Book Reviews: Feynman vs. Watson

Recently I read the biography of Richard Feynman, "Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman" and just now the biography of James Watson, "Avoid Boring People".  Feynman won the Nobel Prize in Physics 1965 and Watson the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962. The Feynman book I can wholeheartedly recommend the Watson-Book not at all! […]

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Recently I read the biography of Richard Feynman, "Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman" and just now the biography of James Watson, "Avoid Boring People".  Feynman won the Nobel Prize in Physics 1965 and Watson the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1962.

The Feynman book I can wholeheartedly recommend the Watson-Book not at all!

Feynman starts off a little slow, but the book gets really interesting and shows a man who is truly passionate about physics.  He couldn’t care less about the Nobel price and was even considering to turn it down.  The book is entertaining and shows a man with integrity and passion.

Watson starts off slow and stays slow.  His book almost reads like a telephone book, with far too many names and facts that are irrelevant to the story.  Although I really enjoyed the science parts of the book.  But after the discovery of the double helix (after the first 3rd of the book) it really goes downhill.  Watson starts to complain about not getting enough salary, he says really nasty things about some people, and in generall comes across as petty, self-centered and back-stabbing.

Don’t forget: Summer is book-reading time!