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Breaking Through: My Life in Science
A story of perseverance and the power of convictions from the groundbreaking immigrant scientist whose decades-long research led to the COVID-19 vaccines, hailed as “an inspiration” by Bill Gates
Katalin Karikó had an unlikely journey. The daughter of a butcher in postwar communist Hungary, Karikó grew up in a one-room home that lacked running water, and her family grew their own vegetables. She saw the wonders of nature all around her and was determined to become a scientist. That determination eventually brought her to the United States, where she arrived as a postdoctoral fellow in 1985 with $1,200 sewn into her toddler’s teddy bear and a dream to remake medicine.
Karikó worked in obscurity, battled cockroaches in a windowless lab, and faced outright derision and even deportation threats from her bosses and colleagues. She balked as prestigious research institutions increasingly conflated science and money. Despite setbacks, she never wavered in her belief that an ephemeral and underappreciated molecule called messenger RNA could change the world. Karikó believed that someday mRNA would transform ordinary cells into tiny factories capable of producing their own medicines on demand. She sacrificed nearly everything for this dream, but the obstacles she faced only motivated her, and eventually she succeeded.
Karikó’s three-decades-long investigation into mRNA would lead to a staggering vaccines that protected millions of people from the most dire consequences of COVID-19. These vaccines are just the beginning of mRNA’s potential. Today, the medical community eagerly awaits more mRNA vaccines—for the flu, HIV, and other emerging infectious diseases.
Breaking Through isn’t just the story of an extraordinary woman—it’s an indictment of closed-minded thinking and a testament to one woman’s commitment to laboring intensely in obscurity—knowing she might never be recognized in a culture that is more driven by prestige, power, and privilege—because she believed her work would save lives.
Katalin Karikó had an unlikely journey. The daughter of a butcher in postwar communist Hungary, Karikó grew up in a one-room home that lacked running water, and her family grew their own vegetables. She saw the wonders of nature all around her and was determined to become a scientist. That determination eventually brought her to the United States, where she arrived as a postdoctoral fellow in 1985 with $1,200 sewn into her toddler’s teddy bear and a dream to remake medicine.
Karikó worked in obscurity, battled cockroaches in a windowless lab, and faced outright derision and even deportation threats from her bosses and colleagues. She balked as prestigious research institutions increasingly conflated science and money. Despite setbacks, she never wavered in her belief that an ephemeral and underappreciated molecule called messenger RNA could change the world. Karikó believed that someday mRNA would transform ordinary cells into tiny factories capable of producing their own medicines on demand. She sacrificed nearly everything for this dream, but the obstacles she faced only motivated her, and eventually she succeeded.
Karikó’s three-decades-long investigation into mRNA would lead to a staggering vaccines that protected millions of people from the most dire consequences of COVID-19. These vaccines are just the beginning of mRNA’s potential. Today, the medical community eagerly awaits more mRNA vaccines—for the flu, HIV, and other emerging infectious diseases.
Breaking Through isn’t just the story of an extraordinary woman—it’s an indictment of closed-minded thinking and a testament to one woman’s commitment to laboring intensely in obscurity—knowing she might never be recognized in a culture that is more driven by prestige, power, and privilege—because she believed her work would save lives.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 10, 2023
366 people are currently reading
8916 people want to read
About the author
Katalin Karikó
4 books60 followersKatalin Karikó, PhD, is a Hungarian American biochemist who specializes in RNA-mediated mechanisms. She is an adjunct professor of neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania, and her research was foundational in the development of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines. She is the 2023 co-winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 363 reviews
November 23, 2023
Breaking Through: My Life in Science is the remarkable life story of Dr. Katalin Karikó, a Hungarian-American scientist who saved the world from the COVID-19 pandemic with her groundbreaking research on mRNA vaccines.
Dr. Karikó’s life story is a testament to the power of curiosity, courage, and persistence. She was born into a humble family in Hungary, where she lived in a cramped room with her sister and parents and had no running water. She was a frail child. She did not have the natural talent that her peers possessed, but she compensated for it with hard work and perseverance. After completing her PhD, she left her homeland in 1985 to follow her scientific aspirations in the US with her husband, toddler, and just £900 hidden in a teddy bear.
When she started mRNA synthesis research, no one believed her. She had no resources, nor did she have any notable publications and citations. She worked alone on her research. She had no research assistant, PhD candidate, or post-doc. She earned barely any salary. The University of Pennsylvania stripped her of her position. Once, she even had her personal belongings thrown out of the lab. But she persisted. She believed in mRNA technology and its therapeutic potential. She kept reading, learning, and experimenting with mRNA. She met her collaborator Dr. Drew Weissman at the Xerox machine while printing articles and told him that she could make any RNA. Together, they made a breakthrough discovery that enabled mRNA to elicit a strong immune response without causing inflammation. Yet, when they submitted their paper to Nature, the holy grail of academic publishing, their paper was rejected! Later, they published their findings in the prestigious journal Immunity in 2005, but it took another 15 years and a global pandemic for the world to appreciate the value of their work, which eventually paved the way for Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna’s successful vaccine development.
You might still wonder how the COVID-19 vaccine was developed so swiftly. Let me explain. Dr. Katalin dedicated over four decades to advancing mRNA technology, which stimulates an immune response. Without her groundbreaking research, the mRNA vaccine wouldn't exist. And this is just the beginning of mRNA’s possibilities. Dr. Karikó’s vision and dedication have not only saved millions of lives, but also opened up new possibilities for treating other diseases with mRNA, such as cancer, stroke, heart disease, and cystic fibrosis. Dr. Karikó is a true hero of science and humanity, who has revolutionized the field of modern medicine!
As I was reading this book, I was overwhelmed with emotions. The world was unjust and unkind to Katalin for the longest time and it made me so frustrated and angry. But I also felt inspired by her resilience. She overcame many challenges, such as discrimination, sexism, and cancer. She finally received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for her work that spanned decades, and my heart is bursting with joy! :')
Dr. Karikó’s life story is a testament to the power of curiosity, courage, and persistence. She was born into a humble family in Hungary, where she lived in a cramped room with her sister and parents and had no running water. She was a frail child. She did not have the natural talent that her peers possessed, but she compensated for it with hard work and perseverance. After completing her PhD, she left her homeland in 1985 to follow her scientific aspirations in the US with her husband, toddler, and just £900 hidden in a teddy bear.
When she started mRNA synthesis research, no one believed her. She had no resources, nor did she have any notable publications and citations. She worked alone on her research. She had no research assistant, PhD candidate, or post-doc. She earned barely any salary. The University of Pennsylvania stripped her of her position. Once, she even had her personal belongings thrown out of the lab. But she persisted. She believed in mRNA technology and its therapeutic potential. She kept reading, learning, and experimenting with mRNA. She met her collaborator Dr. Drew Weissman at the Xerox machine while printing articles and told him that she could make any RNA. Together, they made a breakthrough discovery that enabled mRNA to elicit a strong immune response without causing inflammation. Yet, when they submitted their paper to Nature, the holy grail of academic publishing, their paper was rejected! Later, they published their findings in the prestigious journal Immunity in 2005, but it took another 15 years and a global pandemic for the world to appreciate the value of their work, which eventually paved the way for Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna’s successful vaccine development.
You might still wonder how the COVID-19 vaccine was developed so swiftly. Let me explain. Dr. Katalin dedicated over four decades to advancing mRNA technology, which stimulates an immune response. Without her groundbreaking research, the mRNA vaccine wouldn't exist. And this is just the beginning of mRNA’s possibilities. Dr. Karikó’s vision and dedication have not only saved millions of lives, but also opened up new possibilities for treating other diseases with mRNA, such as cancer, stroke, heart disease, and cystic fibrosis. Dr. Karikó is a true hero of science and humanity, who has revolutionized the field of modern medicine!
As I was reading this book, I was overwhelmed with emotions. The world was unjust and unkind to Katalin for the longest time and it made me so frustrated and angry. But I also felt inspired by her resilience. She overcame many challenges, such as discrimination, sexism, and cancer. She finally received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for her work that spanned decades, and my heart is bursting with joy! :')
April 28, 2024
What a wonder woman! Breaking Through is a riveting memoir of Kariko’s lifelong hardships and hard work making her a Nobel Laureate in parts not so different from the journey of many other immigrants and scientists. Where the writing seems a bit off her inspiring story of grit and resilience keeps you going. Great read from a remarkable role model.
“I don’t consider myself especially smart. Over the years, I have met many people born with what seemed to be a photographic memory, a gift for learning effortlessly. One of my elementary school classmates could hear something once and remember it forever. That wasn’t me; it has never been me. But even as a young child, I understood something critical: What I lacked in natural ability, I could make up for in effort. I could work harder, put in more hours, do more, and do it with greater care.”
“Then I’d lean in and I’d hug Susan, and I’d tell her everything I once longed to hear: Can I kiss where it hurts? Can I give you a hug? Here, my love, let me comfort you now, let me give you everything I didn’t get when I felt bad. Sometimes, I think, that is the best we can do: to learn from the world we’ve been handed and then try to leave things a little bit better for the next generation.”
“I don’t consider myself especially smart. Over the years, I have met many people born with what seemed to be a photographic memory, a gift for learning effortlessly. One of my elementary school classmates could hear something once and remember it forever. That wasn’t me; it has never been me. But even as a young child, I understood something critical: What I lacked in natural ability, I could make up for in effort. I could work harder, put in more hours, do more, and do it with greater care.”
“Then I’d lean in and I’d hug Susan, and I’d tell her everything I once longed to hear: Can I kiss where it hurts? Can I give you a hug? Here, my love, let me comfort you now, let me give you everything I didn’t get when I felt bad. Sometimes, I think, that is the best we can do: to learn from the world we’ve been handed and then try to leave things a little bit better for the next generation.”
October 23, 2023
Breaking Through is an excellently written and structured memoire by Nobel Prize winner Katalin Karikó, who by now has received unparalleled media coverage for her discovery of non-immunogenic delivery of mRNA vaccines and her role in finding a vaccine for COVID-19. The book was surprisingly light on technical details, and more of a story of her upbringing and raising her daughter during her time as a bench scientist.
A couple of things stood out to me in this book. First, Kariko has (unsurprisingly), a near infectious enthusiasm for science. A lot of scientists tend to be overly obsessed with the prestige and status associated with big-name publications, grants and honorific titles, but Kariko makes it clear this isn’t her primary interest. Secondly, for someone who has never written a book before, this is a highly digestible book. Whenever science was discussed, namely the fundamentals of human immunology, I was pleasantly surprised by how well Kariko explained the technical details so that the average layman can understand. I think non-immunologists and even folks with zero training in biology would find the material quite easy to understand.
Finally, I loved the narrative structure of Kariko’s life in the later chapters, where she ping-pongs between the challenges her daughter faced in becoming an olympian, as well as her own challenges of getting an increasingly frustrated department to support her research. Kariko comes across as earnest when it comes to handing down advice to young scientists. Read often, read widely - this will always motivate you to do better science.
A couple of things stood out to me in this book. First, Kariko has (unsurprisingly), a near infectious enthusiasm for science. A lot of scientists tend to be overly obsessed with the prestige and status associated with big-name publications, grants and honorific titles, but Kariko makes it clear this isn’t her primary interest. Secondly, for someone who has never written a book before, this is a highly digestible book. Whenever science was discussed, namely the fundamentals of human immunology, I was pleasantly surprised by how well Kariko explained the technical details so that the average layman can understand. I think non-immunologists and even folks with zero training in biology would find the material quite easy to understand.
Finally, I loved the narrative structure of Kariko’s life in the later chapters, where she ping-pongs between the challenges her daughter faced in becoming an olympian, as well as her own challenges of getting an increasingly frustrated department to support her research. Kariko comes across as earnest when it comes to handing down advice to young scientists. Read often, read widely - this will always motivate you to do better science.
May 14, 2024
A great memoir of dedication, zeal, vocation and vindication, gratitude. Karikó is a new personal hero for me, epitomizing the successful immigrant story, overcoming sexism in a male-dominated field, and contributing to human knowledge and social wellbeing.
Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology 2023
Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology 2023
May 7, 2024
Karikó's story is fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her life. I didn't think it was possible, but I admire her more now than I did before. I absolutely love and am inspired by her curiosity and tenacity.
February 16, 2024
As a biochemist myself, who felt uninspired during all my bench years (not many), I wish I could have had such a role model to follow. I wish this book had existed at the time. This book has it all: it explains the devotion you need to have for fundamental science, how strong and confident you need to be about yourself and your ideas, the vicious cycles in academia, but also the beauty of enjoying the process of answering your own questions. My highlight goes to Katalin Karikó's self-description as possessing an: 'unconsumable, uncontrollable curiosity.' I'm certain that I'll gift this book several times during my life.
May 26, 2025
Katalin Karikó (b. 1955) is a Hungarian-American mRNA biologist who was awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (along with her longstanding research collaborator, Drew Weissman) for their work in nucleoside base modifications (key papers they published in the late 2000s) to permit effective mRNA vaccine development against COVID-19 a decade later. Karikó's memoir Breaking Through was published right as her Nobel Prize was announced in October 2023, and likely went to press months beforehand, so the book does not include her reactions to this event.
I found Breaking Through (cowritten by Ali Benjamin, with the audiobook narrated by Hungarian-American actress Éva Magyar in a light Hungarian accent) to be a fantastic retrospective memoir of a scientific career that featured more twists and turns than most. Karikó came from a working class family and completed her PhD and first postdoc in Soviet Hungary before immigrating the US in 1985; always career-focused, she married her husband with the mutual understanding that she should be the primary breadwinner and he would be the primary caretaker, an agreement that worked out well for both. Her US scientific career was uniquely challenging in that she didn't conform the usual career model of tenure-track professorship, running a research lab staffed by graduate students and postdocs, aiming to publish early and often, and bringing in grant funding. Instead, she started at the University of Pennsylvania as a non-tenure track research assistant professor and was essentially demoted from there, never bringing in enough grant money to support her role and largely conducting benchwork herself even into her senior career (when most PhD academic scientists leave the bench behind early in their faculty careers). Still, Karikó found success through key partnerships and her own persistence, though as she admits in this memoir, social niceties and playing academic politics were never her fortés (I know a lot of scientists like this, and it can be career-ending for many).
Definitely an inspirational story.
Further reading: female scientist/academic memoirs and biographies:
The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI by Fei-Fei Li
A Lab of One's Own: One Woman's Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science by Rita Colwell
The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science by Kate Zernike
My statistics:
Book 160 for 2025
Book 2086 cumulatively
I found Breaking Through (cowritten by Ali Benjamin, with the audiobook narrated by Hungarian-American actress Éva Magyar in a light Hungarian accent) to be a fantastic retrospective memoir of a scientific career that featured more twists and turns than most. Karikó came from a working class family and completed her PhD and first postdoc in Soviet Hungary before immigrating the US in 1985; always career-focused, she married her husband with the mutual understanding that she should be the primary breadwinner and he would be the primary caretaker, an agreement that worked out well for both. Her US scientific career was uniquely challenging in that she didn't conform the usual career model of tenure-track professorship, running a research lab staffed by graduate students and postdocs, aiming to publish early and often, and bringing in grant funding. Instead, she started at the University of Pennsylvania as a non-tenure track research assistant professor and was essentially demoted from there, never bringing in enough grant money to support her role and largely conducting benchwork herself even into her senior career (when most PhD academic scientists leave the bench behind early in their faculty careers). Still, Karikó found success through key partnerships and her own persistence, though as she admits in this memoir, social niceties and playing academic politics were never her fortés (I know a lot of scientists like this, and it can be career-ending for many).
Definitely an inspirational story.
Further reading: female scientist/academic memoirs and biographies:
The Worlds I See: Curiosity, Exploration, and Discovery at the Dawn of AI by Fei-Fei Li
A Lab of One's Own: One Woman's Personal Journey Through Sexism in Science by Rita Colwell
The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT, and the Fight for Women in Science by Kate Zernike
My statistics:
Book 160 for 2025
Book 2086 cumulatively
October 3, 2023
Katalin Kariko's inspiring memoir is an absolute must read. Dr. Kariko was born to a working class family in a small village in Hungary during Communist rule. Through hard work and perseverance, Dr. Kariko completes her PhD and moves to the US to continue her studies of mRNA. Throughout most of her career, her brilliant work went unappreciated. It was not until the COVID pandemic, when her discovery of how to modify RNA was the basis for both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, that her ingenious work was finally appreciated.
I loved so many things about this book.
Above and beyond the science of RNA that she explains with elegance, I really enjoyed learning about her family. She met her husband while in graduate school. Together they came to the US with limited connections and raised a daughter who won two Olympic Gold Medals on the US rowing team. Many women in science worry that having children will hinder their careers. Dr. Kariko sets a great example of what is possible.
Dr. Kariko's perseverance and love of basic science inspired me so much. Academic research is a very challenging system, especially for those who do not fit a traditional mold. I really hope that Dr. Kariko's experience will lead to changes that enable scientists from non-traditional backgrounds to be better supported. I also really hope that Dr. Kariko wins the Nobel Prize for her impactful work. Update: she won!!!
Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved so many things about this book.
Above and beyond the science of RNA that she explains with elegance, I really enjoyed learning about her family. She met her husband while in graduate school. Together they came to the US with limited connections and raised a daughter who won two Olympic Gold Medals on the US rowing team. Many women in science worry that having children will hinder their careers. Dr. Kariko sets a great example of what is possible.
Dr. Kariko's perseverance and love of basic science inspired me so much. Academic research is a very challenging system, especially for those who do not fit a traditional mold. I really hope that Dr. Kariko's experience will lead to changes that enable scientists from non-traditional backgrounds to be better supported. I also really hope that Dr. Kariko wins the Nobel Prize for her impactful work. Update: she won!!!
Thank you to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2023
4.5 stars. Such a wonderful telling of a life - immigrant, scientist and Nobel Prize winner! She includes her triumphs and the many obstacles and mistakes made along the way. She also contemplates the what ifs and the many forks in life that could have changed her path. Truly inspiring.
June 16, 2024
Каталін Каріко отримала Нобелівську премію у 2023 за свій вклад у розвиток вакцини проти коронавірусу. У книжці вона щиро ділиться своїм нелегким шляхом у науку. Я місцями не стримувала сліз, як жінка з соцблоку, яка втікала від диктаторського режиму з Угорщини і будувала свою наукову карʼєру на заході.
May 13, 2024
absolutely recommend!! especially for those who are considering pursuing a science-related career and/or might be stuck due to self-doubt, her story will make you drop your jaw and realize it is hard work and discipline that takes you through.
i’ve listened to so many interviews with Katalin Karikó and her humbleness and modesty made me teary-eyed so many times because it’s such a relief that people like her still exist. undoubtedly, Katalin Karikó is one of the greatest people of our time, professionally and personally as well.
i’ve listened to so many interviews with Katalin Karikó and her humbleness and modesty made me teary-eyed so many times because it’s such a relief that people like her still exist. undoubtedly, Katalin Karikó is one of the greatest people of our time, professionally and personally as well.
November 3, 2023
Very inspirational, highly recommended for people in science to see that they are not alone. Also recommended for partners of scientists who want to understand the bright side and the dark side of scientific research.
January 5, 2024
I cannot rate this book highly enough! I devoured every word of this incredibly honest, touching, and inspiring autobiography. It is so refreshing to read about a woman in science who genuinely has impeccable morals and values, and to see her succeed in such a triumphant manner. I laughed, cried, and was glued to the pages of this memoir for hours - putting aside all my other responsibilities. Her words resonated with me on a cosmic level and left me feeling fulfilled in a way I haven't experienced before upon finishing the last chapter of her book.
I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, so I loved to see how the city impacted Kariko and compare her experiences with that of my own. It is fascinating to realize that a lot of her achievements were made just miles away from where I lived every day of my childhood. Her encounters with boathouse row, a place I used to frequently bike past on weekends in the summer, made me wonder if our paths had ever coincidentally crossed and I had never known it.
Additionally, I just finished an internship working at a company that utilizes her research to use LNPs to deliver mRNA to the body to fight cancer. Kariko's hard work and dedicated research paved the way for that company to exist, which was incredible to realize.
Overall, I couldn't recommend this book more highly to anyone, scientist or not. Kariko's story left an indelible mark upon me (similar in impact that The Stress of Life had on her, which she references so often throughout her story). I am incredibly inspired and encouraged to pursue a life in science after having read this. Her writing and tonality was exquisite (which I found insanely impressive, english being her second language) and I had constant chills while reading. 100/10.
I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, so I loved to see how the city impacted Kariko and compare her experiences with that of my own. It is fascinating to realize that a lot of her achievements were made just miles away from where I lived every day of my childhood. Her encounters with boathouse row, a place I used to frequently bike past on weekends in the summer, made me wonder if our paths had ever coincidentally crossed and I had never known it.
Additionally, I just finished an internship working at a company that utilizes her research to use LNPs to deliver mRNA to the body to fight cancer. Kariko's hard work and dedicated research paved the way for that company to exist, which was incredible to realize.
Overall, I couldn't recommend this book more highly to anyone, scientist or not. Kariko's story left an indelible mark upon me (similar in impact that The Stress of Life had on her, which she references so often throughout her story). I am incredibly inspired and encouraged to pursue a life in science after having read this. Her writing and tonality was exquisite (which I found insanely impressive, english being her second language) and I had constant chills while reading. 100/10.
May 12, 2025
"She’ll sit for hours without getting up. She may just sit for forty years.
If you were watching the scene from the outside, you’d grow bored, and quickly. And who could blame you? She’s just sitting there. From the inside, though, it’s a different story.
The woman’s body may be still, but her mind is whirling, filled to overflowing with big ideas. She glimpses a line from the work she’s doing to breakthroughs that may someday change lives. She does not know if she herself will make these breakthroughs or if someone else will. She does not know if she will live to see them. These questions don’t matter.
The work, the doing, is all that matters."
-------‐--------------------------------
This book will stay with me, and remain a part of my inner voice for all the years to come.
Inspiring and a phenomenal life (and words).
November 6, 2023
Everyone should read this book! It’s incredible and what’s more incredible is the three decades of research Dr. Kariko did on mRNA.
October 13, 2024
If I was treated like shit for a decade and then ended up winning the Nobel prize I’d also write a whole ass book name dropping all my haters like I respect this so much
May 7, 2024
Science nerds, add it to your list
August 23, 2023
***I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway***
This was a breath of fresh air. Katalin Kariko is a Hungarian immigrant to the United States. She's also a PhD level biochemist and one of the key reasons we have mRNA vaccines. She tells her life story humbly with a sense of awe for the people she loves, the sciences she obsesses over, and opportunities she's both had and has been able to create for others.
Her life has been tough. She grew up in Communism and her family faced hard choices to stay fed. She dealt with sexism and discrimination starting at an early age. She worked in obscurity for the majority of her career, often missing out on promotions and opportunities because she simply didn't understand the political game that academics have to play.
Since acquiring acclaim as a leader of the team that brought us mRNA vaccines for Covid-19, she is using her spotlight to shine on the challenges that women in STEM face as well as ways science can be better structured to ensure breakthroughs are noticed.
She's a gem and her life has gone beyond the American dream to something even more magical. She seems like a humble, kind, and passionate woman and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her story.
This was a breath of fresh air. Katalin Kariko is a Hungarian immigrant to the United States. She's also a PhD level biochemist and one of the key reasons we have mRNA vaccines. She tells her life story humbly with a sense of awe for the people she loves, the sciences she obsesses over, and opportunities she's both had and has been able to create for others.
Her life has been tough. She grew up in Communism and her family faced hard choices to stay fed. She dealt with sexism and discrimination starting at an early age. She worked in obscurity for the majority of her career, often missing out on promotions and opportunities because she simply didn't understand the political game that academics have to play.
Since acquiring acclaim as a leader of the team that brought us mRNA vaccines for Covid-19, she is using her spotlight to shine on the challenges that women in STEM face as well as ways science can be better structured to ensure breakthroughs are noticed.
She's a gem and her life has gone beyond the American dream to something even more magical. She seems like a humble, kind, and passionate woman and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her story.
April 22, 2024
I read this in two sittings - including one 3-hour sit while my arm was tattooed and very loud Latin pop blared. The music was often in sync with the story's emotional beats!
So this is a memoir by Katalin Kariko, a Hungarian biochemist who won the Nobel for Medicine/Physiology in 2023 for her work on the mRNA Covid vaccine. I had read one other article about Kariko, basically exclaiming how incredible her win was, given that she spent almost her entire academic career languishing as a poorly-paid, non-tenured, postdoc-type. If you've ever spent any time around academia, that is remarkable indeed. AND OOOHH THE JUSTICE!!!! (everyone hates academia's dumb power politics)
And I did love her underog-triumphs conclusion, but I also, well, just loved her heart of gold, pure of spirit LOVE/obsession with science. And her nerdiness, and her sassiness, and - tbh - her writing! I was like, HOW is this woman who claims to care about nothing beyond the cell SUCH A GOOD WRITER? I laughed and teared up several times. Honestly, I just loved spending time with her and sharing her life with her. A really warm, inspiring story!
So this is a memoir by Katalin Kariko, a Hungarian biochemist who won the Nobel for Medicine/Physiology in 2023 for her work on the mRNA Covid vaccine. I had read one other article about Kariko, basically exclaiming how incredible her win was, given that she spent almost her entire academic career languishing as a poorly-paid, non-tenured, postdoc-type. If you've ever spent any time around academia, that is remarkable indeed. AND OOOHH THE JUSTICE!!!! (everyone hates academia's dumb power politics)
And I did love her underog-triumphs conclusion, but I also, well, just loved her heart of gold, pure of spirit LOVE/obsession with science. And her nerdiness, and her sassiness, and - tbh - her writing! I was like, HOW is this woman who claims to care about nothing beyond the cell SUCH A GOOD WRITER? I laughed and teared up several times. Honestly, I just loved spending time with her and sharing her life with her. A really warm, inspiring story!
October 13, 2023
She is amazing!
February 22, 2024
I am nothing without the women that have come before me. What a treat to learn about the successes of a woman in science, and of one that came from parents of laborers, just like me
November 25, 2024
Katalin Karikó has written a beautiful and compelling memoir that is filled with humanity and science. I cannot say enough good about this book. I listened to the audiobook, read with the author’s Hungarian accent and it was perfect. Some words were pronounced charmingly different with a Hungarian accent such as nucleotides, pronounced nucleosides in the book.
Karikó has a remarkable ability to explain complex scientific concepts in a way that feels accessible and engaging. Her dogged determination and unwavering belief in RNA’s potential to change the world reads like a love letter to her values and her vision for a better future. This memoir is more than a story; it’s a call to action, and Karikó’s voice is one the world needs to hear.
Karikó has a remarkable ability to explain complex scientific concepts in a way that feels accessible and engaging. Her dogged determination and unwavering belief in RNA’s potential to change the world reads like a love letter to her values and her vision for a better future. This memoir is more than a story; it’s a call to action, and Karikó’s voice is one the world needs to hear.
October 14, 2024
I really enjoyed this memoir, telling the story of Nobel prize-winning scientist Katlin Kariko - from her humble origins in Hungary through the trials of her path in science and her success as she and her team discovered the MRNA vaccine that saved so many lives.
I am impressed by the determination, strength, and perseverance of this woman, who didn't give up even in the toughest of times. Most of all, she remained humble and focused on her mission. I think Kariko's story is a great inspiration for any scientist, for any woman who wants to achieve great things in life.
I am impressed by the determination, strength, and perseverance of this woman, who didn't give up even in the toughest of times. Most of all, she remained humble and focused on her mission. I think Kariko's story is a great inspiration for any scientist, for any woman who wants to achieve great things in life.
May 26, 2024
“It was the work of teachers that allowed this child of two laborers in postwar communist Hungary to understand the world… and then, in her own way, to help change it.”
These are the stories we should be reading! Real life, grafting in order to make the world and its humans BETTER.
Academia aesthetics throughout (big fan) & enticingly written.
For the scientists and non-scientists.
These are the stories we should be reading! Real life, grafting in order to make the world and its humans BETTER.
Academia aesthetics throughout (big fan) & enticingly written.
For the scientists and non-scientists.
April 22, 2025
This was so beautiful. Every time she talked about science, about cells, I remembered why I love science and could read a whole series of her science-y talk. This has got to be my favorite all-time book of 2025.
June 11, 2025
Wow, a story of perseverance indeed. This woman’s dedication and drive are truly remarkable.
February 16, 2025
I wish I could give this book 1000 stars. This was so inspiring, and I identified so strongly with her story of her determination to continue her science. Especially in light of the state of research in the US, this was a much needed reminder of how much it matters. Immigrants matter. Our training matters. Our science matters. Even if our institutions tell us otherwise.
April 10, 2025
Literally blown away brb
August 6, 2025
Brilliant and deeply inspiring! This academia-centered book resonated personally, especially coming from a Hungarian scientist recently awarded the Nobel Prize for her mRNA vaccine research.
October 2, 2024
awesome. it's amazing to think the original work on nucleoside modification of mRNA was only an immunity paper and Kati was kicked out of UPenn for not having enough funding and prestige
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