I like Richard Feynman, I like Randy Paulsch. Who else is would I like?

November 30, 2010 6:50 PM

I like Richard Feynman, I like Randy Paulsch. I like them because they are passionate with the things they do and they are inspiring to other people. Who else is passionate and inspiring like these fine men?
posted by bbxx to Human Relations (17 answers total)

Response by poster: Damn... typo! :-(
posted by bbxx at 6:52 PM on November 30, 2010

He rubs me the wrong way for some reason, but Gary Vanerchuk is definitely passionate, and certainly inspires some people.
posted by backwards guitar at 7:00 PM on November 30, 2010

Hans Rosling
posted by djb at 7:02 PM on November 30, 2010

I was just recently introduced to this man (not in person sadly), but he seems awesome-- Warren Brown. Lawyer-turned-awesome-cake-baker, and clearly very competent and passionate about it.
posted by WidgetAlley at 7:08 PM on November 30, 2010

I love Eddie Izzard in the same way I love Richard Feynman. Bonus Fact: Eddie tries to keep his comedy positive even if he is making fun of something.

Cake or Death!
posted by jbenben at 7:10 PM on November 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

Dean Kamen, as long as you can get past the whole "Segways will change the world" silliness.
posted by ecurtz at 7:16 PM on November 30, 2010

Carl Sagan
Neil deGrasse Tyson
posted by overeducated_alligator at 7:31 PM on November 30, 2010

You'll probably like Brian Cox and Dan Ariely.
posted by philipy at 7:43 PM on November 30, 2010

Check out neuroscientist and animal behaviourist Robert Sapolsky on the uniqueness of humans. Totally inspiring TED lecture.
posted by aunt_winnifred at 8:21 PM on November 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

I love Oliver Sacks' books on neurology; very passionate and also very compassionate.
posted by WorkingMyWayHome at 9:27 PM on November 30, 2010 [3 favorites]

A lot of the TED talks are by people who are passionate and inspiring-- they're worth browsing through and checking out what catches your fancy.
posted by NoraReed at 12:27 AM on December 1, 2010

You can also check Do Lectures for great talks and inspiring people.
posted by leigh1 at 4:27 AM on December 1, 2010

Joseph Campbell (rent the pwoer of myth with bill moyers)
posted by lalochezia at 9:47 AM on December 1, 2010

Paul Stamets got me excited about oyster mushrooms, of all things. (2002 Salon article, but Google around for current articles- he's still advocating oyster mushrooms for all sorts of clean up projects.)
His lectures tend to go off subject in ways that annoy me, but his books and articles are great.

Bill McDonough got me excited about his Crade-to-Cradle philosophy of manufacturing and how factories in general can work for the greater good. The green roofs movement is partially his, I think. He certainly uses it a lot. His book is interesting, but hearing him speak is more fun.
posted by small_ruminant at 10:30 AM on December 1, 2010

While usually mocked here, I think Henry Rollins fits the bill. Both from a fitness/weight lifting perspective as well as general work ethic.
posted by Twicketface at 10:36 AM on December 1, 2010

Eustace Conway (see also)
posted by Ortho at 12:31 AM on December 2, 2010

Studs Turkel
2nding Joseph Campbell
Stephen Shore (photographer)
posted by xammerboy at 2:18 PM on December 2, 2010