The Code Breaker cover art

The Code Breaker

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for £0.00
£8.99/mo thereafter. Renews automatically. Terms apply. Offer ends 31 July 2025 at 23:59 GMT.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for £8.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

The Code Breaker

By: Walter Isaacson
Narrated by: Kathe Mazur, Walter Isaacson - introduction and epilogue
Try for £0.00

£8.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends 31 July 2025 23:59 GMT. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

 The best-selling author of Leonardo da Vinci and Steve Jobs returns.

In 2012, Nobel Prize winning scientist Jennifer Doudna hit upon an invention that will transform the future of the human race: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA.

Known as CRISPR, it opened a brave new world of medical miracles and moral questions. It has already been deployed to cure deadly diseases, fight the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, and make inheritable changes in the genes of babies.

But what does that mean for humanity? Should we be hacking our own DNA to make us less susceptible to disease? Should we democratise the technology that would allow parents to enhance their kids?

After discovering this CRISPR, Doudna is now wrestling these even bigger issues.

THE CODE BREAKERS is an examination of how life as we know it is about to change – and a brilliant portrayal of the woman leading the way.©2021 Walter Isaacson. All rights reserved (P)2021 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Professionals & Academics Science & Technology Technology Thought-Provoking

Listeners also enjoyed...

 The Innovators cover art
The Double Helix cover art
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life cover art
Kissinger cover art
A Thousand Brains cover art
Longshot cover art
Ending Plague cover art
Invent and Wander cover art
Brave New World cover art
A Crack in Creation cover art
Code Breakers: Prequel cover art
Madness and Memory cover art
Ten Drugs cover art
Cancerland cover art
The Price of Immortality cover art
The Genome Odyssey cover art
All stars
Most relevant  
A really interesting and informative read. The complex scientific processes were so clearly explained

Brilliant story telling!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It’s a complex story and involves many elements of which I didn’t understand so it’s not something you can half listen to or listen before bed in my view, as you need to be on it. However CRISPR is one of the biggest/greatest enhancements/discoveries so more people should read and learn about it as it will become more and more common place over the next few years/decades

Heavy at points but incredibly interesting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
EN: A great book about the inventor of probably the most important scientific invention of our century, Jennifer Doudna. I loved how Walter Isaacson described the moral dilemmas that CRISPR brings and the association with the books written by Huxley and Orwell. The book is a bit heavy and I found myself listening on repeat a few sections of this audiobook in order to understand all the details presented. The part where he described the patent wars between the scientists was a bit too long, but overall I think it’s important to know a little bit about the hidden story that stays behind any great invention.

Doudna, the CRISPR breaker…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The author breaks down complex concepts in an understandable manner. It required me to concentrate hard with various people and biological terms being thrown around. I find CRISPR technology and the promises it holds both mindboggling, nerve racking, and inspiring. This book opened my eyes to the new world of pioneering biotechnology.

Wow

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Masterpiece now I need to checkout rest of the author books fascinating way of writing and topic classes to my heart and brain. Recommend anyone who is into science but also anyone who has limited knowledge about science

Amazing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
First of all one of the best narrators, making it a joy to listen to the book. The story is interesting because it shows (in relation to the topic) how past, current and new research, laboratory and university infrastructure and scientists collaborating, making it (Crispr editing etc) all come together into new, clever (potential) disease treatments. Very thoughtfully written I thought.

Enlightening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Frustrating at times, other times enraging, exciting, funny and nearly always, awe inspiring and thought provoking.
This is a book about humanity.

WOW

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Bit long winded in parts but worth a read to understand the gene engineering landscape, recent advances and the players in that space.

Solid overview of gene engineering advances

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loads of useful information, feel like I understand the field of genetics a lot better, as well as the research world. Maybe too many unnecessary details about how the researchers behaved like high-school girls.

However, listening to the robotic voice of the narator was a pain. Walter's narration at the end was a breath of fresh air.

Wealth of insight, but narrator left to be desired

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Amazing book
Exquisitely written, magnificently read and most importantly eye-opening.
Like building an understanding of computers in 1990.
Must-read!

Amazing!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews