Reviews
The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson
rossbm's review
4.0
(read as physical book)
I enjoyed this book, especially as it recounted the different discoveries about CRISPR and the different groups contributing to these discoveries. It seems a bit odd that the book is as biography of Doudna since it isn't really about her life, but it definitely helps to focus the book a bit. I started skimming towards the end, especially the parts about COVID testing, since it wasn't particularly focused on interesting. There were a lot of "characters" that were hard to keep track of.
The book made me excited for biology. It will be interesting to see what discoveries and inventions come about in the next decades. The chapters on the ethics of gene editing humans were alright, but not particularly thought provoking.
I enjoyed this book, especially as it recounted the different discoveries about CRISPR and the different groups contributing to these discoveries. It seems a bit odd that the book is as biography of Doudna since it isn't really about her life, but it definitely helps to focus the book a bit. I started skimming towards the end, especially the parts about COVID testing, since it wasn't particularly focused on interesting. There were a lot of "characters" that were hard to keep track of.
The book made me excited for biology. It will be interesting to see what discoveries and inventions come about in the next decades. The chapters on the ethics of gene editing humans were alright, but not particularly thought provoking.
kitkat2500's review
The books is very interesting, especially in light of the impact of mRNA vaccines on the pandemic. To find out that decades of research has enabled these breakthroughs is eye opening to me.
But the book gets bogged down in too much science and too many scientists, and my concentration just couldn’t hold. I gave up halfway through, which is an experience I see mirrored in other reviews.
But the book gets bogged down in too much science and too many scientists, and my concentration just couldn’t hold. I gave up halfway through, which is an experience I see mirrored in other reviews.
pamiverson's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting, but perhaps too detailed story of CRISPR gene editing, those who developed the techniques, how it has been used, ethical considerations (especially for its use in humans. Nice to hear of a successful woman scientist, and the collaboration that won out when COVID became the focus. Explanations were clear enough I mostly understood.
sueking365's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Audiobook. An encompassing look at Dr. Jennifer Doudna and her impact on science via the CRISPR editor. The author does a great job of profiling Doudna and the people in her world. He also looks at the ethical repercussions of gene editing.
fgonzalez's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
5.0
amihanbooks's review
4.0
If we could edit our genes, should we edit our children’s DNA to make our species less prone to diseases? It seems logical. Who wouldn’t want the best for their child? Should we eliminate deafness, or blindness? Of course, right? But wait, are these really disabilities in the first place? Many who were born deaf consider it to be a part of their cultural identity. When we think we’re curing a disorder, we might instead be eliminating diversity and an aspect of human experience.
With such vast cultural differences, how can we distinguish between traits that are disabilities, and traits that are only disabilities because society won’t adapt or accommodate them? What would gene editing do to existing social constructs and prejudices? Would we end up encoding inequality permanently into our species? There should be rules, but who has the right to decide them?
The Code Breaker starts off with one heck of a hook, but if you want answers, you won’t find them here. Isaacson focuses on the events and scientific discoveries that led to this line of questioning, and the various ethical arguments in eugenics.
CRISPR is the scientific breakthrough that made genetic engineering possible, and earned Jennifer Doudna the 2020 Nobel Prize. Though the science may seem daunting, CRISPR is explained in a way that highlights the sheer joy of curiosity-driven research as scientists discover the mysteries of life.
I did feel like the book stretched itself too thin. Don’t go into this expecting a book centered on Jennifer Doudna, even if she is in the title. Every chapter focuses on a different scientist’s backstory, of which there are DOZENS to keep track of, and the detailed small talk can get overwhelming.
However, I understand that scientific breakthroughs are rarely individual accomplishments, but collaborative efforts that span generations. The application of CRISPR was done by many groups at around the same time, and this book tries to capture their stories equally. The future is exciting!
Rating: 4/5
With such vast cultural differences, how can we distinguish between traits that are disabilities, and traits that are only disabilities because society won’t adapt or accommodate them? What would gene editing do to existing social constructs and prejudices? Would we end up encoding inequality permanently into our species? There should be rules, but who has the right to decide them?
The Code Breaker starts off with one heck of a hook, but if you want answers, you won’t find them here. Isaacson focuses on the events and scientific discoveries that led to this line of questioning, and the various ethical arguments in eugenics.
CRISPR is the scientific breakthrough that made genetic engineering possible, and earned Jennifer Doudna the 2020 Nobel Prize. Though the science may seem daunting, CRISPR is explained in a way that highlights the sheer joy of curiosity-driven research as scientists discover the mysteries of life.
I did feel like the book stretched itself too thin. Don’t go into this expecting a book centered on Jennifer Doudna, even if she is in the title. Every chapter focuses on a different scientist’s backstory, of which there are DOZENS to keep track of, and the detailed small talk can get overwhelming.
However, I understand that scientific breakthroughs are rarely individual accomplishments, but collaborative efforts that span generations. The application of CRISPR was done by many groups at around the same time, and this book tries to capture their stories equally. The future is exciting!
Rating: 4/5