A lucid, compact biography that follows the scientist from his early training in physics through the feverish Cambridge years that produced the discovery of DNA’s double helix, examining the collaborations, rivalries and ethical controversies that accompanied that breakthrough. It tracks his subsequent shifts in focus—from molecular genetics to ambitious projects in neuroscience and consciousness—illuminating a restless, often combative intellect, his experimental methods, and the personal and institutional forces that shaped his career. Throughout, the book places his achievements in historical and cultural context and assesses the complexities of scientific credit, legacy and the human costs of major discovery.

The 12959th greatest book of all time