There is some overlap between this book and Watson’s two earlier autobiographical works, but there is much that is new and interesting. We learn about the perks that accompany a Nobel Prize, including a living alarm clock in the form of a white-robed soprano sporting a tiara of lit candles. And Watson tells for the first time the story behind the writing of The Double Helix and its famous opening sentence, “I have never seen Francis Crick in a modest mood”. Crick, understandably, was initially unenthusiastic, though the passage of time seems to have dulled his ire.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
The search for a mate
Jerry Coyne has a good piece in the TLS about the latest installment of James Watson's autobiography:
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I wonder if the newest autobiography shows any signs of a decaying mind. Watson must be demented-- his comments about cognative ability of Africans go beyond simple racism. I actually recommend the Double Helix despite Watson's ego trip. I like the way he describes the process of scientific discovery in non-technical terms.
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