The Double Helix (1968)

When I started reading this book I though the author obnoxious and unethical, probing around other peoples research and intruding in research fields that weren’t his specialty. By the end of the book I realized that it narrates about a time that sets what was going to be modern science: dynamic, fast paced and result driven. Great book, will read it again. ( )

Science sometimes includes a surprising amount of personal drama and just playing around with models until they fit the facts. This account of the discovery of the structure of DNA, by one of the key participants Dr. James D. Watson, includes a lot of both. Written as though from his perspective at the time, The Double Helix presented a fascinating and candid look at the work which led up to this amazing discover.

For the non-scientist, this book is an important reminder that scientists are human too. For the scientist, this book is an important reminder that scientists are human too. It’s just nice to know that at times even the great scientists struggled with their choice of research topic or felt a little adrift too. It also makes for a great read, very casual and easy to follow with lots of drama and personality clashes. The science included is pretty minimal and is explained well with helpful pictures, so I think this would be a pretty easy read even for people with no science background.

The casualness is occasionally a downside, as people are referred to by their first or last name at random and there’s no cast list. Despite that small flaw, I would still say the relaxed writing style is strongest point of the book. Watson’s surprising openness about everyone’s feelings for each other and his ability to convey the rush he and Crick were in to finish the structure made this a very engaging book. It was pretty cool to feel like you were actually there during the race to discover the structure of DNA. ( )

A frank, humourous biography that captures the excitement of discovery, the arrogance of youth and the rivalry between researchers ( )

Book Description:
你是否曾因教會事工逐漸擴展，卻被指責不符聖經教導？人數增長，卻有同工趁隙結黨以致教會幾乎分裂？……​牧會過程所能遭遇的每項艱困與試煉，作者均遍嘗過；然而，透過如此赤露敞開的陳述，卻要見證上帝的真實與榮​

本叢書專以描繪屬靈人物在靈命及對真理領悟上的成長為主軸，能幫助您在短間內吸收到他們一生的屬靈精華。​大衛‧窩特森親筆撰述的精彩生命過程！獻身傳道後，您所可能遇到的每一項艱困和試煉，大衛‧窩特森都一一體​嚐過了。您曾否在尋求神的初期，弄不清楚何者是神的止意？何者又非神的止意嗎？大衛有！您曾否因事工漸上軌​道，卻招來教導不合乎聖經的批判嗎？大衛有！您曾否因教會人數增長，卻有同工趁隙結黨，造成教會幾乎分裂的​危險嗎？大衛有！您曾因傳道忙碌，疏於家人，而使婚姻呈現緊張的狀態嗎？大衛有！您曾因家庭開放、街頭佈道​、旅行傳福音……，而招來與原先完全意想不到的結局嗎？再也沒有一本書如此赤露剖開的傳述一個牧者的牧會血​淚心聲了。當然正如作者自己所強調的，最終的目的乃是透過他個人的經驗，為上帝的真實作見證。倘使透過陽光​和暴風雨，基督的光能以更大的榮耀想向眾人顯明，那本書出版的意義就實現了。​

惟有委身作主門徒，教會才能改變過來，並且在社會上產生驚人的影響力。透過本書，作者希望人們能重新檢視跟​隨耶穌是甚麼一回事，而信徒又應怎樣助人明白箇中真義。​