Scan barcode
noraconradcom's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, I enjoyed this one. It's a great reminder that although DNA research has provided useful in many cases, for the average joe, it's just fun science. Like tracing your family tree - there is only so much you can actually find out through DNA. It can be interesting to explore, but at the end of the day, it's just one of many things that paint the picture of humanity.
I listened to this one on Audible and the author reading his own work was actually really well done. This is definitely more like a textbook than a relaxing read but it was interesting and I learned a lot about the science around genetics.
I listened to this one on Audible and the author reading his own work was actually really well done. This is definitely more like a textbook than a relaxing read but it was interesting and I learned a lot about the science around genetics.
quietdomino's review against another edition
Amazingly, briefly caused me to believe I was a genetics expert.
bookslut007's review against another edition
3.0
3.5*. Some good information.. Strangely presented... The authors ideas jump all over the show in some strange as fuck order. Don't like the assumptions made by author of who might be reading this book... Also don't agree the information is presented simpley enough for people from a non-science background to grasp.
anneofgreenplaces's review against another edition
4.0
For a very general audience, so about 85% of it was stuff I learned in college Genetics, but well delivered review of that plus interesting facts about human genomics, migration, ancestry, race, genetics case studies, and lots of myth busting--useful for distinguishing between popular/media/cultural misperceptions and appropriations and storytelling via genetics and what the science can actually say so far. Very science-centric.
rrgailey's review against another edition
4.0
The second half of this book is a fantastic exploration of what we know about our genes and what they reveal about the past, present, and potential future of humanity. It explores a whole variety of fascinating topics like race and how it doesn’t exist genetically, the human genome project, genetics and health, epigenetics, and nature vs nurture, to name a few. I can’t give this book five stars though because the first part of this book tracing the origins and migration of the human species is outrageously Eurocentric, even British-centric. Rutherford uses almost exclusively European historical examples to illustrate scientific points, and while he spares two sentences to explain why DNA remains are more common in some areas due to environmental factors, I highly doubt he couldn’t find illustrative historical examples anywhere else in the world. The European stories are still fascinating - I particularly enjoyed the part on family trees and common ancestors as illustrated via the Hapsburgs - but it is frustrating. Luckily the second half of the book is a bit better. I would still absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about the history of humanity as traced through genetics, but a large chunk of this book does not live up to its title of being about everyone who has ever lived.
bim10's review against another edition
Eh just never got around to it. I got close to the end, but never had time to read. Sadly I’m not sure where this book went either, so it might be a while before I read it again.