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The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,476 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes incredible stories of science, history, language, and music, as told by our own DNA.
In The Disappearing Spoon, bestselling 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.
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"Another excellent volume of science history and exploration from the author of The Disappearing Spoon. Kean ranges widely, encompassing both the history of research into genetics and DNA, as well as cutting edge studies. His delvings into the scientists who have led the investigation into genetics are particularly interesting."
— Jennifer (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“The periodic table meets the bestseller list with Sam Kean’s Disappearing Spoon, an engaging tour of the elements…with the éclat of raw sodium dropped in a beaker of water.”
— New York Times -
“Kean’s writing sparks like small shocks…He gives science a whiz-bang verve so that every page becomes one you cannot wait to turn just to see what he’s going reveal next.”
— Boston Globe -
“Nonfiction to make you sound smart over summertime gin and tonics: the human history behind the periodic table.”
— Time -
“Science is made fun whenever bestselling author Kean…is narrating.”
— New York Post -
“Kean turns his clever eye and engaging prose to unveiling the secrets of our DNA.”
— Denver Post -
“The book established Kean as that rare thing: a science writer with a sharp sense of humor.”
— NPR -
“Kean offers up strange stories of how our genes help and hinder us.”
— Newsweek -
“The DNA molecule, Kean asserts, is the ‘grand narrative of human existence’—and he boldly sets out to tell the tale, not only explaining genetics and its scientific history but linking Mendel’s pea shoots to the evolution of early humans…He’s crafted a lively read packed with unforgettable details.”
— Discover -
“The wonderful thing about Kean…is his ability to focus on a spiraling narrative while he climbs up the double-helix ladder in this history of genetics, remaining more or less at the center of the rungs while he goes from the struggles of Mendel and Miescher to the Human Genome Project…It is a handsome story.”
— Daily Beast -
“Kean’s real knack is for digging up strange details most textbooks leave out…More than an assortment of trivia, the book is an engaging history.”
— Science News -
“Kean educates readers about a facet of science with wonderfully witty prose and enthralling anecdotes…Kean’s thoughtful, humorous book is a joy to read.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Kean has created another page-turning scientific history in The Violinist’s Thumb. With fluid gusto, he turns the discovery of DNA into riveting human drama…Kean illuminates clues embedded in our genes that help map the meandering trajectory of our species then leaves readers with the distinct impression that all this has been a fantastic preamble to our species’ most thrilling (and likely chilling) chapter: manipulating our DNA to remake future humans, and all life on Earth.”
— Amazon.com, editorial review -
“A science journalist with a flair for words…[Kean’s] language is fluid and accessible, even for the science-challenged.”
— Library Journal
Awards
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An Amazon Best Book of the Month, July 2012
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A New York Times bestseller (extended list)
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One of the Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books for Nonfiction
The Violinist's Thumb Listener Reviews
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" The book itself was interesting enough, but I personally didn't appreciate the author's conversational tone in non-fiction. He ended a lot of sentences with "and whatever", called one of his story's subjects "a dick" referred to someone's opinion of sex as "just a lay" and called someone else a "boner". I suppose this is to make the stories more relate-able (?), but it seemed extremely unprofessional to me. "
— MJ, 2/19/2014 -
" Stylishly written and quick! After reading about the book's subject matter I was prepared for a slog. I'll be damned, it was fast-paced and laced with amusing stories - and not too science-y or unscience-y, just the right amount of science-y-ness. "
— Tim, 2/7/2014 -
" Good book, but there are sections that I could have lived without (I don't think I wanted or really benefited the level of detail I got). Interesting topic.... "
— Ashley, 2/6/2014 -
" Sometimes this book dips too deeply into the technical--I was more interested in the stories of how are genes affect us than the "technobabble" of how it does so. That said, this is an interesting book, very fascinating read. "
— Zazzu, 1/28/2014 -
" Good book, thought it would be more about what genes did and less about how dna came to be "
— Danika, 1/24/2014 -
" I kept putting this aside in favour of other books, but once I got properly started on it, I enjoyed it very much. Kean is one of the best non-fiction writers around. "
— Voracious, 1/19/2014 -
" Another super-geeky, wildly fascinating read. This made DNA rather sexy. "
— Allison, 12/30/2013 -
" Educational, thought-provoking, and even sassier than Kean's previous book (The Disappearing Spoon). "
— planetkimi, 12/13/2013 -
" A fascinating romp through and through. Great stories. Interesting, accessible science. Interesting historical discoveries. Ate the whole thing up in about 2 weeks. "
— Sara, 12/8/2013 -
" Another great read by this author. I enjoyed this and his book about the periodic table, finding both to be well thought out and highly educational. The writing is entertaining as well, making this book a breeze to get through. "
— Troy, 12/7/2013 -
" Fast-paced, accurate, engaging, clever, and funny. Makes a complicated topic (genetics) accessible, and in the few sections which require a little more thought and effort, still provides an easy path to understanding and retention. Solid read and definite recommend. "
— Cassandra, 12/6/2013 -
" Engaging and fascinating read about the rocky history of genetics. Anecdotes are well told. Peters out a bit in the end, but still a recommend. "
— David, 11/21/2013 -
" Was a very interesting read for a plant breeder. "
— Teresa, 7/2/2013 -
" I quit when I encountered the inadequately critical discussion of Watson & Crick's "discovery" of the double-helix structure of DNA; makes me wonder what else he's leaving out. "
— Elizabeth, 6/29/2013 -
" I really liked The Disappearing Spoon, but this one only left me wanting to read a good serious overview of genetics. "
— anguinea, 5/30/2013 -
" Fascinating information....but at times my eyes crossed from the technical information....but still fascinating. "
— Lisa, 4/23/2013 -
" One of the best popular science books I've ever read. Well-paced and well-organized, it explained the history of our understanding of genetics clearly and in an entertaining fashion. "
— Karen, 4/8/2013 -
" I learned a lot reading this book, like never eat a polar bears liver, etc. haha. It's not a book I could read straight through. Each time I read a chapter or two and enjoyed it while learning more of the history of genetics and interesting random facts. "
— Amber, 12/9/2012 -
" The story of the search for our DNA... very interesting. "
— Chris, 9/15/2012
About Sam Kean
Sam Kean is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller The Disappearing Spoon. He is also a two-time finalist for the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. His work has appeared in The Best American Science and Nature Writing, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and the New York Times Magazine, among other publications, and he has been featured on NPR’s Radiolab, All Things Considered, Science Friday, and Fresh Air. His podcast, The Disappearing Spoon, debuted at #1 on the iTunes science charts.
About Henry Leyva
Henry Leyva, an Earphones Award-winning narrator, is a classically trained actor with extensive work in theater, television, film, and radio. He has appeared off Broadway and in regional theaters across the country in many plays, including Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, and Street Car Named Desire. He has also performed in audio dramas for the Syfy Channel and National Public Radio