James D. Watson, in The Double Helix, presents the account of the remarkable and significant scientific discovery of the building block of human existence. As such, the book is certainly careful to cover the fundamental biological aspects of the story. However, just as important is the author's determination and ability to make the story a fascinating, human drama. This is not a dry, technical study of a scientific breakthrough presented by and for only those with vast scientific knowledge. To the contrary, any lay reader even vaguely interested in science, if he or she gives this book a chance, will not only learn the basics of DNA, its significance and its discovery, but will also be rewarded with an exciting story about human beings in a most dramatic set of circumstances.
As the author of the foreword to the book notes, this story includes important ethical considerations as well, which bear significantly on the process of scientific discovery in general. Specifically, the book deals with the legitimacy and morality of claims about such discoveries, which, in this case, involves the fact that Watson and Francis Crick applied a brilliant idea to the work which had been done by another researcher, Maurice Wilkins. One of the many pieces of good news in the book is that this moral dilemma was resolved to the satisfaction of all involved, with Wilkins receiving his due credit.
One of the important accomplishments of the author in this book is his success in demystifying science and in humanizing scientists. This is not to say that the lay reader will understand everything there is to understand about DNA by the time he or she finishes the book. Neither is it to say that the characters included in the book are not unique and brilliant people, for they certainly are. However, what Watson has done is make these people accessible to the reader both as human beings and as scientists. He also allows us to see that science is not alw...