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Avoid Boring People: Lessons from a Life in Science
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.
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.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2007
63 people are currently reading
1448 people want to read
About the author
James D. Watson
90 books298 followersIn 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 is an outspoken unbeliever who considers that human progress has 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
November 17, 2011
James Watson should be avoided, at his own advice.
April 9, 2012
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.
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.
March 9, 2017
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.
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.
May 19, 2012
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.
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.
May 26, 2011
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.
June 22, 2013
"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.
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.
July 28, 2010
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.
Still worth reading for the science history and useful observations on American scientific culture, just be prepared to eyeroll a little.
March 17, 2014
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 :(
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 :(
June 19, 2012
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.
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.
August 5, 2016
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.
May 20, 2013
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.
July 4, 2008
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.
I really, really wanted to like this book, too. I struggled through 100 pages and just couldn't go on.
Currently reading
July 22, 2008"avoid boring other people"??? i have more interesting math books...
August 2, 2011
Not only do I avoid boring people, I avoid boring books ... like this one. Didn't finish it.
July 2, 2022
Must say didn't lived up to its title...
Noble or not... It bored me.. The book.. Despite the title :)
Noble or not... It bored me.. The book.. Despite the title :)
July 5, 2016
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.
September 20, 2010
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.
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.
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.
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.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2014
"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.
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.
October 19, 2007
*** 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!
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!
November 10, 2010
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.
January 1, 2011
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
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
November 4, 2007
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.
March 20, 2008
Not much so far..Still reading the first pages. I was interested in the book cover/title. Go figure
September 10, 2010
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.
June 6, 2012
Ironic.
August 29, 2012
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.
July 26, 2013
Great title but boring book.
March 4, 2016
...avoid boring books....
December 17, 2022
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.
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.
January 8, 2025
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.
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.
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