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illyanarasputin's review
4.0
This was one of the best biographies I have read, and a fantastic biography of a scientist you should know!
A good balance of science and personal. Pick this one up!
A good balance of science and personal. Pick this one up!
candiecane333's review
3.0
great story but didn't really like the author's continuous commentary. I think the story could have spoken for itself. I really loved the last line though.
jamesm's review against another edition
4.0
Thoroughly researched and well balanced, as one would expect from a good biography. There is a satisfactory mix of personal and professional detail. I finished the book somehow more content that Franklin was an accomplished and prolific researcher in her own right, having died proud of her scientific status, and was not solely known for her work on elucidating the structure of DNA.
Certainly an enjoyable read.
Certainly an enjoyable read.
halfmanhalfbook's review
4.0
Franklin was a renowned scientist in her own right, she established her reputation in X-ray photography starting with coal and moving onto viruses and DNA. She was a feisty character, and in her tragically short career she made as many friends as enemies.
Crick and Watson are the guys credited with discovering the layout of DNA, but they could not have done it without sight of some of her magnificent X-ray photographs of DNA. Theses had been passed to them without her knowledge, and it was the clarity of these that gave them the insight to solve the mystery of the construction of DNA.
It is thought that she was only one or two steps away from solving this herself, as she as ascertained where certain atoms were and understood the way it behaved.
She was a enthusiastic traveller, and spent time walking throughout Europe, and travelling all over the states. It was said that America bought out her sunny side, and her collaborations with American scientists were fruitful.
As she as taking these X-ray photographs, she was not aware of the damage that that they were doing to her, as they had no protection, even leaning over the camera when it was taking the images. She subcommand to cancer, and she died at the age of 38.
Crick and Watson are the pillars in the discovery of DNA, but she was the keystone.
Crick and Watson are the guys credited with discovering the layout of DNA, but they could not have done it without sight of some of her magnificent X-ray photographs of DNA. Theses had been passed to them without her knowledge, and it was the clarity of these that gave them the insight to solve the mystery of the construction of DNA.
It is thought that she was only one or two steps away from solving this herself, as she as ascertained where certain atoms were and understood the way it behaved.
She was a enthusiastic traveller, and spent time walking throughout Europe, and travelling all over the states. It was said that America bought out her sunny side, and her collaborations with American scientists were fruitful.
As she as taking these X-ray photographs, she was not aware of the damage that that they were doing to her, as they had no protection, even leaning over the camera when it was taking the images. She subcommand to cancer, and she died at the age of 38.
Crick and Watson are the pillars in the discovery of DNA, but she was the keystone.
soumyasreehari's review against another edition
5.0
This is the story of Rosalind Franklin, a brilliant scientist of the 20th century. It is a biographical sketch with three parts – her early life and career, the much popular work on DNA, her later life and career. Rosalind Franklin has been widely known as the wronged scientist in the DNA story after the infamous book “Double Helix” by James Watson was published. This biography gives a balanced view of her life, her multifaceted personality, and her significant accomplishments in her field of research. It puts the defining events of the DNA story in context of her entire life. It gives an all-rounded account of the extraordinary scientist, the formidable mentor and collaborator, the caring friend and family member, and the adventurous young woman that Franklin was.
I had only read very brief accounts of Rosalind Franklin earlier, all in the context of her role in the DNA story. I watched a TV documentary movie too, which affected me greatly. For a long time, I had placed her on a pedestal. Although the book has been in my library for more than a decade, I only ventured to read it in the last month. To say that this book inspires me greatly is an understatement. The pace of writing is asymmetric, slow in the beginning and picks up pace during her years of research. Because of the infamous reputation Rosalind had gained in the DNA story, part of the text reads as justification and rebuttal. Nevertheless, it is the story of a brilliant mind, an accomplished scientist, a woman who faced challenges in a man’s world, and a truly free-spirited individual who celebrated life. I recommend it highly to everyone.
For my immense respect and admiration for Rosalind Franklin and the manner in which her story affects me deeply, I give 5 stars.
I had only read very brief accounts of Rosalind Franklin earlier, all in the context of her role in the DNA story. I watched a TV documentary movie too, which affected me greatly. For a long time, I had placed her on a pedestal. Although the book has been in my library for more than a decade, I only ventured to read it in the last month. To say that this book inspires me greatly is an understatement. The pace of writing is asymmetric, slow in the beginning and picks up pace during her years of research. Because of the infamous reputation Rosalind had gained in the DNA story, part of the text reads as justification and rebuttal. Nevertheless, it is the story of a brilliant mind, an accomplished scientist, a woman who faced challenges in a man’s world, and a truly free-spirited individual who celebrated life. I recommend it highly to everyone.
For my immense respect and admiration for Rosalind Franklin and the manner in which her story affects me deeply, I give 5 stars.