The Invisible History of the Human Race

How DNA and History Shape Our Identities and Our Futures

De: Christine Kenneally

Narrado por: Justine Eyre

We are doomed to repeat history if we fail to learn from it, but how are we affected by the forces that are invisible to us? In The Invisible History of the Human Race, Christine Kenneally draws on cutting-edge research to reveal how both historical artifacts and DNA tell us where we come from and where we may be going.

While some books explore our genetic inheritance and some popular television shows celebrate ancestry, this is the first book to explore how everything from DNA to emotions to names and the stories that form our lives are all part of our human legacy. Kenneally shows how trust is inherited in Africa, how silence is passed down in Tasmania, and how the history of nations is written in our DNA. From fateful ancient encounters to modern mass migrations and medical diagnoses, Kenneally explains how the forces that shaped the history of the world ultimately shape each human who inhabits it.

©2014 Christine Kenneally (P)2014 Tantor

The convergence of genealogy and genetics

Where does The Invisible History of the Human Race rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I enjoyed it a great deal, and will listen to again at some point. The narrator's accent was very strong and hard to understand at first, but once my ear adjusted to it she was perfect.

What other book might you compare The Invisible History of the Human Race to and why?

Bill Bryson's "At Home" - they are overview histories, ranging far and wide around the basic subject. You aren't going to be educated in depth about any one subject, but rather introduced to topics and ideas worth delving deeper into on your own.

Which character – as performed by Justine Eyre – was your favorite?

Christine Kenneally herself.

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

I was struck by the need we almost all have to connect to the past, to reach back in time and know where we came from.

Any additional comments?

This book is the convergence of genetics and genealogy, and it is an exciting time. I'd love to read an update in about 10 years!

What our genealogy does (and doesn't) show

Any additional comments?

An engaging blending of personal stories, history, culture, and science as the author explores recent trends in laypeople's fascination with genealogy. She takes the individual search for where one comes from and juxtaposes it with historical trends, the darker side of genealogy (including eugenics and other discrimination), and scientific discoveries that help us track migration, interbreeding, conquest, and mutations. Nicely presented, very readable, and illuminating as to each of our shared humanity.

Loved the book, the performance not so much

The content was great although I felt a little more discussion of why people find this interesting would be helpful. Narrator had a scratchy voice that was difficult to hear

DNA'S PROMISE & RISK

The science of DNA is at once enlightening and frightening. It reveals the essence of human life while exposing intimate and potentially destructive information about individual lives. Perfecting DNA sequencing may cure the worse diseases of humankind. However, perfect sequencing invades one’s privacy in a technological world that disseminates information indiscriminately.

Christine Kenneally thoughtfully reviews the current (2014) science of DNA analysis. She notes how it is being collected, defined, and used. Kenneally suggests that DNA analysis is a time machine; i.e. it reveals much about the origin of humankind. One who chooses to have their DNA analyzed can determine a great deal about their ancestry. In theory, if everyone on earth had their DNA analyzed, it would be possible to precisely determine how every human being relates to other human beings. It would offer clues, but not certainty, about how they came to live where they live, feel like they feel, and act like they act. (Because human beings are influenced by their environment, genetic inheritance is not the sole determinant of where one lives, how one feels, or acts.)

Because these are the early years of DNA sequencing, laws have not caught up to the science. Companies that provide the service are subject to all the temptations of money, power, and prestige inherent in society. Dissemination of information is ubiquitous in the internet age. It is a brave new world with a dream of eradicating disease; while the nightmare of “Big Brother” manipulation endures.

Understanding Applied Genomics

Well written examples of connections between classical heredity and Applied Genomics. An excellent book which I recommend to anyone curious about the future of human sciences.