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

Great book, but I really need the visuals

This is a great book, but (through no fault of the author) I couldn't do it justice trying to listen to it as an audiobook. My knowledge of biology and genetics isn't good enough for that, and I'm going to re-read this once I get my hands on a hardcover copy. I need to see all those G-C and A-T pairings!

No option to hear the notes

Where does The Violinist's Thumb rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This book's included contents is very good with the exception that it is abridged as the notes for this book were rather informative and their excise was a great loss.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Paul Kammerer

Which scene was your favorite?

Epigenetics

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Too long for that, but yeah, it'd have been nice.

Any additional comments?

I never had time to read the notes so I feel I missed something.

Not what I expected

While this was still an interesting read, I didn't enjoy it as much as the "Disappearing Spoon." There was too much about Neanderthals and evolution. I wanted to hear more about what makes people what they are and real life examples from modern history.

VERY INTERESTING non-fiction book on genes and DNA

THE VIOLINIST'S THUMB by Sam Kean is a fabously told non-fiction book about genes and DNA, expounding on the history, science and scientists, and varied discoveries of the make up of living beings. It's a great 'every man's' overview that is remarkably thorough in it's facts, and even more fantastic in it's ability to entertain.

So many things are discussed from why some people can survive atomic bombs to why there are hoarding cat people. The politics and infighting stories of the human genomes projects is as thrilling as any world history debates and wars. There are scientific studies of people from the past---what was the real truth about JFK's health; why was King George so crazy; and why were the Egyptian Pharos so misshapen. Perhaps one of the most interesting proven theories for me was Ziff's Law: the most common word in any language is used twice as much as the next most common word in that language in any book. The most common word is then used three times as much as the third most popular word, etc, until the least most common word.

This discussion of genetic make-up is not out to prove any particular point. Everything is discussed and the final conclusion remains that all living things are a combinations of multiple bits and pieces that makes everything unique and similar. Surely science will continue with this troublesome and fascination exploration for years to come. One big hope is to help cure and prevent devastating diseases.

Though I am not necessarily a non-fiction book reader for pleasure, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Were that all learning was this easy and entertaining!!! Now on to his first book on the chemical elements---THE DISAPPEARING SPOON. I hope Sam Kean has more books like this in his future!!

Amazing Book

Would you consider the audio edition of The Violinist's Thumb to be better than the print version?

No, I like print better than audio but I can listen to audio while driving.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Violinist's Thumb?

The section on art and mutations

Have you listened to any of Henry Leyva’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

fine

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no

Yet another intellectually valuable & emotionally entertaining g book from Sam Keen!

This is perhaps the 5th Sam Keen book I’ve listened to, and I am as grateful as ever for the experience!

I deeply appreciate the combination of scientific data consideration with the equally relevant social & political contexts that Sam’s books weave.

And the narration by Henry Leung is equally superb - especially considering the sometimes quite technical nature of the content.

Henry’s style is always enjoyable and always on point.

Thank you Sam Keen and Henry Leyva :)

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!