So Many Precious Books, So Little Time: Giveaway: The Violinist's Thumb by Sam Kean

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Giveaway: The Violinist's Thumb by Sam Kean

Thanks to Anna Balasi if Little Brown and Company, I am giving away 2 copies of The Violinist's Thumb.

Book Description:
There's enough DNA in a single cell to stretch six feet tall, and enough DNA in our bodies to stretch almost to the moon. And within this DNA are stories that have been buried for millions of years--stories that can be used to solve historical mysteries about humans, and tell of our peculiar rise on earth.

In THE VIOLINIST'S THUMB, Sam Kean uses the forensic traces in our DNA to illuminate how humans evolved from primordial muck to the most dominant species on the planet, how studying language, art, and history can reveal the scientific workings of DNA--and vice-versa, and how the human line almost went extinct, twice, causing us to be more closely related than any other species.

There are genes to explain crazy cat ladies, a love of reckless activities, and a talent for the violin; genes that could allow someone to survive in the arctic. THE VIOLINIST'S THUMB uses genes to reveal so much about our past, and leaves us wondering if and how scientists will manipulate DNA to alter our species' future.

About Sam Kean:

SAM KEAN is a writer in Washington, DC. His work has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, Mental Floss, Slate, the New York Post, and New Scientist. IN 2009 he was a runner-up for the National Association of Science Writers' Evert Clark/ Seth Payne Award for best science writer under the age of thirty, and he was a Middlebury Environmental Journalism fellow. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller THE DISAPPEARING SPOON.

This Giveaway is for Canada and the U.S. and ends on August 7th. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted by Teddy Rose at 6:00 AM

Labels: My Past Giveaways

12 comments:

Thanks for giveaway.

rhonda said... July 24, 2012 at 6:14 AM

I would enjoy this fascinating book. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said... July 24, 2012 at 6:26 AM

the field of genetics is producing some fascinating results. Thank you for the giveaway.

JJT said... July 24, 2012 at 6:32 AM

The Disappearing Spoon was so interesting! I'd love to also read this one.
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

Patricia N said... July 24, 2012 at 11:48 AM

The Disappearing Spoon was good. I'd like to read this, too, and then pass it on to my grandchildren.

Carol M said... July 24, 2012 at 12:44 PM

Sounds very interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said... July 24, 2012 at 2:03 PM

I really like learning about DNA--this book kinda reminds me of the film GATTACA.

Queen of the Knots said... July 24, 2012 at 3:51 PM

I don't play the violin, but I play the viola...and the synopsis has me super curious how DNA ties into this!

Lilian said... July 25, 2012 at 3:34 AM

I checked this out on the 'new' table at B&N last night. It looks fascinating and understandable for the non-science types! Thanks for the info and chance to win!

holdenj said... July 25, 2012 at 4:45 AM

Sounds like an interesting book!

Emily T said... July 25, 2012 at 1:31 PM

Sounds like a book I would be interested in reading. Thanks for having the giveaway.
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said... July 26, 2012 at 12:38 PM

I love books like this! Informative yet fun. Thanks for the chance to win it!

Susan Foster O'Bryant said... August 6, 2012 at 5:30 PM