The Violinist's Thumb

by Sam Kean

First published 2012

From the bestselling author of The Disappearing Spoon comes a captivating exploration of the DNA that shapes our species. Uncover the genes behind humanity's most perplexing quirks - from the flexibility that makes virtuoso violinists to the chromosomes that survived nuclear fallout. Delving into the genetic code, Kean illuminates the hidden histories etched in our very cells, from the interbreeding of Neanderthals to the tanning of JFK. Part science, part biography, The Violinist's Thumb is a revelatory journey into the past, present, and future of the human genome.

Genres: biography, non-fiction, 21st-century, biology, genetics, academic

Vibes: informative, intimate, thought-provoking

Tropes: biographical, informative-narrative

432 pages · Paperback · Back Bay Books

More by Sam Kean

• The Disappearing Spoon
• Dinner with King Tut
• Caesar's Last Breath
• The Bastard Brigade
• The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons
• The Icepick Surgeon
• The Best American Science And Nature Writing 2018

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