I thought this would be more of a biography of Jennifer Doudna then it was, but still enjoyed it. Kind of an overview of crispr, the various scientists that were involved in its discovery and what it all means. along the way you get an inside look at how research science works, how patents and corporate culture are effecting academia and also the nobility of curiosity for its own sake ( )

A great, timely, and important book. Timely, strategic issues (genetic editing...) discussed.
Very readable, as I have found all of Isaacson's books, though this one is especially heavy with acronyms.
It sometimes felt like a combo of Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes. ( )

Great on history, too much philosophy

When focusing on the biography and storytelling, the history of Doudna and CRISPR, it’s phenomenal. When Isaacson drones in about the philosophy of gene editing, it’s almost a chore to read.
( )

It was truly enlightening, getting to discover CRISPR. @ some point i felt like the author veered a little off course with all the stories about Doudna and the double helix guy, the one spewing racist BS.
I'm really looking forward to hear more about the effective use of CRISPR in the fight against Covid cause these vaccines seem like a temporary fix. ( )

Book on CD read by Kathe Mazur and Walter Isaacson

Subtitle: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race

This is an engaging, interesting, informative, and thought-provoking biography cum history. While the focus is on Jennifer Doudna, Isaacson gives almost equal time to the many other researchers who contributed to the scientific discoveries and applications.

The book starts out with basic biographical background, moves into the excitement of discovery and the international race to obtain patents, and to publish first, then on to ethical questions surrounding the application of new technologies, and finally focuses on the ways that these teams of scientists worked to address COVID19.

Isaacson frequently puts himself into the narrative, writing in first person about his encounters and reactions.

The audiobook is narrated by Kathe Mazur, with an introduction and epilogue narrated by Isaacson. I was happy that I had the text handy because there are times when reading a passage helped me understand the science better than listening to it. But Mazur is a very talented voice artist, and she really did a magnificent job. ( )