The Tangled Tree

A Radical New History of Life

By: David Quammen

Narrated by: Jacques Roy

In this New York Times bestseller and longlist nominee for the National Book Award, “our greatest living chronicler of the natural world” (The New York Times), David Quammen explains how recent discoveries in molecular biology affect our understanding of evolution and life’s history.

In the mid-1970s, scientists began using DNA sequences to reexamine the history of all life. Perhaps the most startling discovery to come out of this new field—the study of life’s diversity and relatedness at the molecular level—is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), or the movement of genes across species lines. It turns out that HGT has been widespread and important; we now know that roughly eight percent of the human genome arrived sideways by viral infection—a type of HGT.

In The Tangled Tree, “the grandest tale in biology….David Quammen presents the science—and the scientists involved—with patience, candor, and flair” (Nature). We learn about the major players, such as Carl Woese, the most important little-known biologist of the twentieth century; Lynn Margulis, the notorious maverick whose wild ideas about “mosaic” creatures proved to be true; and Tsutomu Wantanabe, who discovered that the scourge of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a direct result of horizontal gene transfer, bringing the deep study of genome histories to bear on a global crisis in public health.

“David Quammen proves to be an immensely well-informed guide to a complex story” (The Wall Street Journal). In The Tangled Tree, he explains how molecular studies of evolution have brought startling recognitions about the tangled tree of life—including where we humans fit upon it. Thanks to new technologies, we now have the ability to alter even our genetic composition—through sideways insertions, as nature has long been doing. “The Tangled Tree is a source of wonder….Quammen has written a deep and daring intellectual adventure” (The Boston Globe).

wow! best audio book ever made.

a wonderfully well written science story read perfectly. Mr. Roy brings so much to the writing that I expect he'll get an Audie at some point. Mr. Quammen takes us on a marvelous tour that starts with a carefully crafted escalator rise to a comprehensive vantage point. He then hands us thrilling understanding with ease. this is a feat of science writing to set a new bar and it is read so well that I can't think of an appropriate comparison.

great balance for scientist or anyone

lots of context that would be hard to get without tons of reading. lots of details that tell you about the nuance of science and success

for those who love biology

there are two stories in this book: one about Carl Woese and a second about genetics. I enjoyed them both.

Brilliant & engaging

Excellent narration captured the humor and precision of the writing. Brilliant summary of genetic research expanding on the evolutionary models from Darwin on.

Learned new things

Science books are generally as formulaic as Hallmark Christmas shows, and this one was too, but the author’s fascination with Karl Woese somewhat set this apart. I too found Woese fascinating, but he was less central to the story than some other characters. Continually returning to him sometimes seemed forced. But the story of how genetic research is rewriting the story of evolution was well done and i didn’t really mind the constant Woese interruptions.