The Double Helix

An American scientific memoir written by molecular biologist James Watson and first published in 1968. The book is a personal narrative by one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA, recounting the dramatic events that led to the major scientific breakthrough of the 20th century—the discovery of the DNA double helix. It describes the scientific environment of the early 1950s, the rivalry and collaboration among scientists including Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins, and Rosalind Franklin, and how ideas, mistakes, intuition, and ambition intertwined in the real process of discovery. Watson presents a subjective, candid, and sometimes provocative account, openly expressing his opinions about colleagues, which stirred considerable controversy in the scientific community. "The Double Helix" not only educates readers about genetics and the function of DNA but also offers a unique view of science as a deeply human endeavor, full of emotion, passion, and intellectual risk.