Did the human race almost go extinct? Can genetics explain a crazy cat lady’s love for felines? How does DNA lead to people with no fingerprints, or humans born with tails? And how did the right combination of genes create the exceptionally flexible thumbs and fingers of a truly singular violinist?
Join the Friends of the Libraries at The Ivy Book Shop in Mt. Washington on Thursday, November 15 at 6 pm for an evening with New York Times bestselling author Sam Kean.
Kean’s first book, The Disappearing Spoon, chronicled the history and weirdness behind the elements of the periodic table. This time, he examines genetics in The Violinist’s Thumb and Other Lost Tales of Love, War, and Genius, as Written by Our Genetic Code.
Kean’s stories have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Mental Floss, Slate, and The New Scientist, and his work has been featured on “Radiolab,” “All Things Considered,” and “Fresh Air.”
The event is free, and all are welcome. RSVP to libraryfriends@jhu.edu or 410.516.7943.
The title reminded me of another book, The panda’s thumb : more reflections in natural history, by Stephen Jay Gould, which we have in our collection: https://catalyst.library.jhu.edu/catalog/bib_1375828 .
This is a wonderful book.