Book Review

The Violinists Thumb: and Other Lost Tales of

Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic
Code
Robert Jordan Ontiveros, Criselda Dillague, and Krystal Loftis

No one ever daydreams about a biology class. Picture the same pterodactyl-like professor
droning on and on about microscopic cells inching slowly but surely into modern animals.
Eyelids become heavy, heads start drooping, and before anyone realizes it, biology class has
transitioned into nap time. Unfortunately, the torture does not end with lectures. As students read
their biology textbooks, they are bombarded by figures adorned with a million different arrows
pointing every which way (if youre lucky you can get a cute bunny though) and so much jargon
it leaves readers light-headed. Enter Sam Kean and his majestic book, The Violinists Thumb:
and Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code.
Unlike most science books (and lectures), The Violinists Thumb blends cold, hard facts
about genetics with heart-warming and gripping tales of genetics past. Like sipping a
Frappuccino on a hot summer day, its descriptive and imagery-driven explanations allow readers
to digest the subject matter more readily and enjoyably. Kean takes the reader on a rollercoaster
ride through the emotionally engaging history of DNA. His immersive writing style frames some
of the most important and complex concepts of genetics in a relatable and human way. The
narrative and pictures provided by Kean transport the reader into the time period of each story he
highlights. The Violinists Thumb has received a great deal of praise by critics such as
Christopher Chabris of the Wall Street Journal, who stated that Reading The Violinists Thumb
would be a good first step towards putting our knowledge of genetics back on track. Kean
conveys both the awe-inspiring power, function, and grace of DNA through his description of the
continuous scientific journey to unravel our genetic code. So if you do decide to take an interest
in this book, buckle up for an adventure spanning all of human history and beyond.
The style of writing that an author employs can shape the story being told; a skilled writer
can breathe life into any subject. One important aspect of Keans writing style is how he presents

a dense subject such as genetics in a relatively accessible way to an adult audience. Although
seemingly intended for the scientific populous, the book is easy enough to follow, requiring an
occasionally reexamination of a sentence or paragraph to grasp the most difficult concepts. Of
course, it should be noted that Kean does not water down the science, so it makes sense that the
level of jargon he uses is on the moderate-to-heavy side. However, the wonderful part of the
book, as mentioned earlier, is that the heavy technicalities of genetics are fused with entertaining
stories, digestible metaphors, descriptive imagery, and personal opinions which all contribute to
an engaging and entertaining writing style. Take for example his explanation of how
radioactivity damages DNA; these rays single out and selectively damage DNA, punching
DNA and nearby water molecules and making electrons fly out like uppercut teeth (p.101).
As for entertaining, the entire book is filled with hilarious commentaries, word choice and
opinions that definitely lighten the mood. One such example is when Kean describes how
chromosomes can flip a chunk of DNA by 180 degrees and reattach it ass-backwards (p. 85). It
is evident that with the use of metaphors and humor combined with personal opinion, the
inherent density of Keans subject matter can be easily overcome.
Whats even more refreshing is Keans attempts to connect with his readers. At the start
of the book, Kean creates a character out of himself by describing personal experiences
involving sadness, curiosity, and fear that make him real. He even references sitting at home
watching Wheel of Fortune like any Average Joe. And if youre still not convinced of his
welcome, the author provide a website for supplemental material to help readers should they
need it. Additionally, to entice us even further, Kean hides a DNA-related acrostic, or genetic
Easter egg as he calls it, in which he invites you to contact him whether you have it deciphered
or not (p. 5).

As most scientists will agree, an entertaining and fluid writing style is worth little if there
is no accurate information at the foundation of the work, and Kean in no way shies from this
challenge. Keans understanding of convoluted genetic and molecular concepts shines brightest
when deftly shifting between storytelling and scientific explanation. Take for example his
thorough explanation of the redundancy of our genetic code, an explanation which any molecular
biologist would attest. After this accurate explanation, Kean then likens DNA redundancy to the
spelling of the word grey. No matter how you spell grey or gray, the meaning remains the
same (p. 118). This comparison is just as accurate as his thorough explanation but is much more
digestible. Breakdowns of abstract molecular concepts are arguably one of the most difficult
tasks to be asked of a scientist; here, Kean elegantly achieves a thorough and light-hearted
explanatory writing style while simultaneously maintaining scientific accuracy and integrity.
However, how is an unknowing reader to tell if a story or explanation found in this book
is actually true and not the musing of an audacious writer? Possibly in foresight of this very
issue, Kean has included several different elements to relieve any skeptical readers that the
content of the book is not historical fiction. In true academic fashion, Kean has provided a
bibliography for especially inquisitive readers to trace back the origin of his writings (p. 722).
The content of his bibliography includes primary papers of the many scientists from his story,
including high-profile papers from legendary scientists such as James Watson and Charles
Darwin. Going above and beyond, Kean also provides descriptions of why particular sources
influenced his writing and which sources will provide the most interesting information should a
reader pursue more.
In addition, Kean also includes detailed explanations of methods that the scientists in his
stories used. He describes in detail how one of the scientists would use acid from a pigs stomach

to extract mystery material from cells, which ultimately led to the discovery that the nucleus
contains genomic DNA (Kean, p. 34). All of this attention to scientific detail and thorough
explanations are what imbues The Violinists Thumb with a core of integrity. However, does
Keans exceptional writing and scientific accuracy give the general public sufficient impetus to
purchase and read this story? Some readers may say yes based on these criteria alone; however,
there is a more fundamental reason to read this book, which is elaborated all throughout Keans
writing.
The importance, relevance, and omnipotence of DNA in our lives and all life is what
necessitates reading The Violinists Thumb. Despite complex and tumultuous beginnings, DNA
has achieved greatness as the blueprint of organic life. Once thought a meager molecule, DNA
has traversed the eons carrying the enigmatic code required to bring about life in all its glory,
sophistication, and simplicity. As Kean has noted, so proliferative and powerful is DNA that one
of its creations has the mental fortitude and ingenuity to discover the intricacies of genetics
present in their very own cells (p 641). Humanity, as encoded by DNA, can now piece together
the beauty of genetics as well as the debilitating consequences of faulty DNA. However, with
this blooming understanding of our history as written by DNA comes the understanding of our
limits as set by that very same author. Near the end of the book, Kean tapers toward the future of
genetics and the potential impact of our newfound understandings. Washington Post author Amy
Stewart comments about this end section of the book, stating The Violinists Thumb is a
thoughtful work of literature that allows all of us the non-scientists, the reading public to
grapple with the big questions about the history and future of our genetic code., providing a
brilliant summation of what this book has done. As Kean elegantly puts it, DNA endowed us
with imagination, and we can now imagine freeing ourselves from the hard and heartbreaking

shackles it puts on life. We can imagine remaking our very essences; we can imagine remaking
life as we know it (p. 644).
DNA encodes our physical selves, our history as a species, and our progression as a
culture and society. Never in all of recorded history has any population been able to dictate their
own evolution, and we as a species now stand at the precipice of the next genetic revolution.
Sam Kean grapples with some of the ethical implications that plague modern geneticists and
society, such as human cloning and the genetic basis of race and sexuality, all highly relevant to
our modern-day society. Notably, Kean takes a holistic approach to these issues, playing the
opposition and devils advocate. For example, Kean fervently and unbiasedly defends both views
on the subject of genetic tampering of humans, then ends the passage by simply posing the
question to the audience (p. 622). Overall, Kean asserts his position as a moderate, advising
caution and scrutiny as we further our understanding and application of new genetics and
genomics. That being said, the information and exposition gleaned from this book will allow the
non-scientist readers to have a well-informed stance on the issues of genetics. As a final
comment on The Violinists Thumb, Keans emotionally charged retelling of genetics tumultuous
past provides an enjoyable, enthralling, and informative narrative for expert and layman readers
alike.

References
Chabris, Christopher F. "Unraveling the Double Helix." The Wall Street Journal. Bookshelf, 27
July 2012. Web. 13 May 2016.
Kean, Sam. The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by
Our Genetic Code. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. Print.
Kean, Sam. The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by
Our Genetic Code. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. 5. Print.
Kean, Sam. The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by
Our Genetic Code. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. 34. Print.
Kean, Sam. The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by
Our Genetic Code. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. 85. Print.
Kean, Sam. The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by
Our Genetic Code. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. 118. Print.
Kean, Sam. The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by
Our Genetic Code. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. 622. Print.
Kean, Sam. The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by
Our Genetic Code. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. 641. Print.
Kean, Sam. The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by
Our Genetic Code. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. 644. Print.

Kean, Sam. The Violinist's Thumb: And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by
Our Genetic Code. New York: Little, Brown, 2012. 722. Print.
Stewart, Amy. "The Violinists Thumb : And Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as
Written by Our Genetic Code by Sam Kean."Washington Post. The Washington Post, 10
Aug. 2012. Web. 13 May 2016.