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A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived
- The Stories in Our Genes
- Narrated by: Adam Rutherford
- Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
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Publisher's Summary
This is a story about you. It is the history of who you are and how you came to be. It is unique to you, as it is for every one of the 100 billion modern humans who has ever drawn breath. But it is also our collective story, because in each of our genomes we carry the history of the whole of our species.
Since scientists first read the human genome in 2001, it has been subject to all sorts of claims, counterclaims and myths. Drawing together the latest discoveries in this rapidly changing area of science, Adam Rutherford shows that in fact our genomes should be read not like instruction manuals but more like epic poems. Genes determine less than we have been led to believe about us as individuals but vastly more about us as a species.
In this captivating journey through the expanding landscape of genetics, written with great clarity and wit, Adam Rutherford reveals what our genes now tell us about human history and what history tells us about our genes. From Neanderthal discoveries to microbiology, from redheads to dead royals, criminology to race relations, evolution to epigenetics, A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived is a demystifying and illuminating new portrait of who we are and how we came to be.
Written and read by acclaimed science writer and broadcaster Adam Rutherford.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
What listeners say about A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived
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- Amazon Customer
- 02-01-2018
Fascinating - Mostly
Fascinating enough to buy and filled with interesting information which will help us to understand our close relationship with everyone and everything. A bit laboured and repetitive at times and given to occasional, unnecessary atheist pronouncements.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-01-2019
Brilliant!
This was an utterly fascinating read (or listen? I don’t know, does one ‘read’ audiobooks?). The author is a fabulous science communicator who portrays the complexities of genetics with relative simplicity and a great deal of humour. He’s got a great accent too.
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- Kindle Customer
- 24-01-2019
great read
he puts complicated things into easy to understand terms everyone should read this book asap
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- Anonymous User
- 28-02-2019
Interesting view of the history of genes
Adam provides an easy to listen to explanation of genes, their myths and what they can actually tell us.
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- oceanjasper
- 28-01-2019
Fascinating information and delicious narration!
This book does ramble a little, especially in the second half, but it's packed full of interesting information about genes, chromosomes, DNA and how it all works in the human body (so far as scientists have figured it out yet). I loved the historical investigations and learning how genetics is upending accepted truths about human evolution. The book also explodes plenty of popular myths about ancestry kits and genetic links to disease.
The narration added considerably to my enjoyment of this audiobook. Adam Rutherford has the most beautiful voice, with exquisite diction. His reading is expressive and quite conversational at times, which makes technical details easier to understand. This was a thoroughly entertaining listen.
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- Sean
- 23-02-2019
Superbly brilliant
The book and narration held my attention from beginning to end. The presentation of some very complex scientific facts was perfectly articulated.
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- Ian
- 03-03-2019
Very enjoyable
Great book, very interesting, well narrated and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. Highly recommended
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- Jacqui Fisher
- 24-07-2018
I've listened to this three times now
I''m on the third repeat of this comprehensive BRILLIANT book... and it's ELEVEN HOURS LONG! Fascinating story... even for the non-scientist (me)
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- lynn p.
- 02-02-2021
So Interesting
Thank you very much for this book. I loved it. Such a wonderful wealth of fascinating information.
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- Ryan
- 10-02-2017
great book
lots of varied and interesting topics on genes and evolution. it's always great to have the author narrate their own book.
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3 people found this helpful