Her Hidden Genius by Marie Benedict

5/5 Stars

As a woman in STEM, I often find myself seeking out stories about strong, trailblazing women in the male-dominated world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Much to my delight, Marie Benedict often delivers such stories. She reimagines the lives of strong, capable, competent women and writes them down for the world to enjoy. From Hedy Lamarr in The Only Woman in the Room to Mileva Maric in The Other Einstein, Marie Benedict does not disappoint in her portrayal of these incredibly talented and inspiring women. And now with Her Hidden Genius, we get to read about one of my favorite scientists, Rosalind Franklin. I absolutely loved this book.

But let me preface this review by stating that if you are a woman in STEM, you will surely find at least some parts of Rosalind Franklin’s story and life relatable. And you will likely also come to detest James Watson and Francis Crick more than you probably already do. But be aware, part of Franklin’s story is her manner of death and it could be upsetting for some.

Now, about that book and one of the most brilliant scientific minds of our time, Her Hidden Genius explores the life, struggles for equality and recognition in her work and the untimely death of Rosalind Franklin. Franklin is fully devoted to the science she loves. Meticulous in her work and intelligent and insightful, she quickly becomes a sought after expert in x-ray crystallography and uses this technique to capture groundbreaking discoveries regarding the double helix structure of DNA. She and her graduate assistant capture what becomes known as Photo 51, an x-ray diffraction image of DNA and what some people have deemed “the most important image ever taken.” Her Hidden Genius follows Franklin’s life through labs in Paris and London ultimately leading her to capture this famous image. It explores the complicated relationships she has with her male counterparts that are often fraught with tension and frustration. And yes, we see the conniving Watson and Crick and learn how they were able to somehow earn recognition and accolades for the work Rosalind Franklin completed. As a woman in STEM, it made me angry. The book ends with Franklin’s untimely death, and, while I knew the ending, I still felt heartbroken that Franklin did not receive her due recognition in her lifetime.

Her Hidden Genius is a thoroughly researched, beautifully written, historical account of Rosalind Franklin’s life and accomplishments. There are some deeply scientific topics and discussions, but I very much enjoyed them. This book was wonderful and a solid part in giving Franklin all the recognition she deserves for her contributions to science. I am thankful for authors like Marie Benedict who bring to life the amazing stories of trailblazing women.