[Quite possibly one of the best science writers today. Interesting, provocative and topical -- always.]

Science writer Matt Ridley has found a way to tell someone else's story without being accused of plagiarism. Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters delves deep within your body (and, to be fair, Ridley's too) looking for dirt dug up by the Human Genome Project. Each chapter pries one gene out of its chromosome and focuses on its role in our development and adult life, but also goes further, exploring the implications of genetic research and our quickly changing social attitudes toward this information.

Genome shies away from the "tedious biochemical middle managers" that only a nerd could love and instead goes for the A-material: genes associated with cancer, intelligence, sex (of course), and more.

Readers unfamiliar with the jargon of genetic research needn't fear; Ridley provides a quick, clear guide to the few words and concepts he must use to translate hard science into English. His writing is informal, relaxed, and playful, guiding the reader so effortlessly through our 23 chromosomes that by the end we wish we had more. He believes that the Human Genome Project will be as world-changing as the splitting of the atom; if so, he is helping us prepare for exciting times--the h

The first impression this book makes is one of hugeness: it is huge in size, huge in scope, and huge in vision. This set of volumes, which weighs in at 16 kg (35 lb) and is too large to carry to one's car without advance planning, is no vade mecum. In the preface to this edition, there is mention of an informal survey of owners of the seventh edition, of whom 70 percent used the book at least weekly. This book has become indispensable to those in the field, as well as to a much broader audience. Does this edition build on the achievements of the previous seven?