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The Gene

An Intimate History
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( 51,487 ratings, 4,666 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee traces the history of genetic science, exploring discoveries, ethical dilemmas, and the implications for human identity and destiny. This comprehensive narrative weaves together scientific achievement with personal anecdotes, making complex ideas accessible and compelling.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you have a fascination with genetics, history, and the impact of science on society. It richly explores the history of genetic research and its profound implications, blending scientific insight with personal stories.

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The Gene

Spanning the globe and several centuries, this is the story of the quest to decipher the master-code that makes and defines humans, that governs our form and function. It is also an intimate history of the author's own family and its recurring pattern of mental illness, reminding us that genetics is vitally relevant to everyday lives.

The Gene is the story of one of the most powerful and dangerous ideas in our history.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee is a captivating and meticulously researched exploration of one of the most groundbreaking and potentially perilous ideas in human history: the gene. From the acclaimed author of The Emperor of All Maladies, this narrative begins in an Augustinian abbey in 1856 and chronologically takes readers through compelling milestones in genetic research.

Tracing the journey from Charles Darwin's transformative theory of evolution to the grim realities of Nazi eugenics, Mukherjee presents a vivid tapestry of scientific ideas and ethical dilemmas. The narrative extends into contemporary times and beyond, as humanity learns to "read" and "write" the human genome, unveiling unprecedented capabilities to alter the destinies and identities of future generations.

Majestic in its breadth and ambition, The Gene offers a definitive account of the epic odyssey to unravel the master-code that defines human existence. Mukherjee’s storytelling blends science, history, and personal anecdotes to provide a profound understanding of not just the gene itself, but also the cultural, societal, and personal impacts of genetic research. The book paints a fascinating vision of humanity's past and an eye-opening perspective on its future.

The Gene is a must-read for enthusiasts of thought-provoking and enlightening works such as Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking, and Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. Siddhartha Mukherjee's narrative prowess ensures that even the most complex scientific concepts are accessible and compelling to a wide audience.

'Siddhartha Mukherjee is the perfect person to guide us through the past, present, and future of genome science.' - Bill Gates

'A thrilling and comprehensive account of what seems certain to be the most radical, controversial and, to borrow from the subtitle, intimate science of our time... Read this book and steel yourself for what comes next.' - Sunday Times

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee combines architectural precision and a luscious narrative, making complex genetic science accessible and engaging. Reviewers praise Mukherjee's ability to weave emotional truths with scientific details, leaving readers both enlightened and entertained. The book is hailed as definitive and comprehensive, urging readers to consider the ethical implications of genome science.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099584575

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 March 2017

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 31.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 450g

Pages: 608

About the Author

Siddhartha Mukherjee is a cancer physician and researcher, a stem cell biologist and a cancer geneticist. He is the author of The Laws of Medicine and The Emperor of All Maladies- A Biography of Cancer, which won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize in general nonfiction and the Guardian First Book Award. Mukherjee is an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University. A Rhodes Scholar, he graduated from Stanford University, University of Oxford, and Harvard Medical School. His laboratory has identified genes that regulate stem cells, and his team is internationally recognized for its discovery of skeletal stem cells and genetic alterations in blood cancers. He has published work in Nature, Cell, Neuron, The New England Journal of Medicine, the New York Times and several other magazine and journals. He lives with his family in New York City.

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