Why read Breaking Through?

Book cover of Breaking Through

Book description

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A powerful memoir from Katalin Karikó, winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, whose decades-long research led to the COVID-19 vaccines

“Katalin Karikó’s story is an inspiration.”—Bill Gates

“Riveting . . . a true story of a brilliant biochemist who never gave up or…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Breaking Through as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Andrea B. Rugh

Author

I loved Katalin Karika’s example of how a persistent scientist can contribute meaningfully to world problems despite enormous obstacles.

Not only did she cope with the difficulties of being an immigrant in a new country (she came from Hungary), but also of being a woman in what at the time was mostly a man’s world of science. On top of that were difficulties of doing science itself—applying for grants, finding an institutional sponsor, and the competition from other scientists seeking funds and criticizing her work.

When all else failed, the generosity of other scientists made it possible for her to…

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