Breaking Through

“A riveting testament to resilience and the power of unwavering belief, Breaking Through charts an inspirational journey from growing up in postwar communist Hungary to transforming the world with mRNA.”—Jennifer Doudna, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry and author of A Crack in Creation “Katalin Karikó’s story is an inspiration. Anyone who has ever doubted that science, innovation, and persistence can change the world should read this book.”—Bill Gates, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Avoid a Climate Disaster “Karikó’s proven recipe (from the creative Hungarian kitchen) for a breakthrough in science: Start with an insatiable curiosity in education and research. Then, for a few decades, look for gaps in knowledge; work hard for years to fill some of them; don’t give up because of difficulties or circumstances; and, finally, seize the opportunity to help solve one painful problem of humanity, thereby opening new horizons for the future of medicine. Bon appétit, enjoy your sweets!”—Ernő Rubik, inventor of the Rubik’s Cube and author of Cubed “Katalin Karikó’s remarkable life story, which incidentally began not far from where I spent my childhood, inspires us not to be held back even in the face of severe difficulties. It encourages us to stay strong and follow through with important ideas that can change the world.”—Stefan Hell, Nobel Prize laureate in chemistry “Inspiring, riveting. . . . An outstanding memoir with a happy ending.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Karikó describes her research with a palpable sense of wonder, . . . successfully distilling complex scientific matters. The result is the rousing story of a remarkable woman and her lifesaving contributions to medicine.”—Publishers Weekly