenile science-fiction novels using the pen name Paul French.

Asimov also wrote mysteries and fantasy, as well as much nonfiction. Most of his popular science books explain scientific concepts in a historical way, going as far back as possible to a time when the science in question was at its simplest stage. He often provides nationalities, birth dates, and death dates for the scientists he mentions, as well as etymologies and pronunciation guides for technical terms. Examples include Guide to Science, the three-volume set Understanding Physics, and Asimov's Chronology of Science and Discovery, as well as works on astronomy, mathematics, history, William Shakespeare's writing, and chemistry.

Asimov was a long-time member and vice president of Mensa International, albeit reluctantly; he described some members of that organization as "brain-proud and aggressive about their IQs". He took more joy in being president of the American Humanist Association. The asteroid 5020 Asimov, a crater on the planet Mars, a Brooklyn elementary school, and a literary award are named in his honor.

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Phillip Leonian from New York World-Telegram & Sun [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

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Vincent Poirier

A twentieth century Sam Pepys

Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2010

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Asimov continues the story of his life which he began in "In Memories Yet Green". The first part dealt with his childhood in Brooklyn, his schooldays, his college days, his marriage and his short military service. The second part gives us here the story of Isaac Asimov the writer.

He begins as a newly minted chemistry Ph.D. with a knack for giving good (great) lectures but with no special affinity for original academic research. He continues writing and this supplements his income. He lands a job in Boston and eventually becomes an associate professor of biochemistry in Boston University's department of medicine.

He turns from writing fiction to non-fiction and gradually his writing income exceeds his medical school income and circumstances push him to write full time, much to his delight.

Asimov meets friends and editors for lunch and dinner, he begins a side career as a speaker, he travels a little but only by car, train, or cruise ship since this man who zips through space in his mind won't get on an airplane. He raises two children, divorces, moves back to New York, and remarries. By the end of this account, he's written and published over 200 books.

I'm a great fan of Asimov but I am under no illusion. As a writer of fiction Asimov wrote fun, clever, hugely entertaining stories but I doubt they will be read in a hundred years the way Edgar Allan Poe's stories are today. His fiction entertains but doesn't soothe or enlighten the soul. As a non-fiction writer of science, new discoveries can only make his books outdated. His books on history and literature will last longer, but the fact is there are better books than his on those topics.

In the end though, Isaac Asimov was a phenomenal human being and I don't see why that topic will ever be dated. Perhaps he was not an original thinker like Marvin Minsky or a literary novelist like John Irving. But his account of his own life gives us an intimate and realistic portrait of family life in the 1960s and of the fun an intellectual could have in New York in the 1970s.

This book will, I think, stand the test of time.

Vincent Poirier, Tokyo

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G. R. Stetson

Asimov is one of a kind!

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2023

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Isaac Asimov has been a popular and unique author for a long time. I loved his science fiction work for its background and versatility and I have long wondered how he was so gifted. Now I know. He was and remains one of a kind. I loved his autobiography.

Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2013

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I read the first half of Asimov's autobiography some years ago. Recenlty, I pulled it out and started reading sections again, and found myself hooked again. I remember making an abortive attempt at the second volume, IN JOY STIL FELT when I borrowed it from the library some years ago, but never finished it.

Well, I got a rather beat up volume through Amazon at a good price, and slogged my way through it. The genius is, as someone pointed out, the ability Asimov to make the ordinary interesting. The book is organized so that you can just do quick reads on the sections, and always have a comfortable place to stope, which is important in a book this size.

What I found with this book was the emergence of Asimov the writing machine. He became so productive and prolific it is amazing. The book gives some insight on how he managed multiple projects at once. It also shows a man that has varied interests and an unbelievable thirst to learn.

The only reason I gave this a 4 was because it does become pretty laden with "I went to this conference," "I got this award," "I talked to this publisher," "I wrote this book/article," and so on. It seems that Asimov did little but write. It is also interesting that there is not detail really as to why his marraige broke up, it just sort of happens. Some more personal detail here, as well as with his relationships with his kids, would be nice. The first part of the autobiography was so interesting in how he was established as an author, and the details of how that happened and his sheltered life as a child make for a fascinating story. The second half is basically an accounting as to how he remained sucessful, and is a little less interesting.

It does seem, however, that Asimov is able to praise where praise is due, and it is interesting, knowing that he and his wife had issues, that he is so kind in his portrayal of her. Maybe he didn't want a trashy autobiography, or he is careful about privacy. It just seems odd, but it is a minor quibble.

Asimov wrote with such a easy to read, understandable style. There is plenty of humor, anectdotes, and plenty of things to make it an interesting read.

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Steven Walley

He's Asimov

Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2014

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I enjoy Dr. Asimov's self-deprecating way as well as his fiction. I only have just begun and-as expected-it's a very comfortable read. And, on top of it all, the book came in great condition

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Jamie Dedes

you'll enjoy this.

Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2016

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If you are a fan of Asimove and the Golden Age, you'll enjoy this.

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Nando Garza

IT WAS GREAT.

Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2015

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I read the whole thing, but I'll skip the other zillion-page volume. IT WAS GREAT.

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2010

This was a wonderful book and a great insight into a man whose passion for the positiveness of the human race was, I felt, equal to none. There are moments when Asimov turns a brief, yet discerning eye to himself and admits his flaws such as his failed marriage which he acknowledges he had part in its dissolution. He only briefly touches on the lives of his children preferring to keep those portions of his life, and theirs, private. I did not mind these exclusions at all because Asimov makes up for it with a wide range of details in his life from his many speeches, his travels and his interactions with fellow writers, celebrities and other noted figures. He may not be a Shakespeare and some of his non-fiction works may not hold out the test of time but this was an amazing and insightful man whose positiveness about the human race and its limited potential has certainly earned him a place in history.

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Laura McCormack

Wonderful, intimate and honest autobiography cannot put it down

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 17, 2017

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I have always greatly admired Isaac Asimov and reading this very detailed, intimate and disarmingly honest autobiography (I devoured both volumes) I love him even more. It is risky to zoom in so closely into the life of someone who served as an inspirational figure in our lives and who was such a wonderful story teller but in this case quite the contrary. My only regret is not to have met him in real life or not to have thought about writing to him when he was still alive and let him know how much he inspired me to study science. He died whilst I was an undergraduate student. I still remember reading of his untimely death when I was a student shelver in the University library trying to pay for my studies. That day I walked home with a whole pile of his books I borrowed from the same library. YES his science fiction inspired my career choice. Both volumes of his biography (the other one is in Memory Yet Green) make for compulsive reading.
Thank you Dr Azimov and lurve ya always xx

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In Joy Still Felt: The Autobiography of Isaac Asimov, 1954-1978 Paperback – January 1, 1981

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