The Double Helix

Ok first off the actual book is in outstanding condition, no bends or tears or anything (i'm very picky about that) so that's why i'm giving the product 5/5. the content of this book is probably the most dry, boring, and frankly useless thing I've ever laid eyes on. I have to read this for a class and it's a STRUGGLE. If you enjoy science to an unnatural degree and you love reading three chapters of a man complaining about the people he works with for no reason then this is the book for you. the book itself is easy-ish to read (once you get past the awkward time skips, the countless numbers of characters that you only meet for two pages without any explanation or characterization, and lack of explanation) and the chapters are very short so it's easy to feel good about yourself while reading it. In all honesty i can not stand this book, I would rather read twilight fan fiction while being slowly submerged in acid. Anyways if you are in to science Crap and you aren't being forced against your will to read this go on ahead, but if you're looking for a book to read for pleasure I have a great recommendation list I could email out at any time :)

Because of all the hype surrounding this book I hesitated a long while before finally deciding to read it. Well, I can now say that I was pleasantly surprised. It is a remarkable book that must be appreciated on its own merits, despite the grave prejudices it may have caused to some individuals. Many people were deeply offended when they read how they, or others, had been portrayed by Watson. In fact very few were willing to endorse his personal views. Including his closest collaborators. It has been said that he displayed immaturity and bad taste.

Watson did not spare anyone, including himself, but he concentrated his attacks on one particular individual and that person happened to be the one who was holding the key that would help him and his partner Francis Crick to solve one of the the greatest mystery of Biology. Her name was Rosalind Franklin and unfortunately she was no longer around to defend herself. Normally she should have been one of the heroes of this story, but instead Watson portrayed her as the vilain. Like numerous other people I would have liked to hear her own version of the story. Many of the negative reviews actually come from readers who were incensed by Watson's treatment of Franklin. And the negative reactions had even started before the book was published. This offered Watson an opportunity to rectify his position, and indeed that's what he did. But instead of rewriting portions of the book where he made Franklin look like a second rate scientist and a despicable human being, he elected to make amend in an epilogue section that was added before going to press. So we can assume that many people who have read this book became furious with what the author was saying and probably gave up way before reaching that epilogue.

Here are some key exerts taken from that particular section at the end of the book: "Since my initial impression of her, both scientific and personal (as recorded in the early pages of this book), were often wrong, I want to say something here about her achievement." After this surprising revelation he goes on praising her scientific abilities. And then we learn what happened in the years following the discovery of the Double Helix by Watson and Crick: "By then all traces of our early bickering were forgotten, and we both came to appreciate greatly her personal honesty and generosity, realizing years too late the struggles that the intelligent woman faces to be accepted by a scientific world which often regards women as mere diversions from serious thinking." But the damage had already been done. To both Franklin and Watson himself. If he had been really sincere he would have made the corrections from the beginning, not as an afterthought.

This apparent lack of judgment may come from his determination to recount the story through the eyes of the young naive American that he was at the time. In fact what makes the charm of this book is Watson's candour and frankness. He chose to tell everything the way he experienced it at the time. He goes through all the ups and downs that led to their landmark discovery with a surprising degree of humility "unspoiled by false modesty", like the back cover says. I never had the impression he was trying to take centre stage to the detriment of others, especially Crick. On the contrary, he seemed to readily recognize the talents and contributions of most of the other scientists involved in this story. On the other hand we know that Watson's views were highly contested by the majority of the protagonists. So obviously there must be something wrong with Watson's recollection. In fact Maurice Wilkins, who shared the Nobel Prize with Watson, referred to this book as "Jim's Novel".

Fictional or not this book does indeed read like a novel. And it is as engaging and entertaining as any novel can be. It is a lively firsthand account of the discovery that led to the identification of the DNA molecular structure which is at the heart of our genes. This is certainly one of the greatest feats of modern Biology. However it was not totally unexpected as had often been the case with previous discoveries. For DNA had already been identified, but its structure and composition remained a mystery. Like at one time in the past the scientists "knew" that the atom and its nucleus existed, but had so far never been able to pinpoint its internal components and describe its principal characteristics. Fifty years later they were facing a similar challenge for the DNA molecule, which is the basic building block of life, just like the atom is the basic building block of matter.

Even though more than ten years had already passed when Watson started to recount this story it remains surprisingly fresh. This can be explained by the fact that he made extensive use of letters written at weekly intervals to his parents. And because of the many exciting moments he was experiencing while living abroad the young man had plenty of incentives to write home to tell his parents about it. I felt exactly the same after reading this extraordinary book. Except that instead of writing to my parents I decided to write a book review on the store to tell the world what a wonderful experience I had.

This book, describing events from the early 1950’s, could be expected to be a little out of fashion. Our knowledge of DNA has moved on and commentators have focussed on Watson’s commitment to print, in his autobiography Avoid Boring People, of some of his previously controversial comments. These comments discuss the innate intelligence of racial groups and the choice of a mother to abort a foetus with homosexual tendencies. But The Double Helix is historic and less than 200 pages so I picked it up.

Watson’s brashness is immediately evident and his directness is cringe-worthy. That Sir Lawrence Bragg offered a preface when not only his work but also his character are lampooned is a credit to the maturity of Bragg and Watson’s other collaborators from that time. But it also indicates how important Bragg and others considered this book to be. The characterisations of players such as “Rosy” Frank and Maurice Wilkins can be weighed up by the reader, but Watson’s portrayal of the intellectual milieu within and between research establishments is sharp and telling. His subtle references to the English establishment, the ruminations within the Cambridge intelligencia which later emerged as spying controversy, the liberal sexual revolution and former generations’ religious precepts are precious. Watson’s self-effacing humour about the dilettante abuse of the scholarship system and his rampant opportunism are wonderful insights into this period. It provides a delightful background upon which to portray a step by step triumph of hard work, guesses and the triumph of the scientific method. Watson’s epilogue touching on more recent events are also helpful but probably do not win him back any friends.

if anyone else had written a book that makes James Watson look like such a misogynistic and arrogant donkey-butt, he'd probably object mightily. but he says this of himself, condemned out of his own mouth. His treatment of Rosalind Franklin, by calumny and by theft of her work (use without acknowledgement in that original Nature article), is appalling. but also rather typical of the time, as women were very unwelcome in science except as lab assistants. (women still not very welcome a quarter century later). Franklin was conveniently dead at the time the Nobel for DNA model was awarded, otherwise the judges would (should) have had to recognize that her role was greater than that of Wilson and she would have been third in the trio of recipients.

With the current emphasis on the significance of the DNA, it was interesting to read Double Helix. The book is well-written, easy to read, and has short chapters, which is psychologically a help for the non-scientists. It is, however, annoying, as Watson sometimes uses the first names and sometimes surnames, so the reader has to work out who he is referring to.

The account is not too scientific, yet the subject obviously means many technical terms are used. There are some diagrams, but as a non-scientist, I found that a diagram of the double helix, downloaded from the internet, was crucial in putting the technical terms in the right context. A diagram of the double helix at the beginning of the book would have been invaluable.

The author, James Watson, was one of the scientists involved in the discovery of the double helix and the story is therefore, his viewpoint. Apparently any readers have found the account biased, and that more credit should have been given to both Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin

Apart from the current significance of the DNA in our lives, the book is a worthwhile read. An account of the success and frustrations of scientific research, personal jealousy and rivalry is normally not in the news when a major breakthrough is announced

The edition I read has since been updated and maybe some of the points mentioned above may no longer apply.

I listened to this audiobook that I borrowed from my library. I love genetics but have very little reading time at this point in my life - so I wandered to the library in search of audiobooks.

I don't recall the name of the individual who read the book - but he did an excellent job and was completely unobtrusive.

The book itself would have been a very dry read and may have taken me weeks to finish had I not listened to the audiobook version. As it was I was done in two days and completely enjoyed it.

This book is told from Watson's (of Watson and Crick fame) perspective on the discovery of the structural nature of DNA. There were several scientists all working toward the discovery sometimes together and many times opposing. This book is told in a rather personal set of remembrances. His feelings of the other scientists and their decisions are very human - at times frustrated, at times annoyed, and at other times filled with respect and honor. The excitement at the science and the discovery comes through and following the piece by piece uncovering of the truth engages the listener from beginning to end. In addition you get the underlying feeling that you are starting to know these different scientists through Watson's eyes.

Because it is written by a scientist much of the writing is dry which is why I am so glad that I listened to the audio version of this book. For those that are scientifically minded or interested in Genetics this is a must read. I advise the audiobook version.

Anyone who loves the discovery process will enjoy this book. An adventure leading to the most important discovery about humanity ever, the process was excruciating but the rewards immense. Crick and Watson's work is still giving today. The DNA molecule revolutionized medicine, space travel, biology and science in general. Great book. Dry, but great.

On hearing the death of Francis Crick, it brought to mind my reading of this wonderful science memoir by his then partner James Watson. I was lucky enough to have had someone send this great book to me while I was stationed in Iraq in 2003. I was absolutely engrossed in Watson's sometimes colorful, sometimes biased and always entertaining recounting of the discovery of DNA.

Watson, an American originally studying physics, stumbled upon the field of biochemistry almost by accident. He seems to have been a bit of an unfocused graduate student who by chance ended up working with Crick. Countless numbers of little dead ends as well as one very big one are remembered. Of special interest is the 'political' nature of the relationships between scientists of different universities working similar aims.

And the competition. Scientists, it seems, are as competitive as any of us. Very aware of their main rivals Watson and Crick tracked the progress of Linus Pauling and they react with glee as they discover he's made a critical error that will set his progress back indefinately. They are almost as competitive with their cross-town London rivals Marurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin.

A special mention should be made of Rosalind Franklin. Some have accused Watson and Crick of stealing the Nobel Prize. Nothing was further from the truth. Watson and Crick determined the structure of DNA from the work of Wilkins and Franklin. Franklin was an unfriendly and cold person, as confirmed by co-workers, but a brilliant scientist. Watson spends several pages defending her work and wishing that she had lived so that she could share in the Noble prize [not awarded posthumously]. Any talk of Watson and Crick stealing Franklin's glory is bunk not borne out by the facts.

The Double Helix is one of those rare science books that highlights the human element of discovery with all its foibles. I highly recommend this entertaining book.

A must read for everybody who is even vaguely interested in modern biology, this books describes the key event that lead to today's age of biotechnology: the discovery of the double helix by Watson and Crick in 1951-1953 through the eyes of one of the discoverers, James Watson. At the time of the discovery James Watson was a young, brilliant student in the laboratory of Francis Crick in Cambridge. The two formed an unlikely pair: the smooth, young, ambitious American and his English colleague, every inch the typical English university scholar. The scientific path leading to the conception of the Double Helix (the structure of the DNA) is described and it is not a path with nice views only. The descriptions of Francis Crick and Roselind Franklin are not very flattering to say the least.
The book is a very smooth read, especially for a "science" book, maybe also because James Watson dared to vent his personal opinions on his colleagues. This may not be very scientific, but it makes the book interesting to read. And of course the highlight in not every scientist's life is there: that one time only moment when you have a deep insight and all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle fall into place and what is left afterwards is this feeling of utter joy and satisfaction. And in the case of James Watson of course also the Nobel prize.

This is how science should be taught in schools - through real stories, of real individuals, with all pitfalls of egos, politics, and everything in between. This is both an amusing and an educational account, from the perspective of James D. Watson, of their race towards the discovery of DNA. What is remarkable and refreshing is that for once we see the real process of discovery, which takes numerous dark alleys, backtracks, breakthroughs, and a healthy doze of paranoia about "who will get there first". Every student should read this book, if for nothing else but to dispel the myth of the "genius innovator" on an uninterrupted path towards the next big discovery.

Not being familiar with the field or the terminology I am sure I missed some of the more subtle points and jokes, but it was nonetheless a great an educational read. Highly recommend it.

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When "The Double Helix" came out in 1968, as a geneticist I naturally read it. And it has stuck far more firmly for me than any of the many other books I've read over the years about genetics.
Why do I remember this book so well? I've wondered. The answer is right in the first sentence of "The Double Helix" that reads: "I have never seen Francis Crick in a modest mood."
In his account of how the structure of DNA was discovered, Jim Watson doesn't try to tell the story from a disinterested point of view. This is my version, he says, and I'm not going to touch it up to cover the warts and other blemishes. Yes, for instance, Watson and Crick were patently and terribly unfair and unjust toward Rosalind Franklin but Jim doesn't deny it. He makes it plenty clear.
Most writing in and about science is well varnished. But varnish gives a gloss and it's not easy to hold onto. Jim Watson forgot the varnish, on purpose. Watson's brashness (and Crick's conceit) season this narrative in a memorable way, a way I can't easily forget, even if I wanted to.
This is first-rate personal science writing. Five stars, for sure, or more. It's about one of the most important discoveries in the history of science. I hope you'll enjoy (and remember) "The Double Helix" too.

The Double Helix presents the narrow of window in time (1953-1954) just prior to solving the DNA structure when molecular biology was still a new field. I enjoyed Watson's book, particularly his concise perspective on the event leading up to their triumphant discovery. It was interesting to learn that the majority of scientist at the time were largely unaware that DNA was the "transforming principle". As this book points out- although the discovery of the DNA molecular structure was credited to James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick, the quest to elucidate the structure of DNA was many years in the making and accomplished through the efforts of many devoted scientist. I read the Norton Critical Edition of the Double Helix that was edited by Gunther S. Stent. This edition includes a series of photos, notes, and a great introduction by along with 13 reprinted reviews by a number of scientific minds that offer views on James D. Watson and commentary on the ethics of scientific discovery. As many reviewers have pointed out, this book is the perspective of one tenacious mind and should not be considered in light of other historical narratives that are available in print. I agree with the reviewers included in the book that the Double Helix will remain a literary achievement apart from its scientific merits. Prior to reading the Double Helix I was vaguely aware of Rosalind Franklin's x-ray work with Maurice Wilkins; however it was only after reading this book that I realized how important x-ray crystallography was to the discovery of the DNA structure and how underappreciated Dr. Franklin's efforts were. I am eager to read Maurice Wilkins book (The Third Man of the Double Helix: The Autobiography of Maurice Wilkins) and at least one of the books dedicated to the contributions Dr. Franklin (Rosalind Franklin: The Dark Lady of DNA &Rosalind Franklin and DNA). Overall, I recommend this book to emerging scientists and self-confessed DNA addicts- the Double Helix is a great piece of literature that illustrates the excitement of discovery and the people who defined molecular biology.

I ended up getting copies of two different paperback editions.

The Simon & Schuster Touchstone Book, with a little bit of an introduction by Sylvia Nasar, has easy-to-read print and the photographs are pleasantly large. Good for reading in the subway.

But the Norton Critical edition, edited by Gunther S. Stent, is the one to get if you can only afford one. Its typeface leaves much to be desired, and, in my copy, some of the pages are hard to read because the printer seems to have run out of ink in the middle of the job. But the edition has materials that are indispensable for an understanding of this classic work of science. I enjoyed, most of all, Stent's essay "reviewing the reviews," showing both the wisdom (by some) and the foolishness (by others) with which the Double Helix was received by the scientific community.

This book is exceptional for anyone wishing to know the tale of the "discovery" of DNA. It's great for knowing how exciting science can be (and should be) for the people involved. It's great in that it doesn't require too much, if any, technical knowledge to understand. My *only* complaint is inevitible -- it's one participant's view. I read this years ago, so I don't remember how much, if at all, Dr. Watson dealt with this, but how sad that the female scientist who the got much of their information from was not honored and is pretty much forgotten by most people, simply because she died before they were up for the Nobel Prize (the Nobel foundation doesn't award posthumously). And how ironic that she died from cancer brought on (most likely) by the machinerey she used to do her science.
Read this book, it's great. Just keep some solemnity for those whose voices aren't quite heard.

Comments can be directed to respectfulempiricist.com

This is a marvelous little book that brings out impressions of the many great and not so great minds involved in the ultimate understanding of what DNA looks like and how it multiplies. As the title implies, Watson is describing his own subjective mental picture of the people and events that led up to his and Francis Crick's ultimate Nobel winning discovery, a discovery that has stood the test of time.

Watson describes the personalities of the many people involved directly or otherwise. Though he uses kind words, it is apparent that different people and different times grated on him. He also describes his travels, academic frailties and personal loneliness. The latter while thinly veiled, was mentioned throughout the book.

Though there was description throughout the memoir, it was not burdensome to the non scientist. I used a dictionary about five times and had my much more scientific daughter explain some things to me. While there is academic jargon it was not burdensome. I was able to read the book in nearly one setting as it was written for the layman to spend a little time inside the thinking and personality of a true genius and a humble one at that.

Those of us who did not study science when it was convenient but rue it today, can read this book and learn something about the history of one of the finest events in scientific discovery.

"The Double Helix" is Watson's scattered memory of how he and Crick discovered the structure of DNA, along with other significant figures who were involved. Self-absorbed, biased, and disorganized as it is, Watson frankly revealed what scientists are like behind the honorable mask they put on for the masses.

The truth that Watson is a bad writer does not take away all the attractions of the book, fortunately. Some occasions Watson dwelled on seemed to have no relationship with the DNA discovery at all. Moreover, his prejudice against Rosalind Franklin is extremely annoying. Still, Watson and Crick's story is generally fun to read, and it was somewhat entertaining to see what evil schemes they used to rise to prominence.

Despite to all the turmoil and controversy Watson invited when the book was first published, it has become a modern classic out of most people's expectation. Remarkably, Watson revealed scientists' real intention to do researches- for fame and profit rather than having the sacred wish to improve human life. Scientists are, after all, human, so they party, compete and do extremities in order to achieve their goal. Watson, in particular, is probably among the most notorious to have written this book.

Science sometimes includes a surprising amount of personal drama and just playing around with models until they fit the facts. This account of the discovery of the structure of DNA, by one of the key participants Dr. James D. Watson, includes a lot of both. Written as though from his perspective at the time, The Double Helix presented a fascinating and candid look at the work which led up to this amazing discover.

For the non-scientist, this book is an important reminder that scientists are human too. For the scientist, this book is an important reminder that scientists are human too. It's just nice to know that at times even the great scientists struggled with their choice of research topic or felt a little adrift too. It also makes for a great read, very casual and easy to follow with lots of drama and personality clashes. The science included is pretty minimal and is explained well with helpful pictures, so I think this would be a pretty easy read even for people with no science background.

The casualness is occasionally a downside, as people are referred to by their first or last name at random and there's no cast list. Despite that small flaw, I would still say the relaxed writing style is strongest point of the book. Watson's surprising openness about everyone's feelings for each other and his ability to convey the rush he and Crick were in to finish the structure made this a very engaging book. It was pretty cool to feel like you were actually there during the race to discover the structure of DNA.

James D. Watson's account of the discovery of the structure of DNA, "The Double Helix", is so well established as a classic of science writing that it needs no recommendation or comment from me as to whether you should read it. You should read it, keeping in mind that it is from his point of view and thus limited in that way. It remains a great read, where as Crick noted years later, it was impressive how much technical jargon Watson managed to work in without making the book too heavy. The portrait of Rosalind Franklin in this book remains controversial, but more recent books about Franklin since 1968 have added nuance to the situation.

One detail to keep in mind is that if you find a true 1968 edition, you should be aware that the controversial episode in Chapter 25, regarding the Medical Research Council (MRC) report on activities in Professor J.T. Randall's lab that Watson and Crick obtained via Max Perutz, is of the originally published text, where it was not clear that the report was not confidential, which was why Perutz shared it with Watson and Crick without thinking about it, or asking Randall for permission. Critics of the book seized on this incident to attack Watson on ethical grounds. This led to an exchange of letters in "Science" magazine, and in later editions of "The Double Helix", Watson revised the text in Chapter 25 to make clear that this MRC report was indeed not confidential.

I was initially daunted by the very subject of this book. My girlfriend lent it to me and I wasn't sure I would enjoy it as much as she had--she's a molecular biologist and I'm a historian. Having helped her in a lab once or twice, I was well aware that genetic science was far beyond anything I could remember from seventh grade.

But The Double Helix was no problem. Some have called Watson's tone condescending--I, for one, am glad he talked down in his book, because dealing with DNA on a lower level is the only way I could ever approach it. And it's to Watson's great credit that he not only helped discover the double helix, but can write about it in mostly layman's terms and make the story understandable.

The most fascinating thing about the book, for me, was the nature of the research and the scientists themselves. Most of my life I've thought of scientists with the subconscious imagery of Frankenstein in my head. Here, Watson gives us a mostly genial but very often competitive world of collaborators and laid-back geniuses. Not at all what I was expecting, but very good reading.

Highly recommended.

James D. Watson's account of the discovery of the structure of DNA, "The Double Helix", is so well established as a classic of science writing that it needs no recommendation or comment from me as to whether you should read it. You should read it, keeping in mind that it is from his point of view and thus limited in that way. It remains a great read, where as Crick noted years later, it was impressive how much technical jargon Watson managed to work in without making the book too heavy. The portrait of Rosalind Franklin in this book remains controversial, but more recent books about Franklin since 1968 have added nuance to the situation.

One detail to keep in mind is that if you find a true 1968 edition, you should be aware that the controversial episode in Chapter 25, regarding the Medical Research Council (MRC) report on activities in Professor J.T. Randall's lab that Watson and Crick obtained via Max Perutz, is of the originally published text, where it was not clear that the report was not confidential, which was why Perutz shared it with Watson and Crick without thinking about it, or asking Randall for permission. Critics of the book seized on this incident to attack Watson on ethical grounds. This led to an exchange of letters in "Science" magazine, and in later editions of "The Double Helix", Watson revised the text in Chapter 25 to make clear that this MRC report was indeed not confidential.

James D. Watson's account of the discovery of the structure of DNA, "The Double Helix", is so well established as a classic of science writing that it needs no recommendation or comment from me as to whether you should read it. You should read it, keeping in mind that it is from his point of view and thus limited in that way. It remains a great read, where as Crick noted years later, it was impressive how much technical jargon Watson managed to work in without making the book too heavy. The portrait of Rosalind Franklin in this book remains controversial, but more recent books about Franklin since 1968 have added nuance to the situation.

One detail to keep in mind is that if you find a true 1968 edition, you should be aware that the controversial episode in Chapter 25, regarding the Medical Research Council (MRC) report on activities in Professor J.T. Randall's lab that Watson and Crick obtained via Max Perutz, is of the originally published text, where it was not clear that the report was not confidential, which was why Perutz shared it with Watson and Crick without thinking about it, or asking Randall for permission. Critics of the book seized on this incident to attack Watson on ethical grounds. This led to an exchange of letters in "Science" magazine, and in later editions of "The Double Helix", Watson revised the text in Chapter 25 to make clear that this MRC report was indeed not confidential.

James D. Watson's account of the discovery of the structure of DNA, "The Double Helix", is so well established as a classic of science writing that it needs no recommendation or comment from me as to whether you should read it. You should read it, keeping in mind that it is from his point of view and thus limited in that way. It remains a great read, where as Crick noted years later, it was impressive how much technical jargon Watson managed to work in without making the book too heavy. The portrait of Rosalind Franklin in this book remains controversial, but more recent books about Franklin since 1968 have added nuance to the situation.

One detail to keep in mind is that if you find a true 1968 edition, you should be aware that the controversial episode in Chapter 25, regarding the Medical Research Council (MRC) report on activities in Professor J.T. Randall's lab that Watson and Crick obtained via Max Perutz, is of the originally published text, where it was not clear that the report was not confidential, which was why Perutz shared it with Watson and Crick without thinking about it, or asking Randall for permission. Critics of the book seized on this incident to attack Watson on ethical grounds. This led to an exchange of letters in "Science" magazine, and in later editions of "The Double Helix", Watson revised the text in Chapter 25 to make clear that this MRC report was indeed not confidential.

I wish I knew a little more about nucleotides, purine, backbone and so on; not knowing or remembering any of that, I couldn't enjoy the book the way I would've liked - to genuinely enjoy this book you would need to understand the basics of the science discussed here. Yeah, I did enjoy the details of the various personailities, the gossip and the humor, though, that won't make up for the excitement one gets when the main puzzle is unravelled.

This is Dr Watson's story, the way he saw it and it's fairly evident that Rosalind and Maurice would've seen it pretty differently. Planning to get hold of Maurice's book to get his perspective on the race.

This book by James Watson tells his story, in the years he worked on the structure of DNA. As another review noted, this is the story "warts and all," including his and others' worries about grants being renewed, family, relationships, jealousy, pride, food, and living in England where the labs and accomodations were always cold in winter.
I know almost no biology, and while a lot of the discussion was over my head scientifically, I followed the gist of it.
The ghost of Rosalind Franklin continually follows James Watson. I've heard Dr. Watson speak publicly twice, and each time he was asked about her. When he was interviewed on NPR, the interviewer persistently went into the interactions between Watson and Franklin. The gist of his response is that she lost the recognition she should have gotten because she refused to collaborate and work with others, and she refused to work with models. Clearly, while Franklin's X-ray photograph of DNA was a major step in pointing Watson and Crick to the double helix AT GC structure of DNA, it was NOT a self-sufficient proof of the double helix, as she herself refused to consider a helical structure of DNA.

There have been so many books written about the discovery of the DNA, and after some browsing, I decided to pick this one (at least, seems to be most popular).
Watson describes in vivid detail the happenings that precipitated in the final moment. It is really a story of drama, espionage, deception and a little bit of exploratory science. Captivating narrative and inspiring in some ways. But, not the "high class" I was expecting.
Personal Chatter:
The book gave glimpses of how much pressure "doing science" can be. I thought pure science (or at least the kind that gets people the Nobel) is generally done with a pristine pursuit of the truth with not much time pressures. But, in the world of annual conferences, research paper deadlines, high profile spending, and expectations of "ROI" in almost anything, it was only a matter of time before any serious science had to answer to corporate/defense spending and peer pressures. In light of such a situation, it is no surprise that there can be people who actually have a game-plan (and in some ways, a business plan) to get the Nobel prize. Venture Capitalists invest in people and ideas to make companies that will be bought by others or will go public. Defense spending (and increasingly corporate spending) invests in scientists to get big-tag prizes, and protectionist patents that will give them first dibs at cash-cow-products/projects. At least, that is the reality of today.

I began this book with some trepidation. I am not a science scholar by any means, so I wasn't sure how much of the book I would understand. And true, I didn't grasp a lot of the scientific explanations, but what I found interesting, and humorous, was the description of the many characters and their personality traits. They could all be right out of the TV show "The Big Bang Theory." The book is a quick read, as long as you don't get bogged down in the science, and interesting to discover the workings and social interactions of the scientists involved in their quest to discovery DNA.

The structure of DNA was discovered before I was born. This book allowed me to look back to a time when the structure of DNA was unknown. Could proteins be the genetic material? Seems like it since there are so many amino acids. Could DNA be the genetic material? But how could only 4 bases create such diversity? How could these 4 bases possibly fit together? These are questions that every scientist now knows the answers to. But these questions used to be very puzzling. "The Double Helix" truly is a personal account in the race to discover the structure. The book explains the many ideas that were considered, the fears that someone would beat them to it, and the feeling of triumph when they knew they had succeeded. "The Double Helix" is a book for scientist and non-scientist alike.

The earlier chapters are somewhat disorganized, but understandably so perhaps: Watson is not exactly a writer. "The Double Helix" is a fascinating tale about how DNA structure was discovered and understood in detail. It is written in novel form, like a biography - which adds a little more humanity and simplicity to it all. Therefore, anyone can read it.

As you get to the middle, it gets quite involved as Watson narrates the ups and downs that he and Crick (and others) encountered. He also writes about the jealousies, tensions, and hardships in science research. He describes his partner, Francis, as a constant talker - almost obnoxious. I found the way Watson described Rosalind Franklin a little unsettling. It seems that he just casts her off as a choleric woman having a hard time in a men's world of science and research. It's clear that he doesn't give her the recognition she deserves. I doubt that Watson and Crick would have solved the structure of DNA without Rose's hard work in crystallography and x-rays.

On another note however, it's good that Watson wrote this book when events were still fresh in his mind, as he claims. As for DNA itself...people shall keep on making more and more discoveries a thousand years from now. Watson and Crick (and others) just helped hurl things up to the horizon. Discoveries on DNA, chromosomes, genes, etc. shall continue to unprecedented heights. And who knows what else is out there that we don't know?

I almost gave it 4 stars, but truth be told: my mind was less than piqued by Watson's writing style. And maybe if he showed the tiniest bit of respect for Ms. Franklin, her contributions, and her hard work.

I recently reread The Double Helix and greatly enjoyed it, because (a) Watson conveys vividly (but perhaps not completely) events leading to the discovery of the structure of DNA, one of the great discoveries of the century and (b) he gives a warts and all description and shows that science is not a glorious straightline progression.
What distinguishes him from most of the other participants, and explains his passion, is that (as a biologist) he was investigating the structure of DNA to gain insights into genetics. Therefore he saw elucidating the structure as a step to bigger things (e.g. Human Genome Project), not as an end in itself. Most of the other participants as biophysicists were content to find the structure. One of the beauties of the double helix is that the structure itself gave a very immediate indication as to the mechanism of genetic replication.
I have been intrigued by the strongly polarised reactions to the book reflected in the reviews on this site. I think that some of the criticims of the book are unfair. Watson makes it clear that it is a personal account and reflects his own perceptions of the events at the time. From reading other accounts (e.g. The Path to the Double Helix by Olby) it is clear that his memories of some events are not shared by other participants in those events, including Crick and Wilkins.
I can certainly understand why many readers (and in particular women) object to the characterisation of Rosalind Franklin, particularly the repeated derogatory references to "feminists". On the other hand Watson acknowledges in the epilogue that his perceptions of her at the time of the events described were wildly wrong. Even in the body of the book, he never denies that she contributed key information (although he doesn't explain why they did not acknowledge that contribution more explicitly at the time - Sayre could be right that Watson is trying to put his spin on events to obscure this aspect). As I read the book his perceptions and comments about Franklin were almost entirely reporting or based on Maurice Wilkins complaints about her. Notwithstanding Anne Sayres' defence of Franklin in Rosalind Franklin and DNA (which I recommend to balance Watson's account) it does appear that Franklin was far from blameless in the bad relationship which developed between Franklin and Wilkins.
It is also clear, even from Watson's account, that Franklin (and others such as Chargraff) had good reason for believing that Watson and Crick were not serious scientists. So her reserve when dealing with them is understandable.
As well as the objectionable personal description of Franklin, Anne Sayre also criticises Watson for the suggestion in the Double Helix that Franklin rejected the suggestion that DNA was a helix. Franklin's private papers disclose that she thought that there was clear evidence that the B form was a helix, and Crick thought that she was not far away from demonstrating the double helical structure through her X-ray crystallography work. However, for most of the period that the events in the Double Helix unfolded in 1952 her work focussed on the A form of DNA which was not clearly helical on X-ray evidence. Both Watson and Wilkins are clear that when the possibility of a helical structure was discussed with Franklin on various occasions during 1952 she reacted negatively (and very strongly). Only in early 1953 did she begin to actively work on the B form and to turn her mind seriously to the detail of helical structures. This reflects either rigorous scientific standards or an overcautious approach depending on which side of the fence you are on. Either way, if she had been prepared to indulge the idle speculations of Wilkins, Watson and Crick earlier she may have found her name on the paper announcing the structure of DNA to the world either alone or with Wilkins, or Crick and Watson.

Watson's ego and narcissism are things that have always been talked about; this book depicts them with the utmost clarity. It's a funny book with a skewed view that he addresses in the prologue. It is his take on the events that revolved around the elucidation of the DNA structure.

One of my "favorite" parts is when he is talking about attending Franklin's seminar on her X-ray crystallography. He admits his thoughts were: "what if she removed her glasses and did something novel with her hair?" Despite his personal downfalls his gung-ho and risky attitude sped up this important discovery. It is also a realistic view of the politics and competitive nature of a scientific career.

I recommend this book to everyone. It is not written in a way that would be over anyone's head. It's definitely good for scientists and people considering the field.

QUICK REVIEW
This book is a semi-interesting, semi-enjoyable story of the research and path of discovery of the scientists who figured out the structure of DNA.
FULL REVIEW
For the reader to really enjoy this book, he/she needs to already know some things about DNA prior to reading it. So in that sense, that is one of the book's weaknesses. However, someone who does not know anything about DNA probably wouldn't be interested in it in the first place. So the problem kind of takes care of itself. The book, though, can still easily go over the reader's head in parts. The author does not try to walk the reader through the understanding of the research that went on, and thus the reader can get lost in the specifics and the jargon. However, that is not what the author is interested in doing anyway. He wants us to see the personalities and the human side of the story rather than the scientific details. In this he succeeds. The story could have been dry, but it keeps your attention by making you interested in the people involved and the dynamics of those people behind the discovery. It is a good book that may or may not engross some people, but the reader can't help but get caught up in the excitement when they close in on the final discovery, knowing that they will receive the Nobel Prize and what it means to the biological world. It is a good book but not a great book, and will probably be enjoyed by any reader who is interested in the topic.

The race to discover the double - helix structure of the 'molecule of life' is the subject of this book. James Watson who was then a twenty- four year old visiting American scientist worked with the team of the British Francis Crick , and this team succeeded in beating the Linus Pauling team to the discovery. There are of course many ' doubles' in the history of science, perhaps most famously Newton- Leibniz invention of the differential calculus, and Darwin- Wallace's discovery of evolution through natural selection. But the ' double ' here was avoided in part by Crick- Watson's fierce competitiveness, and making use without permission of the work of another .(Rosalind Franklin) In other words the story here is valuable in being a realistic ( if incomplete) story of how this monumental discovery was actually made. But it makes in a way the whole process seem if not less exciting, than less emotionally and spiritually satisfactory than one would like in regard to a discovery of such great importance. Compare the kind of wheeling and dealing done by Crick and Watson with Wilkins in filching the Franklin work, with the very different spectacle of Einstein alone through thought- experiments wholly transforming the way we see the world.

I also to tell the truth did not find the Watson who tells the tale a particularly likeable character, and Crick even less so.

This book however does give a real sense of how scientific work is often done, and does in its best moments provide a sense of the excitement of great discovery.

I remember upon first reading The Double Helix I was delighted with the fact that Watson was a slacker and still managed to make one of the most important discoveries in biology. There was hope for me too! It is a pleasure to read a book about scientific discovery where the researchers are not mercilessly driven type-A personalities confined to their labs. A well-written account of the personalities and community behind a major scientific discovery, of the molding of disparate facts into a new theory that changed the field.

It has been mentioned by reviewers that Dr. R Franklin's contribution goes unappreciated. Of course she had died of cancer when Watson and Crick et. al. received the Nobel Prize; otherwise she would have been included, as she deserved. That aside, the principal value of young people's reading this book, aside from a passing familiarity with a key discovery of modern times, is the way Watson and Crick interacted to get to the truth. Each would attack the arguments of the other- not in the tricky sort of way one associates with TV lawyers, but pointing out the limits of the other's arguments and contradictions with established principles of chemistry and physics. It is somewhat akin to Talmudic argument. It has a good deal owed to the logic of Aristotle and the thought process

of thesis, antithesis, synthesis repeated over and over developed by Hegal. The book provides enough insight to be of value without such technical detail that would take it out of the range of an average reader.

(Referring to the UK Penguin edition, 1971)

As Dr. Joe Black of Louisiana College Professor Emeritus attests, "It reads like a great mystery"--a rarity for science books of the popular thread.

This book truly is the exciting account of Watson and Crick's race to discover the structure of DNA. The book is as plainly entertaining as that. Watson writes with plain elegance, which no offense to most scientists, is refreshing. The author relates not only his excitement and energy of his work toward the Double Helix, but also the (now) historical context of the race to discover as well as the immense gravity of the implications of its discovery.

The reader does absorb a little science jargon in the descritions of the biological and physics work of Watson and Crick respectively, but the writing is so direct that it appeals to the lay reader. It is a must read for any student interested in medical and/or biological research and genetics. Science has come a long way since the discovery of DNA's structure and this book describes the event that changed the course of science forever.

Clarification is in order. First of all, this is not a substantive science book. For all the significance of the discovery it chronicles, The Double Helix never bothers to explain how, for example, x-ray crystallography actually works, or what the difference between a keto- and an -enol is, or even why Watson's and Crick's discovery brought on a new era in the life sciences. Aspiring students of genetics and molecular biology are urged to inquire elsewhere for answers to these questions.
Second, to label The Double Helix a book on scientific method is almost equally misleading - the reason being that there is no room in the rarefied formalism extolled by the likes of Karl Popper for Watson's subjectivity and sarcasm, not to mention the latter's frequent excursions on nubile au pairs and the deplorable student housing market at Cambridge.
Third (not that it matters for an appreciation of the book, but it's a common misunderstanding), Watson and Crick did not discover DNA itself, or even the function of DNA. Rather, they were awarded the Nobel Prize for solving the molecular structure of DNA.
With those clarifications in mind, The Double Helix is a profitable read. Watson shows us non-scientists that the practice of science is "just" another human endeavor, and not some remote, sterilized activity conducted by emotional eunuchs in white coats. Watson's first-person narrative is downright conversational, as if he's talking shop over a pint of stout in an English pub. He is unabashedly honest about both his ambitions and his naivete (he was only 23 at the time the events in the book took place). And his sometimes scathing portrayals of his colleagues - in all their brilliance and banality - give the impression that working in a world-class research facility is a lot like working anywhere else.
Francis Crick comes across as that certain guy we all knew in college (wherever and whenever that was) - impish and boisterous, egocentric but big-hearted, who might be dapper if he didn't sleep in his clothes, whose eccentricity is the bane of faculty advisors, whose attention is everywhere but on task, whose breath sometimes smells like beer after lunch, and whose serendipitous genius comes through at all the right times. The supporting cast is equally colorful: Maurice Wilkins, the quintessential English academic stuffed corpse; Rosalind Franklin, a Freudian caricature of icy feminine competence in a man's world; the godlike Linus Pauling playing with his tinker toy molecular models in California.
And it wasn't just his colleagues who made Watson's work interesting. There were the aforementioned au pairs, the pubs and the parties and the formal receptions, there was the professional competitiveness between the English and the Americans - with Watson (a Yank in Cambridge) more of an American insurance policy against the Brits getting all the credit for solving DNA if Pauling wasn't fast enough. And there was the Cold War, which had an impact on research priorities and, sometimes, hampered communication in the scientific community.
But most importantly - although Watson never deigns to make this point explicit - The Double Helix is a fascinating chronicle of the scientific method in action, notwithstanding the politics, the distractions, and the idiosyncrasies of the protagonists. The task itself was daunting. Watson and Crick already knew what DNA was composed of, and they knew with some certainty the proportions in which the bases were represented, but there could only be one correct way to put all the pieces together and the haystack was a big one. The researchers were quick to offer and to accept criticism, and false leads were abandoned without regard to ego or sunk time. Even though each wanted to get there first, London shared their findings with Cambridge, Cambridge shared their insights with London, and England and California held nothing from each other for long - admirable examples of the "sociable competition" of science that expedites discovery.
In the end, Watson's and Crick's success relied heavily on Wilkins's and Franklin's crystallography, with important contributions from whomever happened to stop by the lab during the two year period, and insights from conferences and the textbooks and articles Watson happened to read at the time. Creativity, serendipity, and openness to the ideas of others eventually yielded hypotheses, which were tested using Pauling's modeling methods. It could not have been done alone, as Watson makes clear, and the structure of DNA would have been discovered sooner or later. While ultimately it doesn't matter who gets the credit for the discovery, the world seems a better place for James Watson's being involved, if only because The Double Helix is such an entertaining read.

I read this book as a requirement for my undergraduate biology class, but I ended up enjoying it quite thoroughly. I think the depiction of Watson & Crick, as well as their adventure to discover the Double Helix as naturally assumed by pairs of DNA, was far more entertaining than one would assume coming from a "science" book. There are really three major points that make this an interesting read. (1)The unbelievable ease of reading in this book was unexpected. One would normally assume that a "science" book would be difficult to say the least but in fact the layout of the book was really reader friendly. (2)The race against another, more well-known scientist, in Linus Pauling to discover the structure of DNA, and (3) the teamwork approach to this discovery that Watson & Crick took. I was personally enthralled with the overall competition between the two different groups and how Watson, Crick, and Franklin came together to add to one purpose. It was very interesting to see all of them bring something different to the table in regards to their scientific specialties. Overall I thought the book was an excellent read but I was surprised to see the personality clashes with Watson and Franklin. I would recommend this work for anyone who has a creative want to learn more about the human side of science and DNA in general.

Mike Schulze

Chemistry Honors

Book Review

The Double Helix

by: James D. Watson

The Double Helix is the tale of the ups and downs of an adventure shared by two men. This novel depicts the struggle of James Watson and Francis Crick to discover the structure of DNA while attempting to simultaneously focus on other tasks at hand. They yearn to make this discovery before rival biochemist Linus Pauling beats them to the punch to thus win the Nobel Prize, which is foreshadowed for whoever might secure this discovery. Having previously put their search on the shelf for a while Watson and Crick return to the task of solving DNA when Linus Pauling becomes presumably close to solving it himself. After much trial and error Watson finally comes to the idea of the double helix and base pairs which proves to be the correct structure for DNA.

Watson is able to effectively captivate the reader and create a bridge for the reader to cross, enabling him or her to delve in the Watson's world of science. He is fully able to depict the complicated biochemistry that is present in his story in such a way that it is more easily comprehendible for his audience. Watson is successful in vividly relaying the accounts of his story with plentiful detail that creates a tremendous picture in the mind of the reader.

On the other hand, constant reference to numerous scientists and other people is a cause of confusion for the reader as he or she tries desperately but usually ineffectively to recall which person was responsible for which action when they resurface at different times throughout the novel. The inclusion by Watson of all these characters removes and scatters the focus of audience from where he intends it to be, which is on his struggle with DNA.

Despite this imperfection The Double Helix is still a great novel. It does so much to further the understanding the discovery of the structure of DNA. It is a great complimentary learning tool for anybody interested in biochemistry and DNA.

Many people undoubtedly never pick up this book because they think science is too boring or too complex to make for a true page-turner. How wrong they are! This is edge-of-your-seat fascinating. I doubt that Watson could write a super suspense novel, but he did something greater. In my humble opinion, he wrote one of the finest books of scientific achievement ever written. Pick up the book and read.

I found the book to be the complete antithesis to the expected writings hidden behind the scientific cover. Watson and his clan's quest for the helixical structure of DNA made for an entertaining voyage within these pages. Unexpectedly, as many scientific based books that I have been privy to read lately, this book was very approachable, dare I say readable. The exploits recounted by Watson were very entertaining; they could even be considered witty and humorous although it was biosciences humor. The teamwork and competition aspects of the discovery of the double helix were unexpected but welcomed because I felt that they were the driving forces behind the people. I was impressed by Watson, Crick and Franklin all bringing something to the proverbial table even though I found it a tad bit lucky or coincidental, but that is how these things work sometimes. This, accompanied with the race against Linus Pauling (already a recognized scientist of the time) helped lend to an educational, insightful and entertaining few hours of reading about the basic structure of all of us. I felt like I took a little something with me when I was finished with this work.......and I do mean literally.

XXXXX

In this book (first published in 1968), "Honest Jim" (as a scientist friend called him) or Dr. James Dewey Watson has explained his "version of how the structure of DNA was discovered" and "this account represents the way [he] saw things then, in [the fall of] 1951 [to the spring of] 1953." (The discovery was announced in April 1953.) That is, he has "attempted to re-create [his] first impressions of the relevant events and personalities" that he encountered along the way to making the discovery. Thus, understand this is not a book of historical facts.

Also, because of the personal nature of this book Watson states that "many of the comments [that he makes] may seem one-sided and unfair, but this is often the case in the incomplete and hurried way in which human beings decide to like or dislike a new idea or [a new] acquaintance."

This book revolves around five main people:

(1) Dr. Francis Crick (1916 to 2004) of the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, England
(2) Dr. James Watson (born 1928) also of the Cavendish Laboratory
(3) Dr. Rosalind Franklin (1920 to 1958) of King's College, a division of the University of London
(4) Dr. Maurice Wilkins (1916 to 2004) also of King's College
(5) Dr. Linus Pauling (1901 to 1994) of the California Institute of Technology.

However, along the way the reader meets many other people, both scientists and non-scientists.

As Watson explains, the above five people are in a "race" to discover DNA's structure. However, I got the impression that neither Franklin nor Wilkins knew they were in a race. By the end of the race, Watson was "one of the winners" who shared the Nobel Prize in 1962 with Crick and Wilkins.

According to the official Nobel Prize internet site, Watson, Crick, and Wilkins won a shared Nobel Prize in physiology "for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material."

This 29-chapter (with epilogue) book is a fast read (but only if you gloss over the science parts). As Watson proceeds in this story, you'll find that he is quite sociable and takes us to such places as pubs, restaurants, and "smashing" parties.

As you read this book, you'll find that there is considerable tension between Watson and Franklin (who was an expert in X-ray diffraction crystallography) as well as between Wilkins and Franklin.

For me, this book imparts four major things:

(1) THE THRILL OF DISCOVERY. That is, this book effectively conveys, especially in the latter chapters, the struggle to find the correct answer. With each chapter, the anticipation mounts toward the final climax: the discovery of the double helical structure of DNA.

(2) HOW SCIENCE IS DONE. For example, both Watson & Crick and Pauling used molecular models while Franklin & Wilkins used X-ray crystallography. However, all science is not done as it is conveyed in this book. As Watson states, "styles of scientific research vary almost as much as human personalities."

(3) THE QUESTION OF ETHICS IN SCIENCE. For example, Wilkins told Watson secretly that Franklin "had evidence for a new three-dimensional form of DNA." When Watson "asked what the pattern [of this new form] was like, [Wilkins] went into the adjacent room to pick up an [X-ray diffraction] print [or photograph] of [this] new form [called the 'B' form]" and showed it to Watson. This was done without Franklin's permission. It turns out that this X-ray photo was critical and "gave several...vital helical parameters."

(4) WATSON'S HONESTY. In all of this book, Franklin is portrayed as an unattractive, unapproachable, and angry person whose scientific work is questionable. However, in the book's epilogue Watson devotes the last two paragraphs to her and her achievements. He admits that "my initial impressions of her, both scientific and personal...were often wrong" and that she was a person of "personal honesty and generosity" as well as of "intelligence."

Two good features of this book are that it has photographs (a total of 19) and diagrams (a total of 11) throughout. My favorite photo is the one captioned "X-ray diffraction photograph of DNA, B form" taken by Franklin in late 1952. My favorite diagram is captioned "Schematic illustration of the double helix."

This book was written for a general audience so they could experience the thrill of this revolutionary discovery. Thus, I was surprised that it had no chapter table of contents (but the photos and diagrams each have one), no chapter headings, and no index. I feel these would have made the book more user friendly.

Also, I feel what was needed was a science glossary and name index/page. The former is needed because the reader encounters many scientific terms (especially those related to DNA) and thus a glossary would make the science more accessible to the general reader. The latter is needed because Watson encounters many people and a name index/page would have helped the reader keep track of these names. Besides Watson talked with other scientists to clarify ideas, and in a way they indirectly contributed to the discovery. Thus, a name index/page would have acknowledged their indirect contribution.

Finally, in the epilogue Watson states, "All of [the major] people [in this book], should they desire, can indicate events and details they remember differently." Thus, I recommend these books:

(1) "Linus Pauling: Scientist and Peacemaker" (2001). In this book, refer to the science article entitled "The Triple Helix" which describes the race to discover DNA's structure. Note Pauling's observations throughout the article.
(2) "Rosalind Franklin and DNA" (first published in 1975) by Anne Sayre. This book clears up Watson's misconceptions about Franklin who died in 1958.
(3) "The Third Man of the Double Helix" (2003) by Maurice Wilkins. Wilkins finally speaks out on what really happened from his perspective.

In conclusion, Dr. James Watson tells us honestly his version of how the structure of DNA was discovered. He effectively conveys the struggle to find the right answer and the thrill of discovery. Don't deny yourself from reading this exciting book but be sure to read the recommended books to get the full story.

*** 1/2

***** ADDENDUM: April 23, 2013 regarding "The Annotated and Illustrated" edition of "The Double Helix" (published in 2012) *****

All the problems I noted above for the above original 1968 edition of this book have been corrected with the new 2012 edition.

Instead of simply listing the names of the numerous other people involved in the discovery (as I suggested in my review for the original edition), there are actual photographs of them. Other photographs (many published for the first time) are also included.

Many other documents not included in the original edition have also been included in this one.

There are wonderful annotations (explanatory notes) in boldface type on each page of the new edition. One annotation I found especially interesting was an explanation of where the nickname "Rosy" or "Rosie" came from.

Included is James Watson's account of winning the Nobel Prize (first published in 2007).

There are also five appendices. Included in these appendices are reproduced letters written by Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins of why they DID NOT want Watson to publish his book.

Lastly, there is a good index. (The 1968 edition did not have an index.)

Finally, I want to stress that Watson's original 1968 text is left UNCHANGED.

In conclusion, in my opinion the 2012 edition of Watson's 1968 book will provide the potential reader with a more fuller reading experience with regard to this major scientific event. Also, in my opinion, the 2012 EDITION DESERVES 5 STARS.

XXXXX

XXXXX

In this book (first published in 1968), "Honest Jim" (as a scientist friend called him) or Dr. James Dewey Watson has explained his "version of how the structure of DNA was discovered" and "this account represents the way [he] saw things then, in [the fall of] 1951 [to the spring of] 1953." (The discovery was announced in April 1953.) That is, he has "attempted to re-create [his] first impressions of the relevant events and personalities" that he encountered along the way to making the discovery. Thus, understand this is not a book of historical facts.

Also, because of the personal nature of this book Watson states that "many of the comments [that he makes] may seem one-sided and unfair, but this is often the case in the incomplete and hurried way in which human beings decide to like or dislike a new idea or [a new] acquaintance."

This book revolves around five main people:

(1) Dr. Francis Crick (1916 to 2004) of the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, England
(2) Dr. James Watson (born 1928) also of the Cavendish Laboratory
(3) Dr. Rosalind Franklin (1920 to 1958) of King's College, a division of the University of London
(4) Dr. Maurice Wilkins (1916 to 2004) also of King's College
(5) Dr. Linus Pauling (1901 to 1994) of the California Institute of Technology.

However, along the way the reader meets many other people, both scientists and non-scientists.

As Watson explains, the above five people are in a "race" to discover DNA's structure. However, I got the impression that neither Franklin nor Wilkins knew they were in a race. By the end of the race, Watson was "one of the winners" who shared the Nobel Prize in 1962 with Crick and Wilkins.

According to the official Nobel Prize internet site, Watson, Crick, and Wilkins won a shared Nobel Prize in physiology "for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material."

This 29-chapter (with epilogue) book is a fast read (but only if you gloss over the science parts). As Watson proceeds in this story, you'll find that he is quite sociable and takes us to such places as pubs, restaurants, and "smashing" parties.

As you read this book, you'll find that there is considerable tension between Watson and Franklin (who was an expert in X-ray diffraction crystallography) as well as between Wilkins and Franklin.

For me, this book imparts four major things:

(1) THE THRILL OF DISCOVERY. That is, this book effectively conveys, especially in the latter chapters, the struggle to find the correct answer. With each chapter, the anticipation mounts toward the final climax: the discovery of the double helical structure of DNA.

(2) HOW SCIENCE IS DONE. For example, both Watson & Crick and Pauling used molecular models while Franklin & Wilkins used X-ray crystallography. However, all science is not done as it is conveyed in this book. As Watson states, "styles of scientific research vary almost as much as human personalities."

(3) THE QUESTION OF ETHICS IN SCIENCE. For example, Wilkins told Watson secretly that Franklin "had evidence for a new three-dimensional form of DNA." When Watson "asked what the pattern [of this new form] was like, [Wilkins] went into the adjacent room to pick up an [X-ray diffraction] print [or photograph] of [this] new form [called the 'B' form]" and showed it to Watson. This was done without Franklin's permission. It turns out that this X-ray photo was critical and "gave several...vital helical parameters."

(4) WATSON'S HONESTY. In all of this book, Franklin is portrayed as an unattractive, unapproachable, and angry person whose scientific work is questionable. However, in the book's epilogue Watson devotes the last two paragraphs to her and her achievements. He admits that "my initial impressions of her, both scientific and personal...were often wrong" and that she was a person of "personal honesty and generosity" as well as of "intelligence."

Two good features of this book are that it has photographs (a total of 19) and diagrams (a total of 11) throughout. My favorite photo is the one captioned "X-ray diffraction photograph of DNA, B form" taken by Franklin in late 1952. My favorite diagram is captioned "Schematic illustration of the double helix."

This book was written for a general audience so they could experience the thrill of this revolutionary discovery. Thus, I was surprised that it had no chapter table of contents (but the photos and diagrams each have one), no chapter headings, and no index. I feel these would have made the book more user friendly.

Also, I feel what was needed was a science glossary and name index/page. The former is needed because the reader encounters many scientific terms (especially those related to DNA) and thus a glossary would make the science more accessible to the general reader. The latter is needed because Watson encounters many people and a name index/page would have helped the reader keep track of these names. Besides Watson talked with other scientists to clarify ideas, and in a way they indirectly contributed to the discovery. Thus, a name index/page would have acknowledged their indirect contribution.

Finally, in the epilogue Watson states, "All of [the major] people [in this book], should they desire, can indicate events and details they remember differently." Thus, I recommend these books:

(1) "Linus Pauling: Scientist and Peacemaker" (2001). In this book, refer to the science article entitled "The Triple Helix" which describes the race to discover DNA's structure. Note Pauling's observations throughout the article.
(2) "Rosalind Franklin and DNA" (first published in 1975) by Anne Sayre. This book clears up Watson's misconceptions about Franklin who died in 1958.
(3) "The Third Man of the Double Helix" (2003) by Maurice Wilkins. Wilkins finally speaks out on what really happened from his perspective.

In conclusion, Dr. James Watson tells us honestly his version of how the structure of DNA was discovered. He effectively conveys the struggle to find the right answer and the thrill of discovery. Don't deny yourself from reading this exciting book but be sure to read the recommended books to get the full story.

*** 1/2

***** ADDENDUM: April 23, 2013 regarding "The Annotated and Illustrated" edition of "The Double Helix" (published in 2012) *****

All the problems I noted above for the above original 1968 edition of this book have been corrected with the new 2012 edition.

Instead of simply listing the names of the numerous other people involved in the discovery (as I suggested in my review for the original edition), there are actual photographs of them. Other photographs (many published for the first time) are also included.

Many other documents not included in the original edition have also been included in this one.

There are wonderful annotations (explanatory notes) in boldface type on each page of the new edition. One annotation I found especially interesting was an explanation of where the nickname "Rosy" or "Rosie" came from.

Included is James Watson's account of winning the Nobel Prize (first published in 2007).

There are also five appendices. Included in these appendices are reproduced letters written by Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins of why they DID NOT want Watson to publish his book.

Lastly, there is a good index. (The 1968 edition did not have an index.)

Finally, I want to stress that Watson's original 1968 text is left UNCHANGED.

In conclusion, in my opinion the 2012 edition of Watson's 1968 book will provide the potential reader with a more fuller reading experience with regard to this major scientific event. Also, in my opinion, the 2012 EDITION DESERVES 5 STARS.

XXXXX

Watson was brilliant in bringing pieces of his vague memory and prejudices. What we have here is in part the fact of history and in part a very enjoyable work of fiction.
Really, people who read this book usually finishes in a few hours. This is amazing compared to the time it takes to read the hopeless eulogy given by Anne Sayer.
However, as a man of considerable authority, Watson should have taken the usual scholary precautions and double-chekced when he was talking about "people". I think any serious reader must consult Anne Sayer, albeit painful, for a balanced viewpoint.

The Double Helix a hysterical science novel. By Raphael Mermey
I thought that the double Helix was an outstanding piece of science literature. I liked the humor in James D. Watson's writing. He always found a way to make a serious topic funny. One example of his humor was when he stated that: At first he was only occasionally felling ill from his work but by the end of his apprenticeship he was violating the terms of conventional biochemistry. He was totally board with the normal rules. Another example of his unconventional sense of humor was when he was describing was describing the food at one of the labs he worked was working at and how sometimes he got sick from not eating at all. Another important part of this novel was the competition. Who would solve the double helix mystery first? The competition was between Linus Pauling (A well known and highly respected scientist) And the team of James D. Watson and Francis Crick. Up to this point in Watson's and Crick's careers neither of them had been well known. In fact Crick had been known for going off on tangents and then realizing what he though was a great idea had just been his imagination. But even with his defects he was a crucial part of figuring out what the double helix was.
I liked the way the book did not leave out parts where every one needed every one else's skills and expertise. This is a trite in a book or in the world of science and I thought this was one of the most successful books at doing that which I have ever read. They showed that one of the most important reasons for Watson's and Crick's success was many different people with different backgrounds in science.
I thought The Double Helix was an outstanding science novel, that had a great sense of humor and increased my knowledge, and was truly enjoyable to read.

This is the story of the search for the structure of DNA, told by the one who (with Francis Crick) discovered it. But it's far more than that. It is also the story of a young man who tries to find his way in the world of science. The book is very well written, in a charming informal style. However, this is a highly personal account, and should not be considered as the objective truth about the subject. Especially the fans of Rosalind Franklin will testify this. Nevertheless, I recommend this book if you want to savour the thrill of scientific discovery.

Before one sits down to read this novel, you must first understand that it is the personal account of James Watson, one of two Nobel Prize laureates who won the race in the discovery of DNA. As a result of his singular perspective, certain aspects will be biased to a given degree, an example being his views on Rosalind Franklin (an individual whom many believe Watson stole research material from).
In this novel Watson actively reflects his trials and tribulations in his struggle to research the biochemical deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). As he unravels his tales and discoveries leading up to his ultimate success, Watson, humorously adds his own sense of style and wit in the telling of his personal encounters as well as Crick's (his partner). He is also able to balance the pros and the cons of his tedious scientific exploration. At times thoroughly illustrating his frustration in his attempts to understand DNA.
Reading this novel allows a reader to easily identify Watson's passion and drive in his analyzes of DNA in correlation to other "building blocks" of life (e.g. RNA). These characteristics provide an explanation why he is so willing to further investigate DNA even after its discovery as a unique structure, unlike other scientists within the same field of research.
Although this is not a difficult novel to peruse through, "What is all the hype about?" is a question that may resurface several times within the reader's mind. Thus, one must remember the time frame in which this discovery was made. Unlike our current scientific advances in the field of genetics, Watson and Crick were pioneers (along with a handful of others) in this field and prompted a new branch of biology as well as biochemistry to evolve as a result of their findings. Without this discovery many questions regarding medical and health issues would still be left unanswered. More importantly our current understanding of genetics would not be where it is today. Let alone the discoveries made within the Human Genome Project.

The Double Helix by James D. Watson chronicles James Watson's and Francis Crick's etraordinary discovery of the structure of DNA. This book shows the not only the critical problems and solutions they found but also Watson's thoughts and perceptions of the people around him. Watson's views of his colleagues Sir Lawrence Bragg, Max Perutz and his competitors Linus Pauling, Rosalind Franklin, and Maurice Wilkins are harsh and biased yet they still provide some insight. An interesting look at the competition that takes place between the scientists is also present as Crick and Watson race to be the first to solve the DNA mystery. Watson's description of glee at Linus Pauling's failure to find the structure of DNA shatters the idea that all scientists have a noble drive which is to improve the world.

This book begins with Watson's various travels and studies. Before arriving at Cambridge his main focus had been bacterial and viral phages. However, after arriving in Cambridge and meeting Francis Crick, their shared interest in solving the DNA myestery exploded, and their efforts that would eventually lead to success began. It is important to note that during their time of model building and researching, both Crick and Watson were really supposed to be working on other projects. Their discovery, which revolutionized science, was produced during their spare time. Watson clearly explains the thought processes he and Crick underwent while also providing an imporved understanding of DNA.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun read. The Double Helix is short, informative, yet very entertaining. The language is easy to understand and all of the scientific topics are well explained. Watson's dry humor is spread throughout the book making it a very enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in either learning about DNA or furthering his or her studies and knowledge on the subject. This was an entertaining, short read with a large amount of information packed into one book. The information was comprehensible and easy to read, which made understanding the contents much easier. James Watson, the author of the book, speaks not only of his research with Francis Crick, but his relationships with most members of the DNA team; Maurice Wilkins, Linus Pauling, and Rosalind Franklin are all characters in the book. It's interesting to read Watson's views on these people, but if it's one complaint I have about this book it is that it is in the point of view in which you can only understand Watson's views. You do not fully understand what these other people contributed. It is a very bias piece book. It's pretty sad that after all the work Rosalind Franklin did, she is not recognized as genuinely as Watson and Crick are. It is sad that she died probably of cancer, and as a result of her work with radiation.

As previously stated, this book was very informative, but not overly scientific. The vocabulary was explained, which was helpful, coming from someone who does not have a very large genetic vocabulary to begin with. Watson is quite humorous, as he once states that he likes to be "seated near the evenings box of chocolates." He talks about his personal life, too, as opposed to simply stating the facts that he has discovered while working with DNA. He talks about his sister, Elizabeth Watson, and he talks about his disliking of "Rosy" Franklin. Watson journeyed to many different colleges throughout his life, and he speaks of those with the highest dignity.

This book was an overall good to read. It was very informative yet also enjoyable.

I am a college student in Northern California and an extra credit oppertunity was presented if we read this book. In college we read many books some of which are very boring to read and this sounded like one to me. It was imperitive that I did all I could for my Biology class so I went out and purchased the story of James Watson and Francis Crick. I love to read adventure stories and this book (Double Helix) was a great adventure novel. I had no idea that a scientist has the ability to write a story of discovering DNA in adventure format. James Watson was much like myself, and I could relate to him real well when he went on to write about how he wanted to avoid different aspects of science just like myself. All he was interested in was genetics and DNA extraction and he would do all it takes to put himself in the position of discovering the Double Helix. Through some luck and alot of knowledge Watson and Crick meet up with each other and went on to eventually decoding DNA. I recommmend this book to all that are interested in reading a great adventure story about Watson and his travels through Europe and what eventually brought him to meet one of the worlds greatest scientist ever. This is a book I finished and really, really enjoyed.

Although The Double Helix by James D. Watson is not the most riveting-can't-put-it-down book, it does offer a fascinating first-hand account of the events leading up to one of the most impacting scientific discoveries ever. Its manifestation of the unique existence of a scientist exposes what type of competitions, manipulation, and discovery exist in the science arena.
The introduction of other key figures who played prominent and influential roles in the discovery of the DNA structure is at the very least, enlightening. The network of knowledge necessary to ensure there are no foibles in a key discovery is something that the general public may have never taken into account. Also, it evinces the professional barriers that exist between the genders. The back story of Rosalind "Rosie" Franklin is fascinating as it examines the "glass ceiling" and what type of personality a woman needs to adopt in order to survive in a male dominated field. The end of the end of the book-where Watson realizes her seemingly callous attitude emanates from her essential need to incorporate survival methods is refreshing. The science terms are difficult to follow if one does not have previous scientific background, but there is enough universality imbedded into the story to keep a reader's attention.
Another aspect that proves to be surprising is the fact that scientists are not without their weak fields-just because they excel in chemistry does not mean they are equally capable in biology. Reading of how Watson and Crick were unsuccessful on several occasions somehow made them human-like they were mortals rather than some higher power intellectuals. Somehow, there seems to be an idea or stigma attached to scientists that suggest they are always brilliant and do not make mistakes. This book sheds that concept.
Watson and Crick needed to do research, work hard, and learn from their mistakes in order to accomplish their objective. They even needed help from their friends. They beat out a great scientist in Linus and won the "DNA Race." Their discovery has changed the world, and this book depicts them in a humble role-two guys doing their job.

In the dilapidated and torn down laboratory known as the "Cavendish" of Cambridge University, two scientists James D. Watson and Francis Crick work in unison to discover the structure of DNA. As they work jointly to piece together information about the double helix, they also have competition against the admired and better known Linus Pauling. At the same time, what is enjoyable about this book, is that everybody works in a cooperative manner, as they all have different abilities in the field and knowledge, in order to come to a final conclusion. The success of Watson and Crick came from the many different individuals with different experiences in science. Yet at the same time, the fact that it is a competition to discover the mystery of the structure of DNA titillates the reader. Although from the cover, this book seems very unapproachable, not because of its size, but because of its science nature, one would think that the jargons used in this book would be quite difficult. Rather, this book does not take much technical qualifications to understand, and as a matter of fact, it is quite easy to comprehend. What is positive about this book is the humor, and clever wit that takes place. An example would be on the bottom of page 68, "After Pauling's success, no one could claim that faith in helices implied anything but an uncomplicated brain." The Double Helix is an excellent book to read, with great illustrations of models, pictures of certain individuals, and x-rays of DNA, making the moment of discovery in this book vibrant and dynamic.

Prof. Watson tells us his story of the discovery of the DNA structure, a crucial scientific break-through.
It is more or less a race between the US (Linus Pauling) and the UK (the duo Crick/Watson).
The reader should have a decent chemical background for a full appreciation of the problems involved, for instance, the crucially important discovery of the ketone function.
This book gives also a good picture of the working and living conditions, the character clashes, the calm atmosphere and the closeness at the English top universities in the fifties of last century.
A worth-while read.

For those who are interested in a future with genetics, reading The Double Helix, by James Watson, is highly recommended. This books tracts the research and scientific journey of, specifically James Watson, but soon to join him as a main character was Francis Crick. This book is excellent pre-reading for a to-be geneticist because it starts at the very beginning, even before DNA was completely understood. The reader follows Watson and Crick, step by step, through the discovery of the structure of the basis of life. The downfall of the book is that it is very bias towards who had the most impact on the discovered of DNA.
The perspective in the story does not portray the complete truth in reference to the importance of others in the groundbreaking discovery. Two other people who eventually were in the party that received the Nobel Prize for the structure of DNA were Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin, the latter never officially receiving her prize for she died from radiation before the Nobel was issued. Although Watson gives some credit to the two scientists who did virtually all of the research he and Crick used for their structural model, he certainly did not attribute enough. Franklin was scorned to be cold and unsocial where she really only was trying to hold her own in a scientific world dominated by men. She was the scientist who produced the sealing picture that DNA in the B form was a helix. Watson and Crick may have been able to, possibly, figure out the structure of DNA without, affectionately called "Rosy's" X-ray photographs, but the journey would have taken much longer. Quite probably, without Franklin's research, the two men would have arrived at the right answer too late, being outdone by either Pauling or Linus.
The Double Helix, by James Watson, is a very informational and fundamental book in the science of genetics yet beware of the bias point of view.

The discovery of the structure of DNA was a monumental leap forward for the world of science. Whether or not you are looking to forward you studies in this area, I recommend opening this book. Watson provides a vibrantly colorful description of the exciting race to find a solution. A biography, the Double Helix adds a hint of humanism to a scientific search. His writing is fresh and direct, without any hesitation to state what he feels. Apart from being highly informative, it is an exciting retelling of the research process. Upon reading the novel, however aware you are that Watson and Crick will be receiving Nobel Prize for their discovery, you are still caught up in the chase.

A discovery of such epic size could not have been achieved by two scientists alone. Watson delves into descriptions of the scientists who provided essential pieces of information. Over the course of the novel we are introduced to Maurice Wilkins, who would be awarded the Nobel Prize along side Watson and Crick in 1962. Rosalind Franklin is depicted, giving her an undersized portion of recognition she deserved, as without her work with radiation Watson and Crick would have never gotten any where.

It is fascinating to hear the overlooked aspects of what happens on the path to discovery. When we are introduced to Watson he is an unfocused American graduate studying physics, who on account of sheer luck stumbles across bio chemistry and his future boastful partner Francis Crick.

In the Double Helix, Watson does more than merely recount the steps of his discovery. Here, is a very human story about an important scientific endeavor. You travel with Watson as he tastes wine and debates politics; a reminder that science is also a part of everyday life. Therefore, it is a narrative that holds appeal for all people with all levels of interest in science.

James D. Watson bares all in The Double Helix, whether he attempts to or not. Though Watson attempts to hide the fact that he and Francis Crick stole the discovery that the double helix is the structure of DNA from colleague Rosalind Franklin, he instead shows that they did while loosely trying to disguise it. In the process Watson shows himself to be a misogynous, spending more time talking about how Ms. Franklin could look more attractive with a different style than discussing her work. Essentially, Watson created a heck of an interesting read, maybe not what the general science buff is looking for. A perfect read for the critical history of science student.