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909 reviews for:
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
Walter Isaacson
4.16 AVERAGE
909 reviews for:
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race
Walter Isaacson
4.16 AVERAGE
I enjoyed this book. Really.
That said, while the story was compelling, a few things would not stop getting in the way.
Isaacson's insistence that his pal Lander's misogyny is just him being misunderstood, when it is clearly what it is by most accounts.
All the time spent trying to cover for Zhang constantly misreading the room, whichever room that is.
I mean, even as a sympathetic voice, both shone through.
And then there is the insertion of the author as part of the story, which I guess he's entitled to, but the pop psychology ethics discussion chapters really took me out of the story.
That said, while the story was compelling, a few things would not stop getting in the way.
Isaacson's insistence that his pal Lander's misogyny is just him being misunderstood, when it is clearly what it is by most accounts.
All the time spent trying to cover for Zhang constantly misreading the room, whichever room that is.
I mean, even as a sympathetic voice, both shone through.
And then there is the insertion of the author as part of the story, which I guess he's entitled to, but the pop psychology ethics discussion chapters really took me out of the story.
This is an excellent, important book about genetic modification, how it came to be, the scientists - especially Jennifer Doudna - who worked tirelessly on breaking the code and the ramifications - including the moral issues - of editing our genetic makeup. The book contains a lot of science and scientific terms. I’m not a scientist. I took the absolute minimum of science classes that I could get away with in school. So it wasn’t an easy read for me yet Isaacson does a terrific job of explaining the science, as good journalists (and historians) should do. The advances possible in medicine through genetic code editing are enormous as are the potential abuses.
A very good book, with some problems, about CRISPER, the biological component getting a lot of publicity for the use of RNA in gene editing. The primary focus of the book is on Jennifer Doudna, but it covers a whole lot of other players in the research and scientific politics. It's pretty honest in the view of the people as being just as involved in playing power and political games as are the rest of humanity, regardless of the incorrect view of scientists as being above it all.
The book manages to describe the major players, for good and bad, while also advancing the science. The closest to "villains" of the piece are the Broad Institute pair of Lander and Zhang. As a marketer, I read the piece Lander placed in an academic journal and confirm the implication in the book that it was really a press release. However, the author is good in not having Doudna be above the fray either. It's a very human view of the players.
The problem that keeps it from five stars is towards the end. I don't think the author does justice to the moral and ethical issues. He's superficial and often just idiotic. However, he recovers with a nice bit about the Covid-19 pandemic.
Overall a good book to read.
The book manages to describe the major players, for good and bad, while also advancing the science. The closest to "villains" of the piece are the Broad Institute pair of Lander and Zhang. As a marketer, I read the piece Lander placed in an academic journal and confirm the implication in the book that it was really a press release. However, the author is good in not having Doudna be above the fray either. It's a very human view of the players.
The problem that keeps it from five stars is towards the end. I don't think the author does justice to the moral and ethical issues. He's superficial and often just idiotic. However, he recovers with a nice bit about the Covid-19 pandemic.
Overall a good book to read.
A masterclass in biographical and scientific writing. Thoroughly enjoyed the book, and the story of Doudna and the history of gene editing. Highly recommend for any biologist - or anyone interested in learning about one of the biggest scientific developments this century.
As others have noted, this is not a bio of Doudna, it seems to be more along the lines of "a timeline to the Nobel prize for CRISPR" and as such, seems to be relatively even-handed and full of the names and contributions of those who were in on the research, but didn't get the prize. However, it feels like even though Nobel co-winner Emmanuelle Charpentier is mentioned many times, it doesn't follow her scientific contributions as closely as Doudna's.
In general, the actual science is covered at a high level, but details such as why shape is so important in molecular biology, how proteins fold, etc. are glossed, so that we don't get a good understanding about how the different Cas proteins work in marking or cutting DNA/RNA really work.
One thing that gives the book an extra kick is the appearance of COVID, which all the biosciences people team up to help attack, either with vaccines or tests. That said, however, I don't get the same sense of dynamic energy from Isaacson as I did from Tracy Kidder in "The Soul of a New Machine" but that may be because I'm closer to that field than I am to biosciences.
The weakest part of the book is where the ethics of genetic engineering come in to play. While he does raise many relevant questions, his exploration of them is seriously lacking. He falls victim to the common belief that mental illness and genius are linked, which as at best anecdotal. He then wonders if editing out genes for mental illness would deprives us of future creative individuals, completely ignoring how today's rampant global poverty and lack of opportunity in the global south undoubtably are depriving us are far more. He also shows a strong technophiliac's bias by gushing over all the wonders brought on by the computer era with nary a mention of the negatives that have come along with it.
I enjoyed reading the book and as a historian of CRISPR development, Isaacson does a good job. But there's a lot missing from the book that could have made it better.
In general, the actual science is covered at a high level, but details such as why shape is so important in molecular biology, how proteins fold, etc. are glossed, so that we don't get a good understanding about how the different Cas proteins work in marking or cutting DNA/RNA really work.
One thing that gives the book an extra kick is the appearance of COVID, which all the biosciences people team up to help attack, either with vaccines or tests. That said, however, I don't get the same sense of dynamic energy from Isaacson as I did from Tracy Kidder in "The Soul of a New Machine" but that may be because I'm closer to that field than I am to biosciences.
The weakest part of the book is where the ethics of genetic engineering come in to play. While he does raise many relevant questions, his exploration of them is seriously lacking. He falls victim to the common belief that mental illness and genius are linked, which as at best anecdotal. He then wonders if editing out genes for mental illness would deprives us of future creative individuals, completely ignoring how today's rampant global poverty and lack of opportunity in the global south undoubtably are depriving us are far more. He also shows a strong technophiliac's bias by gushing over all the wonders brought on by the computer era with nary a mention of the negatives that have come along with it.
I enjoyed reading the book and as a historian of CRISPR development, Isaacson does a good job. But there's a lot missing from the book that could have made it better.
Absolutely fascinating!
Walter Isaacson takes a topic as complex as DNA, RNA and CRISPR and synthesizes it in such a way that it is understandable. He is truly a master in narrative non-fiction, weaving together hundred of scientists in such a way that the story is clear. By having one "main character", Jennifer Douda, Issacson is able to keep the narrative centralized around her and her relationships with other researchers. It is a balanced look at the scientists.
The most fascinating chapters are those about rogue scientists, discussions about ethics (I found my own thoughts arguing against each other) and the coronavirus. The last chapters are devoted to the search for the mRNA vaccine for COVID19 and the development of the rapid PCR tests.
Walter Isaacson takes a topic as complex as DNA, RNA and CRISPR and synthesizes it in such a way that it is understandable. He is truly a master in narrative non-fiction, weaving together hundred of scientists in such a way that the story is clear. By having one "main character", Jennifer Douda, Issacson is able to keep the narrative centralized around her and her relationships with other researchers. It is a balanced look at the scientists.
The most fascinating chapters are those about rogue scientists, discussions about ethics (I found my own thoughts arguing against each other) and the coronavirus. The last chapters are devoted to the search for the mRNA vaccine for COVID19 and the development of the rapid PCR tests.
I don’t write many reviews. This is the best book I’ve “read” (I listened to the audio version) in years. I adore Walter Isaacson’s biographies and this one doesn’t disappoint. Everybody - especially young women interested in science and those who fear that the COVID vaccine was rushed - must read this book. As the mother of a son with cystic fibrosis, a disease that could likely be removed from the human race with the gene editing discoveries of Dr. Doudna and others in her field, I am beyond grateful.
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis