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The Violinist's Thumb
From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes incredible stories of science, history, language, and music, as told by our own DNA.
About The Violinist's Thumb
From New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean comes incredible stories of science, history, language, and music, as told by our own DNA. In The Disappearing Spoon , bestselling author Sam Kean unlocked the mysteries of the periodic table. In The Violinist's Thumb , he explores the wonders of the magical building block of life: DNA. There are genes to explain crazy cat ladies, why other people have no fingerprints, and why some people survive nuclear bombs. Genes illuminate everything from JFK's bronze skin (it wasn't a tan) to Einstein's genius. They prove that Neanderthals and humans bred thousands of years more recently than any of us would feel comfortable thinking. They can even allow some people, because of the exceptional flexibility of their thumbs and fingers, to become truly singular violinists. Kean's vibrant storytelling once again makes science entertaining, explaining human history and whimsy while showing how DNA will influence our species' future.
Where to listen & where it's available
The Violinist's Thumb is available as an audiobook on Apple Books. We haven't confirmed it on Spotify yet — but you can still search there below.
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More by Sam Kean
Caesar's Last Breath
The Tale of the Dueling Neurosurgeons
The Disappearing Spoon : And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements
The Disappearing Spoon
The Icepick Surgeon
Dinner with King Tut
The Bastard Brigade
The Bastard Brigade: The True Story of the Renegade Scientists and Spies Who Sabotaged the Nazi Atomic Bomb
The Violinist's Thumb — frequently asked
- Is The Violinist's Thumb on Spotify?
- We haven't confirmed The Violinist's Thumb on Spotify's audiobook catalog yet. Spotify audiobooks are included with Premium (up to a monthly listening limit) in supported markets.
- Is The Violinist's Thumb on Apple Books?
- Yes — The Violinist's Thumb is available as an audiobook on Apple Books.
- Who wrote The Violinist's Thumb?
- The Violinist's Thumb is by Sam Kean.
- Where can I buy the The Violinist's Thumb audiobook?
- Audible and Amazon both carry audiobooks; use the retailer links on this page to go straight to The Violinist's Thumb. For print copies, compare Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.
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