>It sounded like Feynman was pretty insecure and cared a great deal what people think about him and that they consider him a genius and a very interesting man.
So, just like almost everybody else - but in his case he was indeed a genius and very interesting...
>Zorba the Greek is a fictional character. Not a great role model at all, since he's purely a made up construct.
Missing the point...
> So, just like almost everybody else
Projection?
No, experience with people on the planet. People care what others things of them and how they consider them, and are, more often than not, insecure about it.
That may be true, but most of them don't go to the extent of writing a book whose sole intention seems to be showing how cool they are ("Surely you're joking, Mr Feynman").
Zorba the Greek is a fictional character. Not a great role model at all, since he's purely a made up construct.