The discovery of DNA remains one of the greatest scientific feats in the history of mankind. Its wonder and dramatic importance to the world is rivaled only by the drama attached to its discovery. In The Double Helix, James D. Watson, one of the chief players in the discovery, reveals the story behind the publication that explained DNA to the world. This story, though very much a memoir, has relatable characters, with very high ambitions, and a story line that grows increasingly complex as the clock begins to run out.
The Double Helix begins in 1951, when Watson arrives in Europe for his post-doc. In a way, the narrator is much more third-person omniscient than first-person limited. Watson is in equal turns self-revealing and self-depreciating, then jealous and biased, and then completely objective. He tries to explain why he did some of his more detestable actions without ever shifting the blame onto someone else. The inherent misogyny is explained only with Watson saying that it was a side-effect of living in England in the 1950s and working in science-which was then and is now dominated by men.
Most people do not read memoirs, especially memoirs written by scientists, because they fear that the language will be lacking and the plot will be melodramatic and uninteresting. Watson is able to avoid both pitfalls by being brutally honest about both himself and his colleagues and writing in a language that is simultaneously understandable and literary. The Double Helix is a great way to learn about one of the most important historic events of the 20th century without having to crack open a physics textbook. One warning, however: Watson does sound quite a bit chauvinistic throughout, so feminists be wary. He redeems himself in the end, but by that time, Rosalind Franklin is already dead, and the only people left to forgive him are society.
