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A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived
- The Stories in Our Genes
- Narrated by: Adam Rutherford
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Science & Engineering, Science
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Publisher's Summary
This is a story about you. It is the history of who you are and how you came to be. It is unique to you, as it is for every one of the 100 billion modern humans who has ever drawn breath. But it is also our collective story, because in each of our genomes we carry the history of the whole of our species.
Since scientists first read the human genome in 2001, it has been subject to all sorts of claims, counterclaims and myths. Drawing together the latest discoveries in this rapidly changing area of science, Adam Rutherford shows that in fact our genomes should be read not like instruction manuals but more like epic poems. Genes determine less than we have been led to believe about us as individuals but vastly more about us as a species.
In this captivating journey through the expanding landscape of genetics, written with great clarity and wit, Adam Rutherford reveals what our genes now tell us about human history and what history tells us about our genes. From Neanderthal discoveries to microbiology, from redheads to dead royals, criminology to race relations, evolution to epigenetics, A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived is a demystifying and illuminating new portrait of who we are and how we came to be.
Written and read by acclaimed science writer and broadcaster Adam Rutherford.
What listeners say about A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Mark
- 03-21-18
Superb
I’m always looking for good popular science books, and this one certainly fits the bill.
It tells the story of the human genome starting with early humans (e.g. homo erectus, Neanderthals, Denisovans and us, Homo sapiens) and then moves on to look at a whole suite of topics relevant to genetics. Examples of this would be: genes for red hair, blue eyes and the ability to smell certain substances; a close look at the genetics of different races; the effects of inbreeding; the evolution in some human populations of the ability to drink milk into adulthood; the human genome project; epigenetics, and the future evolution of humanity.
This book was so good that I didn’t want to miss a thing, and so I slowed it down to 0.8 narration speed – and even then I rewound the tape a few times to re-listen to some sections if I’d been a bit distracted first time around.
Needless to say: Recommended!
6 people found this helpful
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- isabella
- 05-31-19
amazing book.
The book is amazing but I struggle with the narrator's performance. He is a bit monotoned.
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- siri
- 07-10-18
Entertaining
But may be a little bit too shallow? I would have preferred an even deeper dive into the ongoing science in this field.
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- iVan
- 12-04-17
compelling, exciting and myth shattering
answered many of my questions after I got my genome studied and explored other thought-provoking questions I would not have dared ask. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone with some curiosity on their and everyone's path as human beings.. which I guess should all of us!
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- Lilla
- 07-01-17
Better than any thriller!
A fascinating, exciting and wonderfully narrated treatise ( in a way) that reads like a novel. It's absolutely brilliant and the topic is of current interest- a book for our times!
I wish there were more of these books. The narrator could be an audible reader if he wasn't so busy investigating all these interesting genome facts. 10/10
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- Wyn Ap Hefin
- 10-30-16
The Exquisite story, of us.
The human story is a truly fascinating one, and, as the evidence of our biological past continues to be revealed by the advances of science, peppered with the occasional 'lucky' find that are themselves a product of a plethora of painstaking investigation and research by a multitude of people. In this book, Adam Rutherford brings these facts together into a coherent, well written, well presented narrative that explains our biological story, in a field of study that changes our understanding rapidly, often unexpectedly, such is the intensity of the ongoing research in this field. I'm not normally a fan of audio books, but for me, Adam Rutherford's wonderful voice takes this masterpiece, to another level.
9 people found this helpful
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- John Ottaway
- 09-14-16
Brilliant
I enjoy a lot of science, (mostly physics), and have read Adam Rutherford's previous book "Creation", which I enjoyed very much, but I think his "difficult second album", does surpass the first.
Each chapter starts with broad brush strokes, which gradually reduce to a single hair, in their detail and explanation, before opening back up to better show you the grandeur of what you've just heard
I also like that the author is reading this himself, I honestly believe you can hear the difference in an actor reading the words and someone who actually understands them
I can't recommend this enough
25 people found this helpful
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- Andrew W-B
- 10-26-16
In depth science that is enjoyable, and sometime mind blowing 👍
This is now one of my favourite audiobooks . Everything from early man to the black death, Richard the 3rd project and The dangers of inbreeding big chinned royalty, literally there's something about everything ! The Narration is spot on and the content is interesting, sometime very funny ( in the right ways) and really does get you thinking . Adam talks hard science like you would talk about odd things with your friends down the pub or like you favourite teacher might . Some intense subjects, but because they are so well written and read it's always fun and never overbearing . A person could enjoy this without Having to be genius . A very very good job.
You now have a painter and decorator that has a fairly good grasp on genetics. What a fantastic world we have !
12 people found this helpful
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- Mr
- 05-30-17
Riveting
Excellently researched and written, a thorough debunking of modern urban myth and pseudo science. Some of the finer points of DNA and genome research explained perfectly, without using exclusive language, and the narrative draws on many pertinent analogies to keep the listener engaged. Great work.
4 people found this helpful
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- emma
- 03-23-17
good science
fully inclusive summary of science told from an objective point of view. illuminating stories, metaphors and examples. excellent.
4 people found this helpful
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- calebfire
- 01-12-17
Worth listening to
Excellently narrated
Full of up to date science, with a bit of history in there too! that was easy to understand. Pretty awesome book all round . I would I commended for friends and family . In fact I bought the hardcover version for my book shelf , it was that good
3 people found this helpful
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- sydney reader
- 12-02-16
a much more entertaining book than I expected
loved it. Had some great factoids, entertaining stories related to genes, history, Darwin etc.
3 people found this helpful
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- Ms. H. Ross
- 10-13-16
Entertainingly sciencey
This is such a great book. I have a science degree but genetics isn't my strong suit and I found this book to be pleasantly easy to follow and learnt a great deal. Recommended it to everyone I know!
3 people found this helpful
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- Craig
- 12-07-16
Fabulous!
Just about as perfect an audiobook as any thinking human being (and by definition that excludes creationists) could hope to read / listen to.
Excellent narration too.
Can't recommend highly enough!
6 people found this helpful
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- Weaselboy
- 11-02-16
Superb, engaging, accessible
A fascinating history of genetics that delves into the genetics of history. Full of big ideas, rendered comprehensible by a gifted science communicator, and it beautifully slays so many tabloid myths about our genes. Adam Rutherford is an excellent narrator.
6 people found this helpful
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- Ryan
- 02-10-17
great book
lots of varied and interesting topics on genes and evolution. it's always great to have the author narrate their own book.
2 people found this helpful
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- Isabelle
- 11-04-16
Engaging and approachable
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Adam Rutherford has a friendly manner and manages to draw a narrative from the very complex and somewhat still mysterious subject of genetics that is engaging and thoughtful and approachable for a layperson (like me) to wrap (most of) my science avoiding head around.
What did you like best about this story?
I liked the debunking of some common misconceptions especially on the topic of race
What does Adam Rutherford bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
he has a nice voice and I didn't have to read it myself!
2 people found this helpful
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- lynn p.
- 02-02-21
So Interesting
Thank you very much for this book. I loved it. Such a wonderful wealth of fascinating information.
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- Anonymous User
- 10-12-20
really good and informative
really enjoy this one. lots of information presented in a scientific yet tangible. interesting all the way through
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-28-19
I need Adam to do more actual research
The title of this book, is the best thing about this book and definitely what made me purchase it. That’s the favorable part of my review. The negative part of my review is formed mainly through Adam discussing his opinion without factual support. There are numerous instances of this but I will simply name two.
Firstly Adam states that Coeliac disease is a type of irritable bowel. Wow, this really annoyed me as it is such an uneducated thing to say in a book that may shape people’s opinions. Coeliac disease is an immune reaction to eating gluten which creates inflammation that damages the small intestine lining. More specifically the bowel is covered in tiny, hair-like projections called villi that break-down and absorb food nutrients. In a Coeliac the villi become inflamed and flattened by the gluten. Gluten is a word in Latin meaning glue. Doctor David Perlmutter goes beyond discussing the effects Gluten has on a diagnosed Coeliac by discussing the effects of gluten on non-coeliac patients in his research based booked call Grain Brain (Thats a great book). For many years I had no obvious reaction to gluten, however my reactions now mirror my coeliac children’s reactions with extreme vomiting and periods of being extremely unwell when exposed to food that is only contaminated. I won’t go into the significant mental and physical benefits a gluten free diet has had for me and my family, but this goes well beyond the poultry description Adam offers up.
Adam also dismisses a Paleo diet like any other fad that sees people gain and lose weight and in his opinion this diet is rather pointless as we are eating better now than ever. Again, there is no evidence in what he is saying to back this up, it’s just an opinion. With the introduction of sugar into our diets, antibiotics and corn syrup to name a few items we are seeing some of the most obese humans in history. Paleo is also a life style choice of eating, not an attempt to lose weight necessarily. I should also point out I am not nor have I even chosen to eat a strictly Paleo diet.
I won’t go any further than this but I will simply state that I can not recommend this book to anyone.
1 person found this helpful
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- Ian
- 03-03-19
Very enjoyable
Great book, very interesting, well narrated and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Highly recommended
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- Anonymous User
- 02-28-19
Interesting view of the history of genes
Adam provides an easy to listen to explanation of genes, their myths and what they can actually tell us.
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- Sean
- 02-23-19
Superbly brilliant
The book and narration held my attention from beginning to end. The presentation of some very complex scientific facts was perfectly articulated.
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- oceanjasper
- 01-28-19
Fascinating information and delicious narration!
This book does ramble a little, especially in the second half, but it's packed full of interesting information about genes, chromosomes, DNA and how it all works in the human body (so far as scientists have figured it out yet). I loved the historical investigations and learning how genetics is upending accepted truths about human evolution. The book also explodes plenty of popular myths about ancestry kits and genetic links to disease.
The narration added considerably to my enjoyment of this audiobook. Adam Rutherford has the most beautiful voice, with exquisite diction. His reading is expressive and quite conversational at times, which makes technical details easier to understand. This was a thoroughly entertaining listen.
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- Anonymous User
- 01-24-19
great read
he puts complicated things into easy to understand terms everyone should read this book asap