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The Violinist’s Thumb

And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code

Contributors

By Sam Kean

Read by Henry Leyva

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Jul 17, 2012
Publisher
Hachette Audio
ISBN-13
9781611134667

Format

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.

Sam Kean

About the Author

Sam Kean is the author of the New York Times bestsellers The Disappearing Spoon, The Violinist’s Thumb andThe Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons. His work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Mental Floss, Slate, and New Scientist, and has been featured on NPR’s “Radiolab” and “All Things Considered.”

Learn more about this author