The Violinist's Thumb

And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code

By: Sam Kean

Narrated by: Henry Leyva

Length: 12 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

From New York Times best-selling author Sam Kean come more incredible stories of science, history, language, and music, as told by our own DNA.

In The Disappearing Spoon, best-selling author Sam Kean unlocked the mysteries of the periodic table. In The Violinist's Thumb, he explores the wonders of the magical building block of life: DNA.

There are genes to explain crazy cat ladies, why other people have no fingerprints, and why some people survive nuclear bombs. Genes illuminate everything from JFK's bronze skin (it wasn't a tan) to Einstein's genius. They prove that Neanderthals and humans bred thousands of years more recently than any of us would feel comfortable thinking. They can even allow some people, because of the exceptional flexibility of their thumbs and fingers, to become truly singular violinists.

Kean's vibrant storytelling once again makes science entertaining, explaining human history and whimsy while showing how DNA will influence our species' future.

©2012 Sam Kean; 2012 Hachette Audio

Excellent In So Many Ways

I have read many many books on genetics as it is a topic which has fascinated me since biology classes in college. This book covers different topics in different ways than most of the other books I have read. There is Interesting information on some of the scientists and the history of the science of genetics. It is well written, humorous at points, and only very rarely does it go into details that might be beyond the non-scientific mind. Despite my studies and reading about Darwin, the section on his multiple health issues was amazing to me and something I had never heard before. How did accomplish everything he did. I recommend the book highly to everyone interested in the topic.

well written, but not quite understandable

High energy narration, and a lot of time spent on exactly how the humane genome works.....but I just couldn't follow it. The good news, is that sprinkled through the book are a few interesting stories about people and places, ranging from Paganini to Japan, just after the nuclear strikes in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Highly recommended

I quite enjoyed this story. I'm a teacher, so I don't get to listen often during the academic year, but this book had me listening avidly while getting ready for work, on my way home and in all the little moments in between other obligations

The story was very interesting and full of bits of information and anecdotes and stories I didn't already know. I enjoyed Kean's last book, The Disappearing Spoon, and this one is at least as good. I've read a reasonably good amount of popular science books on heredity and biology, but this one was fresh and accessible with a wealth of fascinating information.

Good narration. I highly recommend it. And I wan't to read more like this.

Over my head

This is the 3rd book I’ve listened to by this author and I have no idea why I keep torturing myself. The writing is smooth and the narration excellent but most of the time I have no idea what he’s talking about. I enjoyed the stories used to illustrate the facts but couldn’t follow the more technical parts even though they were obviously written in an effort to make the material approachable. I still rate the book highly because it is well written and provides important information to those smart enough to understand it. I have one more book in my wishlist by this author; I’m trying to decide if I’m brave enough to attempt it.

**I’m now listening to the 4th book, Caesars Last Breath, and find it to be more accessible. Like the others, it is well written and I am enjoying it.

Fresh perspective

I read quite a number of biology books and am often put off by the old gene jocks who focus on DNA, to the exclusion of epigenetic and other environmental factors that challenge the old and tired narrative of the gene centered theory of evolution. When I saw the title of this book, I felt pretty sure I wasn't going to like it, but many of my friends gave it high ratings. So, I thought I would give it a shot. Loved it!

Just as he did with Disappearing Spoon, Kean brought a fresh perspective to an ordinary subject. Among my favorite aspects of this book were:

- The names fruit fly scientists gave various genes, on example being the Cleopatra gene that, when mutated, kills other flies when it interacts with a gene named Asp.
- Machiavellian microbes that turn humans into cat hoarders and ants into big berry-like creatures birds want to eat, all so microbes can make it into the guts of animals and mate.
- Wonderful history of Barbara McClintock
- How the human placenta came to be, how fetuses are really parasites, and how viruses are brilliant.
-Einstein's brain
- Painting chimps
- Women who lust after rock (or violin) stars
- And how genes proved and disproved myths of days gone by

Great read!

Another fascinating and entertaining book by Sam Kean

This is my second “read”of author, Sam Kean. I also thoroughly enjoyed the narration by Henry Leyva. He kept the conversational style of the book and made it the most pleasant listen. I highly recommend this book.

Fascinating and Understandable

This book is aimed at fans of "true science" books, and follows the basic formula: Interesting anecdotes interspersed with challenging factoids, with bits of history mixed in and some personal sharing by the author. This is a very well written example of the genre, using clear language and telling me lots I didn't know before. It is smoothly read by Leyva, who correctly pronounces just about everything, easy to listen too without being intrusive.

A book about the history of DNA

Apparently, there was a violinist with a really strong thumb. It may or may not have had to do with his genes. That's the level of insight you can expect about "Lost Tales of Love, War and Genius."

The book is an excellent history of the science and discovery of DNA. He also talks about the controversies surrounding the human genome project. However, I was expecting more information about how our genes shape our behavior in interesting ways. Something like "so-and-so discovered an argument gene prevalent in lawyers..."

The performance is engaging and the history is complete but the book was not what I was expecting.

good but a hard to follow at times in audiobook

was good but hard to follow as an audiobook with gene IDs and the like

Excellent overview

It is well-nigh impossible to write a book for a general readership whose background ranges from no concept of the cell theory of living things to a PhD in molecular cytogenetics; nevertheless the author has provided an excellent overview for the interested reader. A previous commenter asking for Carl Sagan might be interested to know the he and Lynn Margulis (endosymbiosis) were once married. The only chapter that was a difficult listen was possible Genetic Disorders of Famous People, which I am sure was difficult to write. Five