The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA (Norton Critical Editions) (edition 1980)

by James D. Watson, Gunther S. Stent (Editor)

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Devil_llama's review

James Watson's love letter to himself, as he explains to us exactly how he single-handedly solved the structure of DNA, with the insignificant help of a cast of baboons, clowns, and women. Watson's small book is interesting as a historical piece, though it is necessary to take at least some of it with a grain of salt, and read other viewpoints, because his is strongly skewed toward the hero of his work...himself. The insights into this man of not insignificant talent is enlightening, and disheartening, as we see an unpleasant facet that sometimes accompanies genius and accomplishment: the inability to recognize that there were others who were crucial to your success. The book paints a very clear picture of a truly ugly person, who was only one of the geniuses involved, but is unable to recognize that fact. (

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Devil_llama | Apr 26, 2011 |

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This book was a fascinating account of how James D. Watson, Francis Crick and Rosalind Franklin discovered the structure of DNA. Along the way, we meet Linus Pauling and many others that are trying for this grail of Biology. I will admit that his perspective is rather sexist, but he grows to respect Rosalind Franklin as a colleague and friend.

This book also contains some of the original letters penned by Crick and Watson along with articles from Nature that celebrate an anniversary of the publication of the paper on the structure of DNA. (

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Floyd3345 | Jun 15, 2019 |

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Devil_llama | Apr 26, 2011 |

Very interesting if you know your chemistry. If you don't you may not know all the background. Watson fudges quite a few details, either intentionally or not, to give less credit to other scientists. Still, a fascinating and lively look into the lab. (

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