We have just concluded our book review series, From empathy to violence: 12 books on the power and perils of emotions, and we are moving on to the next series which really goes to the heart, or, more appropriately, to the gene, of what we are. We will take a journey deep into the nucleus and explore the genetic mechanisms that power our existence, and ensure the propagation of our species. With 12 remarkably detailed and enlightening books, we will learn of breathtaking accounts of how the gene works, and hear inspiring stories of the men and women who unlocked its secrets. With books by clinicians, science journalists, and the Nobel Prize winners James Watson, Elizabeth Blackwell, and Jennifer Doudna, these are surely 12 outstanding books revealing the mysteries of our genes.

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The Gene

Siddharta Mukherjee

 

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She Has Her Mother’s Laugh

Carl Zimmer

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Genome

Matt Ridley

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The Mysterious World of the Human Genome

Frank Ryan

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DNA

James Watson

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Junk DNA

Nessa Carey

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The Telomere Effect

Elizabeth Blackburn and Elissa Epel

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Mutants

Armand Marie Leroi

 

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So stay tuned as we kick off shortly with ‘The Gene‘ by the exceptional wordsmith Siddharta Mukerjee.