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