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DNA USA: A Genetic Biography Of America (2011)

by Bryan Sykes(Favorite Author)

3.42 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0393078043 (ISBN13: 9780393078046)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

W. W. Norton & Company

review 1: I really like books that combine history and science. See 1493 or The Columbian Exchange, or Guns, Germs, and Steel. Plus I had just handled a case at work that involved DNA so when I heard an interview with this author on public radio, I thought I'd check out the book. I thought it was ok but not as good as I'd hope. The basic problem is that it can't seem to decide if it wants to be a science story or a travelogue of the British author's trip to America. And I didn't find the author to be a particularly great writer. I find Jared Diamond or Charles Mann to be much more readable.But it did provide some interesting stuff on DNA and genealogy and a basic introduction to population genetics so if any of that is of interest, you might want to check it... more out.
review 2: I give it a 3.5 because at first it was too wordy for someone that is not a Geneticist expert, but overall a fascinating read. I liked that the author was British and explored America to find about our DNA and where everyone came from, and especially enjoyed peoples reactions when they found out their DNA makeup. The stories throughout the book and the people he met along the way were my favorite part. His last paragraph of the book summarizes my feeling towards the book and attitude on said subject. I heard his first book, "The Seven Daughters of Eve" is even better. May have to take the time to read it. If anyone is interested in reading, here's an excerpt which is also the last paragraph that I love: "As you leave the gallery, my hope is that you will come away with the feeling that you have glimpsed another world. A world that mocks the artifical divisions we have created for ourselves. A world made up of the corpuscles of DNA that each of us has inherited over millenia from our myriad ancestors, every one of them a resourceful survivor from earlier times. We are their privileged custodians in this world for a few short years, messengers through time generations not yet born. Let us enjoy this honor while we may." less

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