Racing to the Beginning of the Road: The Search for the Origin of Cancer

Just as The Double Helix told of the historic effort to discover the structure of the DNA molecule, this book recounts the inside story of the discoveries that revolutionized our understanding of cancer. Written by one of America's leading scientists in this effort, here is a compelling, candid account of scientific progress.

It's been some 20 years since a book of medical literature has captured the interest, let alone the excitement, of young people considering a career in medicine or biology. Racing to the Beginning of the Road is a welcome end to that trend. Author Dr. Robert Weinberg, director of the oncology research lab at the Whitehead Institute of Technology, relates several theories on the origins of cancer. He recounts scientific breakthroughs throughout the story and paints delightfully human portrayals of the scientists involved.