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Crick: A Mind in Motion
A major new biography of Francis Crick, co-discoverer of the structure of DNA, pioneering neuroscientist, and twentieth-century genius
"Vivid and authoritative... [an] intriguing portrait of a gifted, self-absorbed, exuberant, and intuitive man." —The New York Times
Named a Best Book of the Year by Economist • Guardian
What are the moments that make a life? In Francis Crick’s, the decisive moment came in 1951, when he first met James Watson. Their ensuing discovery of the structure of DNA made Crick world-famous. But neither that chance meeting nor that discovery made Crick who he was.
As Matthew Cobb shows in Crick, it is another chance encounter, with a line from the writing of Beat poet Michael McClure, that reveals Crick’s “THIS IS THE POWERFUL KNOWLEDGE,” it shouted. Crick, having read it, would keep it with him for the rest of his life, a token of his desire to solve the riddles of existence. John Keats once accused scientists of merely wanting to “unweave a rainbow,” but it was an irrepressible, Romantic urge to wonder that defined Crick, as much as a desire to find the basis of life in DNA and the workings of our minds.
For the first time ever, Cobb presents the full portrait of Crick, a scientist and a his triumphs and failings, insights and oversights. Crick set out to find the powerful knowledge. Almost miraculously, he did.
"Vivid and authoritative... [an] intriguing portrait of a gifted, self-absorbed, exuberant, and intuitive man." —The New York Times
Named a Best Book of the Year by Economist • Guardian
What are the moments that make a life? In Francis Crick’s, the decisive moment came in 1951, when he first met James Watson. Their ensuing discovery of the structure of DNA made Crick world-famous. But neither that chance meeting nor that discovery made Crick who he was.
As Matthew Cobb shows in Crick, it is another chance encounter, with a line from the writing of Beat poet Michael McClure, that reveals Crick’s “THIS IS THE POWERFUL KNOWLEDGE,” it shouted. Crick, having read it, would keep it with him for the rest of his life, a token of his desire to solve the riddles of existence. John Keats once accused scientists of merely wanting to “unweave a rainbow,” but it was an irrepressible, Romantic urge to wonder that defined Crick, as much as a desire to find the basis of life in DNA and the workings of our minds.
For the first time ever, Cobb presents the full portrait of Crick, a scientist and a his triumphs and failings, insights and oversights. Crick set out to find the powerful knowledge. Almost miraculously, he did.
506 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2025
39 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Cobb
29 books111 followersMatthew Cobb (born 4 February 1957) is a British zoologist and professor of zoology at the University of Manchester. He is known for his popular science books The Egg & Sperm Race: The Seventeenth-Century Scientists Who Unravelled the Secrets of Sex, Life and Growth; Life's Greatest Secret: The Race to Crack the Genetic Code; and The Idea of the Brain: A History. Cobb has appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Infinite Monkey Cage, The Life Scientific, and The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry, as well as on BBC Radio 3 and the BBC World Service.
Cobb has written and provided expert comments for publications including New Scientist and The Guardian, translated five books from French into English, and written two books on the history of France during World War II.
Cobb has written and provided expert comments for publications including New Scientist and The Guardian, translated five books from French into English, and written two books on the history of France during World War II.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 5, 2025
Outstanding biography of a unique and brilliant scientist. Crick managed to get paid as an academic scientist without any demands on him to teach, supervise students or run a research team. This gave him a serious amount of time to deeply understand and make major contributions to Molecular Biology and Neuroscience.
Matthew Cobb describes Crick’s life and work based on his papers, interviews with colleagues and a very detailed read of his personal correspondence. This gives us the best understanding possible of how he did what he did, such as putting together the clues that gave the structure of DNA. His personal life, including a love of poetry, are also included.
Overall, this is the definitive biography of one of our greatest scientists. It is detailed, yet very readable. Highly recommended.
Matthew Cobb describes Crick’s life and work based on his papers, interviews with colleagues and a very detailed read of his personal correspondence. This gives us the best understanding possible of how he did what he did, such as putting together the clues that gave the structure of DNA. His personal life, including a love of poetry, are also included.
Overall, this is the definitive biography of one of our greatest scientists. It is detailed, yet very readable. Highly recommended.
January 18, 2026
I’m not sure about this book about Francis Crick, misogynist (he “touched” the body parts someone working in a laboratory), supporter of “scientific eugenics” (till pushed to say so explicitly), and one of the discoverers of the structure of DNA.
I’m dubious because while the misogyny is acknowledged shortly after the book starts, the author decides he isn’t going to write about that. He also doesn’t write about the sex parties that students were invited to (not sure about the power dynamic there), or the multiple affairs (that his wife was aware of).
The science parts of the book are fine. They are explained clearly, it’s just Crick, as a person, isn’t likeable.
I’m dubious because while the misogyny is acknowledged shortly after the book starts, the author decides he isn’t going to write about that. He also doesn’t write about the sex parties that students were invited to (not sure about the power dynamic there), or the multiple affairs (that his wife was aware of).
The science parts of the book are fine. They are explained clearly, it’s just Crick, as a person, isn’t likeable.
January 12, 2026
Met Francis Crack sometime in the 1990's at a science teacher's convention. This book tells you many things I did not know at the time.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews