Those of us with time to daydream can indulge the whimsy of building the perfect list of dinner party guests. If you’ve done that, you’ll be aware of the risk of reading an impressive biography. Just as a general reader might struggle with the technical sections of this entertaining biography, a fluency in the relevant science would, naturally, deepen the reading experience. Having said all that, and through no fault of Cobb, I’m not sure I’ll revise my dinner party list as for all his mercurial qualities Crick seems almost too rooted in his time. For the moment I’ll consign him to the subs’ bench despite the great qualities of this biography.

Source: Irish Examiner December 27, 2025 01:22 UTC