Double Helix - Personal Experiences in Discovering the Structure of DNA

Author: James D. Watson (USA), translated by Tian Ming
Publisher:
Publishing Date:
Features: This book tells the true story of the discovery of DNA—a double helix structure formed by two simple chemical chains called "bases" intertwining. Watson, one of the protagonists of the story, was only 23 years old at the time and had just recently graduated when he achieved such groundbreaking accomplishments. His writing is naturally candid, honest, and even arrogant, such as openly admitting his utilitarian academic approach—learning whatever he could and using any method that proved effective to extend the reach of knowledge to every possible area. He speaks of his contemporaneous scientific celebrities with a playful and disrespectful tone, to the extent that "the characters involved in the book must be read with a tolerant spirit." In short, this book brings to life the personal experiences and inner journey of a major scientific event. It is not writing history, yet it is more vivid than a history book, and therefore, more capable of evoking the excitement of reading in the hearts of its readers. In the history of contemporary science, there is such a successful "bad boy," so full of personality and intellect.