Avoid Boring People: Lessons from a Life in Science

by James D. Watson

From Nobel Prize-winning scientist James D. Watson, a living legend for his work unlocking the structure of DNA, comes this candid and entertaining memoir, filled with practical advice for those starting out their academic careers.

In Avoid Boring People, Watson lays down a life’s wisdom for getting ahead in a competitive world. Witty and uncompromisingly honest, he shares his thoughts on how young scientists should choose the projects that will shape their careers, the supreme importance of collegiality, and dealing with competitors within the same institution. It’s an irreverent romp through Watson’s colorful career and an indispensable guide to anyone interested in nurturing the life of the mind.

Genres: Science, Biography, Nonfiction, Biology, Memoir, Ebooks, Self Help

368 pages, Hardcover

First published September 25, 2007

About the author

In 1928, James D. Watson was born in Chicago. Watson, who co-discovered the double helix structure of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) at age 25, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962, along with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins. His bird-watching hobby prompted his interest in genetics. He earned his B.Sc. degree in zoology from the University of Chicago in 1947, and his Ph.D. from Indiana University in Bloomington in 1950. He worked with Wilkins and Francis Crick at Cavendish Laboratory in England in 1951-1953, when they discovered the structure of DNA. Watson became a member of the Harvard Biology Department in 1956, then a full professor in 1961. His book The Double Helix, which was published in 1968, became a bestseller. Watson was appointed director of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory on Long Island in 1968, and became its president in 1994. As director of the National Center for Human Genome Research at the NIH in 1989, Watson launched the worldwide campaign to map and sequence the human genome. Watson was an outspoken unbeliever who considered that human progress had been shackled by the idea of divine fate, and that human beings should do their utmost to improve the future. In a Youngstown State University speech, Watson said, "The biggest advantage to believing in God is you don't have to understand anything, no physics, no biology. I wanted to understand" (The Vindicator, Dec. 2, 2003).

More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Wa...

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prize...

http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/pa...

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...

http://www.dnaftb.org/19/bio.html

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quick- do you read this title as "avoid people who you find boring" or "avoid the act yourself of making others feel bored?"
It turns out Watson meant it both ways (as he would have had to... any decent scientist would not leave such obvious ambiguity in his words), but it took him 300 pages to say so, thereby causing both of us to violate his advice.

I don't know where to start, really. I almost stopped reading after the first chapter, where Watson comes off as an unbearable, arrogant little brat. The path to a Nobel Prize, it seems, begins by having affluent white parents with friends at the University of Chicago that will allow you to begin enrollment there at age 15 (!!!) From there, navigate effortlessly through a world populated by other affluent white men until you position yourself right where hot discoveries are about to happen.
I had always imagined Watson & Crick to be old men when they discovered DNA, finally rewarded for a lifetime of labors together. In fact, Watson was only 25 when the discovery happened, and the whole thing was kind of shady. He was visiting another friend's lab when he happened to catch a glance of some images the friend and another colleague were working on. Without saying a word, he sprinted back to his own lab where he and Crick completed the double-helix theory. They offered the friend a chance to publish with them (the three would later share the Nobel Prize), but at the time he declined, not knowing how to handle the colleague who had produced the images but knew nothing of their role in Watson's discovery. By the time the Nobel was awarded, the colleague had conveniently died of ovarian cancer. Ouch.
Needless to say, this did not endear me to James Watson, even though it is an honest portrayal of how science can sometimes be. Unfortunately the rest of the book, and his writing style, did nothing to win me back. While it is fairly easy to follow, the book is also peppered with stories like "Their work suggested that free lactose repressors bind to one or more regulatory regions on the beta-galactosidase gene, thereby preventing subsequent binding of the RNA-making enzyme RNA polymerase." If that doesn't exhaust you, an equal amount of space is dedicated to describing the attractiveness and dating habits of a long line of female undergrad lab assistants. Just shy of his 40th birthday, Watson finally marries one who is 19. To ice the cake, he ends with an epilogue where he bashes Harvard's present-day financial management, then calls for continued research into genetically-coded aptitude for hard sciences, and how it differs between men and women. Good luck to the scientist who goes public with the results of those studies!

For all my complaining though, I did give the book more than one star because at the end of each chapter, Watson succinctly lists advice for scientists. Some of it rings so true, it is almost painful to contemplate. Some examples:
1. When intellectually panicking, get help quickly (know when to give up on "do it yourself or you'll never learn")
2. Extend yourself intellectually through courses that initially frighten you. (Even a Nobel winner got a C in calculus. He's just like me!)
3. Humility pays off during oral exams (this should be printed on a banner and hung in every lab across the country)
4. Never let your students see themselves as research assistants. (this paragraph on on pg. 134 is a beautiful summary of how to manage graduate research)

This book exhausted me and I'm not surprised it took me the better part of a year to finish. Recommend only to those with academic science experience, and even then maybe just read the advice summaries at the end of each chapter.

[Vijay Akhade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hypocrisy in search of social acceptance erodes your self-respect.

Knowing 'why' (an idea) is more important than learning 'what' (a fact).

If your experiments work all the time or your ideas never stop coming, you likely are aiming at goals not worth pursuing.

Waiting until a seminar is over to ask questions is pathologically polite. You will probably forget where you got lost and start questioning results you actually understood.

Being an ass occasionally is forgivable; being unable to admit it is not.

In Science, as in other professions and in personal involvements, individuals too often wait for the abject misery before effecting change that makes perfect sense. In fact, there is no good reason ever to be on the downward slope of experience. Avoid it and you will still be enjoying life when you die.

Success more often comes from being first to take action rather than from being cleverer than your competitors.

[Batesharbuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

What an egotistical person. I kept reading, waiting for the light bulb to go on for him as to why so many people didn't care for him, but it never did. Plus, any man who is always looking for a cute young blond, even into his 40's, is just creepy.

[Victor Tatarskii · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many facts in a book too small.
Double Helix by James Watson is one of my most loved books about doing science, so I anticipated a very interesting reading about Watson's life from childhood until leaving Harvard in the 70's. But this memoir is a too big collection of people, places and facts in Watson's life to make an interesting reading about any of them. It all goes "I met this one, and then I worked with that one", and so on, and so on. Don't expect any deep insights into personalities of Jim's famous grad students, friends, scientific advisors or collaborators - the space for that in this book is taken by many names and events you wouldn't remember. Watson's feelings about the events in the books are also scarce - death of his mother, for example, has the same space in the book as some absolutely non-important trip to the sea. There is also - the biggest disappointment - too little space for a clear explanation of science done by his lab and other people, so for a non-biologist the importance of many successes mentioned in the book would remain obscure.
Nevertheless this book was enjoyable to read, and as a biologist I was very thrilled to find here so many of legendary molecular biologists and cancer researchers, and discover some interesting details about discoveries in phage biology, DNA structure, protein synthesis and tumor virology.
So in the end I would recommend this book only to biologists or people with a deep interest in our science.

[Amro · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Avoid Boring People", he definitely bored me though. This book terribly fell far below my expectations. I am not a big fan of Jim Watson, yet expected a more engaging memoir! The summary of the first 4 chapters: I went to School/University X, took subjects Y&Z - taught by Prof. .... and I managed to get A or B. The autobiography is not written well, as it focuses too much on small details and fails to find focus. Lots of names of persons/places and unnecessary details! In my opinion, he is an average student/scientist who used to be in the right place with the right people (His school Headteacher - Francis Crick) in the right time. I still found most of his "Remembered Lessons" insightful (except when he arrogantly advised young scientists to indulge in gossips!!). In a nutshell, avoid the Autobiography, skim the Lessons (with a grain of salt).

You might be interested in reading "Advice To A Young Scientist" by Nobel Laureate Sir Peter Medawar. A charming, honest, and down-to-Earth scientist.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Strangely ambiguous title... is "boring" a gerund or a participle? Should I avoid people who have nothing to say, or should I make sure I always have something to say around people? Must read, must find out.

AFTER-READ EDIT -- Unfortunately, James Watson turns out to be a self-centered bigot and a real bore. This book is a self-indulgent reliving of his time in grad school and beyond that spares no technical details of each experiment he performed and emphasizes how he made all of the right decisions at all critical junctures. I made myself read until he structure-fied DNA, and then I ultimately followed his titular advice by closing the book for good.

The other reviews here tell me that had I read on, I would have been treated to his series of much-younger wives, even well into old age, most of whom he encouraged to drop out of science to become his housekeeper / personal caretaker. YUGH! I get that gender norms were different back in the day, and that people tend to carry those sorts of signs of their times with them as they age, but... couldn't his agent have said, Look, James Watson, we just can't morally put this misogyny on the shelves? Actually, I can answer that based on what I know about James Watson from his autobiography -- no, his agent couldn't have advised that, because James Watson knows best and James Watson don't bow to nobody.

Anyway, to celebrate my premature release from my nightly reading of this smut, which was foolishly the only book I brought on a month-long visit, I took a walk over to the biology department and donated this rare treasure to their library. This was a mistake because it allows someone else to make the same mistake I did. Sorry, universe :(

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel obligated to tell you not to purchase this book. If you'd like to read it, borrow it from the library to avoid putting any more proceeds from its sale into Dr. Watson's bank account. Despite having been written in 2007, this book is incredibly sexist and downright callow.

As the book progresses so do Dr. Watson's remarks about pretty undergraduates, until he finally marries a nineteen year-old on the cusp of his 40th birthday.

More disheartening, is Dr. Watson's account of Rosalind Franklin's contribution to the thinking that garnered Dr. Watson's Nobel Prize award. On page 174, he writes: "The long-standing rule that a Nobel Prize can be shared by at most three individuals would have created an awkward if not insolvable dilemma had Rosalind Franklin still been alive. But having been tragically diagnosed with ovarian cancer less than four years after the double helix was found, she died in the spring of 1958." Apparently there are some manners that Dr. Watson did not learn, graciousness being one. Also, WTF.

For someone about to embark on doctoral studies, I found some interesting lessons with respect to managing relationships and decision-making as a scientist and/or academic that were instructive. Worth buying this book for? Probably not.

If you're interested in learning the story of the science, this narrative is sorely lacking in telling a thoughtful, compelling, well-integrated tale about the double helix or any of the science that followed it.

[Lucy Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and interesting, and would have been significantly more enjoyable if the author hadn't managed to come across as a bit of a dick (the epilogue managed to tie up sexism, racism, and ableism in less than two pages - impressive. Or not.) And if your own biography makes me think you're a dick? You're doing it wrong.

Still worth reading for the science history and useful observations on American scientific culture, just be prepared to eyeroll a little.

[Melody · Rating 1 out of 5]

He didn't avoid boring me.

I really, really wanted to like this book, too. I struggled through 100 pages and just couldn't go on.

[Y · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was very difficult for me to keep engaged. The reason I am not giving it one star is that there were parts that I found very interesting.

Some parts I appreciated:

"I was discovering that most high-powered minds to not daily generate new ideas. Their brains lie idle until the input of one or more new facts stimulates their neurons to resolve the conundrums that stump them"

"Success is gratifying and failure is not, but failure is a necessary feature of the work: if your experiments work all the time or your ideas never stop coming you likely are aiming at goals not worth pursing"

Example of what I found to be odd advice was "Don't take up golf" because "Once you become obsessive about bettering your person best - say, now 94 - your weekend science experiments cease. You have become a thank-God-it's-Friday scientist" and so instead to play tennis.

[srdjan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tough slog. Positives: I appreciate the man's effort to share the lessons of a relatively successful life, he knows the importance of intellectual honesty, and its a great insight into the ivy league world (and his era). On the negatives: he really doesnt come across as a very likable guy, and you kind of wince your way through a lot of it. Not a fun read.

[Chris Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me want to work to better myself, write to collect my daily thoughts, and helped me realize that the individuals that change history are very similar to everyone else, except they have an added drive to make things happen.

[Steve Leman]

"avoid boring other people"??? i have more interesting math books...

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not only do I avoid boring people, I avoid boring books ... like this one. Didn't finish it.

[Navneet Bhushan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Must say didn't lived up to its title...

Noble or not... It bored me.. The book.. Despite the title :)

[Red · Rating 1 out of 5]

Очень занудно. А любой читающий этот отзыв также не избежит занудства. И мизогинии.
“В Блумингтон я добрался на поезде железнодорожной компании Мопоп. Железная дорога Мопоп имеет особое значение для истории штата Индиана, а ее первые пути проходили неподалеку от фермы Глисонов возле Ла-Порта, где выросла моя бабушка.” Это не самый занудный абзац, но подобных дотошных описаний будет в книге ещё очень много.

Начну со смешного: “После всех несчастий Иеля все, похоже, устроилось наилучшим образом, включая ее помолвку с Бруком: вскоре после того, как она стала лаборанткой Марка, она также стала Нэнси Хопкинс. Они переехали на Троубридж-стрит, где их квартиру украсил мой свадебный подарок — свинья из кожи в натуральную величину, похожая на ту, которой Брук давно любовался в своем эксклюзивном студенческом клубе на Массачусетс-авеню.”

Бревно в своём не было замечено.
“Мёллер был невысоким полноватым человеком и телосложением сам напоминал дрозофилу, а его лекции были потоками сознания, а не подготовленными выступлениями. В его эмоциональных речах толковые рассуждения о проблемах генетики перемежались, например, подробностями о том, как он был разочарован, когда его не сразу взяли в лабораторию Моргана, или о том, что коллеги не придавали его идеям должного значения.”
Но некоторые видит: “Ей удалось сделать мой напыщенный стиль более ясным.” и “Джо Сэмбрук, чьи огромные способности как ученого были сравнимы с его умением производить лаконичную, легко читаемую прозу, а также редактировать менее удачные предложения других авторов, в том числе мои собственные.”

“Я навсегда усвоил оттуда мысль, что порядочность самой высокой пробы сама по себе не гарантирует счастливого исхода.” (из романа Гроздья гнева)
Начинающий уровень нечестности: “мама настояла на том, чтобы отредактировать каждое слово моего вступительного сочинения для получения стипендии в Чикагском университете. Я без особого стыда принял внесенную ею значительную правку и ничуть не пожалел об этом.”
Продолжающий уровень нечестности: “к тому времени Сальва уже по сути заново переписал мою диссертацию, благодаря чему предстоявшая мне в мае защита была уже немногим больше, чем простой формальностью.”

Потребительское и объективирующее отношение к женщинам, их принижение, общение сводится к попыткам заполучить женщину.
“так что не стоит проявлять внимание к двум девушкам одновременно.”
“и обеспечившая мне частые приглашения в ее дом в Рэдклиффе, где у меня был шанс встретить какую-нибудь симпатичную блондинку.”
“протокол которого почему-то снова не дал мне места рядом с принцессами.” ах ты ж бозе ты мой
“Сибилла почти ничего не ела, может быть, полагая, что ей надо поберечь все еще красивую фигуру от сходства с телесами королев прошедшего века.”
“Далее статья сообщала, что меня трудно развеселить. У этого и правда была причина — несколько званых ужинов, устроенных ради меня пожилыми профессорами, не были украшены ни одним симпатичным женским лицом. В отчаянии я предложил провести один вечер в ночном клубе, но там оказалось, что в пуританском Сиднее танцовщицы полностью одеты.”
“В итоге Сьюзи приехала всего на один день, что позволило мне полюбоваться ее фигурой в купальнике во время плавания на плоту в окрестностях лабораторного пляжа.”
Про жену: “Я отправился искать открытки, чтобы сообщить друзьям вроде Сеймура Бензера и Пола Доути, что "одна девятнадцатилетняя стала моей".”

Про высказывания Саммерса, президента Гарварда, про женщин в науке: “Признание того, что сама по себе гипотеза о существовании генетических различий между мужским и женским мозгом, а следовательно, различий в распределении одной из форм когнитивного потенциала, вызвала у нее тошноту, не делает большой чести Нэнси Хопкинс как ученому. Любой, кто искренне заинтересован в том, чтобы разобраться в причинах неравной представленности мужчин и женщин в науке, в любом случае обязан быть готовым хотя бы рассмотреть, в какой степени эти причины могут быть связаны с наследственностью, даже располагая явными свидетельствами того, что среда играет здесь важную роль. К моему сожалению, Саммерс, вместо того чтобы стоять на своем, в течение недели трижды публично извинился за открытое высказывание тезиса, который вполне может быть эволюционным фактом, с которым научному сообществу придется жить.”
“Если бы я по-прежнему работал в Гарварде, число ученых с постоянной ставкой, открыто вставших на сторону президента в этом вопросе, в буквальном смысле удвоилось бы.”
Но с этим заявлением, которое можно вывести на более абстрактный уровень, соглашусь: “Мысль о том, что некоторые люди могут рождаться, чтобы вырасти злыми, не может нас не шокировать. Но если мы откроем, что такое поведение бывает врожденным, научная честность не менее, чем честность этическая, потребует от нас не скрывать этой истины.”

“На предпоследней странице Фрэнсис поднимал ставки. Он утверждал, что психиатр, которому он дал мою рукопись, сказал: "Эта книга могла быть написана только человеком, ненавидящим женщин". Я бы сказала, что скорее видящим в них милых, иногда полезных и сообразительных домашних животных.
С редкими исключениями: “Комната была набита до отказа, и Марк в момент своего торжества ("Я все это сделал сам!") так и не поблагодарил Нэнси за ее ключевую роль в своем успехе. После семинара я строго отчитал его за это. Он сразу понял, что был чрезмерно поглощен самим собой, и в тот же вечер позвал Нэнси, чтобы извиниться, а позже прислал ей цветы.”

Про Розалинду Франклин и её вклад: “Давно установленное правило, что Нобелевскую премию могут разделить не более чем три человека, создало бы неловкую ситуацию или даже неразрешимую дилемму, если бы Розалинда Франклин была жива. Но меньше чем через четыре года после открытия двойной спирали ей поставили печальный диагноз — рак яичников, и весной 1958 года она умерла.”
“Первоначальное название книги было "Честный Джим" — в связи с тем, что незадолго до того Альфред Тиссьер напомнил мне, что Уилли Сидс, сотрудничавший с Морисом Уилкинсом, язвительно назвал меня "честный Джим", когда в августе 1955 года случайно встретился со мной и Альфредом на горной тропе в Альпах. Теперь я хотел использовать название "Честный Джим", чтобы прямо заявить свою позицию по спорному вопросу, по поводу которого и язвил Сидс, — вопросу о том, имело ли место со стороны моей и Фрэнсиса недопустимое использование конфиденциальных данных Королевского колледжа в нашей работе над структурой ДНК.”
“Поэтому я изменил название на "Пары оснований", вполне сознавая, что эта игра слов {недостойные пары, в примечании} сама по себе может стать поводом для иска по делу о клевете, если изобразить на обложке нас с Фрэнсисом и Мориса с Розалиндой, смотрящих друг на друга, как герои фильма "Добрые сердца и короны". ”
Какой мерзкий дед.

Про центр специального проекта Форг-Детрика:“В этом центре ученые работали не на Министерство обороны, а на ЦРУ, разрабатывая яды для политических убийств.”
Про Кеннеди: “Только через двадцать пять лет я узнал, что Бобби Кеннеди поручил Десмонду задачу убить Фиделя Кастро.”

Переворачивающие Екатерину Шульман в кресле взгляды: “Когда я писал учебники, то понял, что подчеркивать исключения из общепризнанных истин вредно. Использование таких уточняющих терминов, как "вероятно" или "возможно", — плохой способ знакомить с новыми идеями”

(not very) Fun fact: “Кроме того, мы знали, что пятнадцатью годами раньше вирус SV40 непреднамеренно оказался примесью в составе ранних порций вакцины от полиомиелита, которой привили несколько миллионов людей, и у них не было отмечено повышенной частоты заболевания раком.”

Тайна чужой личной жизни? Не слышали! “Однако ей приходилось дорого платить за идеальную для фотосъемок фигуру, вызывая у себя рвоту после приемов пищи — занятие, за которым однажды вечером случайно застала ее Лиз в туалете этого заведения.” Хотя это печально, вряд ли огласка помогает с рпп.

Вот вам и "образцовая история становления ученого".

[Andres-Leonardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesante chismorreo realizado en primera persona acerca de la innumerable lista de personajes relevantes a los que se arrimó, James D Watson, uno de los descubridores de la estructura molecular del ADN.

En el libro no se recogen demasiados detalles de su labor científica, que supongo se encuentran en su otro libro divulgativo La Doble Helice, ni tampoco demasiados detalles sobre su vida o pensamiento.

Aunque sobre esto último, son especialmente interesantes sus recomendaciones sobre el desarrollo profesional de un científico, que se recogen al final de cada capítulo. Extremadamente oportunas.

Todo en conjunto, hacen pensar que por exitosos que fueran los resultados científicos de James D. Watson, sus voraces éxitos sociales fueron mucho mayores. Incluso en la descripción del proceso descubrimiento del ADN, la labor científica aparece borrosa y parece que la oportunidad y el trabajo de despacho ayudaron bastante para que James D. Watson apareciese en la foto.

Esto, sumado al papel que reserva a la mujer en su relato, deja un sabor bastante desagradable sobre el personaje. No es de extrañar que durante el capítulo en el que describe el proceso de escritura de La Doble Hélice, y la fuerte oposición que despertó entre el resto de protagonistas de la investigación, estos últimos despierten más simpatía que el mismo autor. En fin, curioso.

Al margen, me resulta interesante cómo los gobiernos de las diferentes administraciones norteamericanas crearon comités de científicos que adquirieron relevancia e influencia en la sociedad y la política de aquella época. Si bien tenían claramente un perfil político, su base científica resulta incuestionable, de ahí que los resultados para la educación, la cultura, la economía e incluso la política fuesen enormes.

En definitiva, menudo pájaro.
Recomendable.

[Harry Fulgencio · Rating 4 out of 5]

"see a paramount among her goals the seeking of potential greatness for its undergraduates through equipping them with the best ideas of the past, honest assessments of the world today, and realistic expectations about the future.." ~ JD Watson to Harvard (a reinterpretation of Hutchin's vision for Uni. of Chicago)

A very candid and straightforward retelling of his life's work, his ideals and the people around him (an involuntary participant of his story). One can imagine being incensed by some of his careless remarks but this book totally showed his quirks as a human and a scientist objectively seeking the truth.

I am especially fond of the end of chapter tips - remembered lessons. It offers one a wisdom and thoughts to ponder upon, because it is an autobiography written at the ripe age of 85 a reader will find something that would strike a his/her chord.

[Issy · Rating 1 out of 5]

*** Whoa good thing I didn't finish this - racist. Bad for my division at work though . . .



This book fell out of my bag somwhere between the laundomat and my house, which I can only imagine is the work of some benevolent higher power. At it's best this book was like that part in the bible where it goes "Abraham begat Moses who begat Samuel who begat Jonah who begat Ishmael." At it's worst the writer tells us what book he was reading on a particular train ride for no reason other than to tell us what book he was reading on a particular train ride. Third Culture please come to the rescue!

[Colleen Coffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slyly humorous, he very effectively conveys his personality here. This book is less about the specifics surrounding the discovery of the double helix and is more about advice giving. His target audience is aspiring nobel prize- seekers but he writes with a charm that makes you feel like he doesn't exclude anyone. I especially love how he points out where people's careers were hurt not from a lack of intelligence but rather from a lack of old fashioned hard work, humility, and learning to work together.

[Kelley · Rating 2 out of 5]

enjoyable as a farce (unless you legitimately need advice about what to do when you win a Nobel Prize)

Almost unbelievable how egotistical Watson is.

Less enjoyable than the Double Helix, where science takes the forefront instead of academic politics, although more quotably ridiculous

[JP WAdams · Rating 2 out of 5]

His confidence in his own prowess leads to pages of names of the famous scientists he knew. This overwhelms the structured approach of each chapter and the easy writing style.

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not much so far..Still reading the first pages. I was interested in the book cover/title. Go figure

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the insight into academic life as a scientist. However, there was an excessive amount of name dropping, which made this a bit of a tedious read.

[Brian Morton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ironic.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a stuck-up showoff, but it is a great insight into the way academia and science work worldwide and the 'manners learnt' are priceless.

[Marcin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great title but boring book.

[Bernhard · Rating 3 out of 5]

...avoid boring books....

[Fabian Mora · Rating 2 out of 5]

EVITA LOS LIBROS ABURRIDOS
Traducido al español como "Prohibido aburrirse (y aburrir)", paradójicamente sí es aburrido. Al principio (en los años de infancia y primeros de juventud) me había agradado el texto. Después me comenzó a aburrir y lo dejé en una larga pausa hasta que lo retomé sólo porque estaba terminando todos mis libros empezados ¡y me ha costado terminarlo!
De alguna manera me veo identificado con algunos pasajes de este libro, y creo era precisamente lo que buscaba al adquirirlo: una especie de guía en el mundo académico y científico. Lo que más rescato es el contenido de los primeros capítulos, hasta antes de que recibiera el Nobel, porque veo muchas cosas útiles para quien quiera dedicarse a la ciencia. En los capítulos siguientes, noté cómo Watson empieza a degradarse a nivel personal y académico, y eso lo tomo como señal de advertencia sobre el camino que no hay que seguir. No creo que el autor se haya dado cuenta de esto último, porque tristemente las posiciones clasistas y sexistas están normalizadas en diversos ámbitos de la vida.
Me causa escozor que el mundo académico en su aspecto más institucionalizado pueda ser un germen para sacar lo peor de algunas personas en esa competencia feroz por ascender, por ser alguien. Mucho de lo que es este libro de la mitad hacia el final, es chismorreo mal intencionado, y refleja esa decadencia ética de que hablo y que representa Watson a través de sus propias palabras.

[Phillip Matthew · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting book purely because of the environment Watson was in, dreadfully dull book because of Watson.
I knew very little about Watson going into reading this, but something about it was already leaving a bad taste in my mouth before I coincidentally learned about James' softcore endorsement of scientific racism as I was halfway through the book, which made the second half all the more bitter.

The most disappointing thing about this autobiography is that James writes more about trying to date his students and buying expensive paintings for his apartment than any actual passion for science. It almost seems as though he rode the wave of the Nobel prize into the grave despite having learned from and worked with some very brilliant people.

There's nothing wrong with getting into the good, the bad, the ugly, and the silly side of someone's life in an autobiography, but when the book is so fixated on the leisurely side of elite academia and a renown scientist appears to have little interest in the science itself, it feels hollow.

I enjoyed reading about the bureaucracy and management of Cold Spring Harbor, and how it was reoriented towards cancer research. Not so interested in him constantly ogling whatever pretty lady some decade or so his junior happens to be in a 10 meter radius of him.

I'm looking forward to reading Crick's autobiography though! He always has seemed the more well-spoken of the two despite being currently survived by Watson.