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Ancestors: Identity and DNA in the Levant
From a leading authority on population genetics, a deep dive into ancestry and origins in the Middle East that interrogates culture, identity, migration, and ethnicity to reframe what it means to be indigenous to any land.
In recent years, as companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com have made genetic testing available across the globe, it has become relatively simple to find out where your ancestors came from.
But acclaimed geneticist Pierre Zalloua believes that these test results have led to a dangerous oversimplification of what one’s genetic heritage means. People have conflated genetic ancestry with other ways of defining themselves such as “origin,” “ethnicity,” and even “race” but give no attention to the complexities that underlie these concepts.
Nowhere is this interplay more important, and more controversial, than in the Levant—an ancient region known as one of the cradles of civilization, and which now includes modern-day Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and parts of Turkey. Born in Lebanon, Zalloua grew up surrounded by people for whom this question of identity was one of life or death importance. In Ancestors, Zalloua uses the Levant to grapple with what being indigenous really means. He finds that DNA does not determine a culture or an ethnicity, but instead, one must look to their own history to understand their identity.
Building on years of research, Zalloua tells a history of the Levant through the framework of genetics that spans from 100,000 years ago, when humans first left Africa, to the 21st century and modern nation-states. World-shifting and accessible, Ancestors will reshape the way you think about where our culture really comes from.
In recent years, as companies like 23andMe and Ancestry.com have made genetic testing available across the globe, it has become relatively simple to find out where your ancestors came from.
But acclaimed geneticist Pierre Zalloua believes that these test results have led to a dangerous oversimplification of what one’s genetic heritage means. People have conflated genetic ancestry with other ways of defining themselves such as “origin,” “ethnicity,” and even “race” but give no attention to the complexities that underlie these concepts.
Nowhere is this interplay more important, and more controversial, than in the Levant—an ancient region known as one of the cradles of civilization, and which now includes modern-day Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and parts of Turkey. Born in Lebanon, Zalloua grew up surrounded by people for whom this question of identity was one of life or death importance. In Ancestors, Zalloua uses the Levant to grapple with what being indigenous really means. He finds that DNA does not determine a culture or an ethnicity, but instead, one must look to their own history to understand their identity.
Building on years of research, Zalloua tells a history of the Levant through the framework of genetics that spans from 100,000 years ago, when humans first left Africa, to the 21st century and modern nation-states. World-shifting and accessible, Ancestors will reshape the way you think about where our culture really comes from.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2025
14 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 6, 2025
Ancestors: Identity and DNA in the Levant
has been slipped onto our bookshelves by Pierre Zalloua, who has all the right credentials to present this intriguing challenge to my many years of genealogy/family history subscriptions. Not that he is discouraging interests in those areas, but he is resoundingly sounding the horn of disagreement with our simple conclusions when it comes to our "origins."
This is a fascinating read, and one I'll be reading again as it is over my head in places. It is through the stories he tells, the points he makes about our not just being the result of the genes we carry forward with every iteration of our generational lines, but are also shaped by the roads traveled, cultures intermingled and those stops on the way - all those weigh in as much - even more, in the equation of who we are. We tend to dumb it down with our trees and going back just so far, and just focusing on the most recent DNA chemical mix and calling it good. But wait! There's more!, says Author Zalloua. I had very mixed feelings about the shortness of the read - relief on one hand since he really is a scientist and speaks the language. On the other hand, I could have listened to his family stories and adventures in digging into their past - successes and dead-ends that are the family historian's lot in life. (You just gotta be patient! Things turn up in time!)
If you dig roots, this will appeal. If you dig roots in the Levant, even more so. Huzzah, Pierre Z! Huzzah!
*A sincere thank you to Pierre Zalloua, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #Ancestors #NetGalley 25|52:38b
This is a fascinating read, and one I'll be reading again as it is over my head in places. It is through the stories he tells, the points he makes about our not just being the result of the genes we carry forward with every iteration of our generational lines, but are also shaped by the roads traveled, cultures intermingled and those stops on the way - all those weigh in as much - even more, in the equation of who we are. We tend to dumb it down with our trees and going back just so far, and just focusing on the most recent DNA chemical mix and calling it good. But wait! There's more!, says Author Zalloua. I had very mixed feelings about the shortness of the read - relief on one hand since he really is a scientist and speaks the language. On the other hand, I could have listened to his family stories and adventures in digging into their past - successes and dead-ends that are the family historian's lot in life. (You just gotta be patient! Things turn up in time!)
If you dig roots, this will appeal. If you dig roots in the Levant, even more so. Huzzah, Pierre Z! Huzzah!
*A sincere thank you to Pierre Zalloua, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #Ancestors #NetGalley 25|52:38b
April 16, 2025
Super interesting topic. I’m a biochemist with a special interest in genetics and genealogy, and this book was a very fascinating read. Even though I feel like the flow was kind of off and dragged a lot through a few parts, it was awesome to see how Zalloua was able to interweave the science and genetics with history to try and trace the origins and evolution of the levant throughout time. This is a work of nonfiction, but at certain points throughout the book, it reads like prose, the words woven together so beautifully that you couldn’t decipher it as “scientific text”. I was really impressed with that.
Zalloua, of Lebanese origin, doesn’t particularly believe in the idea of “ethnicity”, and leads us, as the reader around to the idea of how and why it is different from our genetic ancestry. To juxtapose that, he also talks about our identities and how they are forged by the people around us and our culture… especially for those who are indigenous to the Levant. He even brings up the shadiness of genetic testing companies and their somewhat ambivalent code of ethics, which I think is ESPECIALLY relevant to what’s happening now with 23 and me going down and the millions of peoples private DNA genomes going down with it. Zalloua essentially predicts the impact and implications of it here first.
I would give this a 3.8/5 because lowkey this book put me into a slump but it was definitely worth reading for me
Zalloua, of Lebanese origin, doesn’t particularly believe in the idea of “ethnicity”, and leads us, as the reader around to the idea of how and why it is different from our genetic ancestry. To juxtapose that, he also talks about our identities and how they are forged by the people around us and our culture… especially for those who are indigenous to the Levant. He even brings up the shadiness of genetic testing companies and their somewhat ambivalent code of ethics, which I think is ESPECIALLY relevant to what’s happening now with 23 and me going down and the millions of peoples private DNA genomes going down with it. Zalloua essentially predicts the impact and implications of it here first.
I would give this a 3.8/5 because lowkey this book put me into a slump but it was definitely worth reading for me
April 2, 2025
This is a history of the Middle East and the Levant, with a special focus on Lebanon, told from the perspective of population genetics. It tells the story of waves of migration, beginning with the emergence of modern humans, and the formation of distinct communities through their DNA, attempting to combine broad accessibility with scholarly rigor. (For example, the flow of the narrative is uninterrupted by endnote numbers, but then the notes section contains all the additional details and citations, traceable by key phrases.)
The book juxtaposes rather dry, textbook-like sections that tell the story of the spread of certain ancient genetic signatures, and very lively stories dominated by the author's personality, such as his attempt to collect some DNA from isolated populations in Chad to make a point about the concept of indigeneity, or to find some "Phoenician" artifacts in the National Museum of Lebanon.
I wasn't entirely convinced by the structure of the book, including this combination of such stylistically different segments and some misleading signposting (e.g. it is suggested that the general outline of Levantine history will be told in a few thousand words, leaving the reader to expect that we will then move on to some central issue, when in fact most of the book is the outline of Levantine history). Also, there are some moments of sloppy writing that can be misleading to those who don't already know what's going on (e.g., the Eastern Roman Empire was not replaced by Byzantium as a different power/state, it's the same thing, and Central Asia is not between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea). But it was interesting and I learned a lot.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free eARC through Netgalley. Publication date April 29, 2025.
The book juxtaposes rather dry, textbook-like sections that tell the story of the spread of certain ancient genetic signatures, and very lively stories dominated by the author's personality, such as his attempt to collect some DNA from isolated populations in Chad to make a point about the concept of indigeneity, or to find some "Phoenician" artifacts in the National Museum of Lebanon.
I wasn't entirely convinced by the structure of the book, including this combination of such stylistically different segments and some misleading signposting (e.g. it is suggested that the general outline of Levantine history will be told in a few thousand words, leaving the reader to expect that we will then move on to some central issue, when in fact most of the book is the outline of Levantine history). Also, there are some moments of sloppy writing that can be misleading to those who don't already know what's going on (e.g., the Eastern Roman Empire was not replaced by Byzantium as a different power/state, it's the same thing, and Central Asia is not between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea). But it was interesting and I learned a lot.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free eARC through Netgalley. Publication date April 29, 2025.
October 14, 2024
A powerful, science based refutation of the "evolution" (forgive the pun) of eugenics to nationality and culture discourse. The author comes out swinging in the introduction and the book is petal to the medal for the rest of the short book. I was very impressed by the authors frank discussion of culture in realistic terms instead of easily quantifiable datasets.
Just because something can be measured, doesn't mean it should or that it's useful!
I personally would have enjoyed a bit more of the science included in the book text and general expansion of some of the threads and ideas. All parts are well referenced, but I would have liked to not have to go seek out all the reference material for some further background on specific genetic details.
Overall, a powerful book that I hope gets read by scientists in diverse fields. I definitely recommend this as a primer to Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind or Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution and similar more in-depth texts that don't handle this nuance well or at all.
Just because something can be measured, doesn't mean it should or that it's useful!
I personally would have enjoyed a bit more of the science included in the book text and general expansion of some of the threads and ideas. All parts are well referenced, but I would have liked to not have to go seek out all the reference material for some further background on specific genetic details.
Overall, a powerful book that I hope gets read by scientists in diverse fields. I definitely recommend this as a primer to Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind or Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution and similar more in-depth texts that don't handle this nuance well or at all.
May 6, 2025
I really liked this book. Any book setting out to talk about populations in the Levant is stepping through potential minefields, and I was relieved that this one is not geared as propaganda slanted to favor one religious or nationalist group's opinion at the expense of science facts. The language in this book is a bit jargony at times for readers not familiar with the vocabulary of population genetics, but I think most readers could get a rewarding experience from reading this book, especially with Google or other supplemental resources on hand. I especially enjoyed the chapter about the author's experiences gathering genetic samples from remote communities in Chad. It is amazing to what lengths some intrepid humans will go for bits of science data.
May 26, 2025
As a Lebanese of Maronite descent, I was longing to read such a book. It answers questions we’ve been carrying for years - questions that rarely find answers in mainstream discourse. This work offers a perspective so often overlooked, yet so essential to understanding ourselves and our history. And the ending which hides a surprise; was exactly what I needed.
I find it so fascinating that Pierre decoded his genome—giving him the ability to understand his ancestry and the stories it carries with much more clarity. Despite the author’s adversity toward current consumer DNA testing companies, I’m still interested to decode my own genetic making to unravel the history of my own ancestors.
What I appreciated most about this book is its ability to place pan-Arab and other pan-nationalist identities in their proper marginal context. It powerfully challenges dominant narratives by showing how these ideologies often rest on fragile foundations. Particularly striking is how the book debunks the myth that the Phoenicians originated from the Arabian Peninsula. Zalloua draws on both genetic evidence and historical geography to highlight the implausibility of such claims—especially in light of early human migrations out of Africa, which moved into the Levant through the Sinai, not the Arabian interior.
I find it so fascinating that Pierre decoded his genome—giving him the ability to understand his ancestry and the stories it carries with much more clarity. Despite the author’s adversity toward current consumer DNA testing companies, I’m still interested to decode my own genetic making to unravel the history of my own ancestors.
What I appreciated most about this book is its ability to place pan-Arab and other pan-nationalist identities in their proper marginal context. It powerfully challenges dominant narratives by showing how these ideologies often rest on fragile foundations. Particularly striking is how the book debunks the myth that the Phoenicians originated from the Arabian Peninsula. Zalloua draws on both genetic evidence and historical geography to highlight the implausibility of such claims—especially in light of early human migrations out of Africa, which moved into the Levant through the Sinai, not the Arabian interior.
June 11, 2025
Some interesting parts, but mostly felt like a response to some racist or cultural arguments in the area that I'm not privy to.
September 13, 2025
I was drawn to this book by the premise that it would discuss how genetic tests "have led to a dangerous oversimplification of what one's genetic heritage means." My expectation was that the author would use various stories to show how the heritages revealed by genetics did not match the actual identities of the people being tested.
Unfortunately, the book did not meet my expectation. The majority of the text reads like a typical academic review paper, just without in-line citations. Sprinkled among the various ways to say this-evidence-indicates-that, we get a refresher on genetics (bless my undergraduate education, I still remember most of it), a crash course on the history of Levant, and intriguing anecdotes about the author's field work in Chad (probably the highlight of the book for me). Yet, these attempts at lightening the book feel heavy-handed and not very effective at engaging me in the narrative. It feels as if these had been added in response to the editor's requests.
I suppose the point the author is trying to make is that given the complex genetic background of the Levant people, if you happen to share a certain percentage of the Levant gene pool, that does not mean you have the Levant heritage. I totally get that, but the way this point comes across feels way too abstract and, dare I say, academic. I want stories, actual stories of people who follow the Levant culture and live the Levant live yet do not possess any of its tell-tale genes. Or stories of those who have the exact genetic makeup to be considered a "true" Levant descendant but are part of a completely different culture. Who do we consider to have the Levant heritage? To answer this question would be ten times more interesting, and challenging, than bullet-pointing through the migration waves in the Levant. If our goal is to caution that one's heritage should not be read entirely from genetics (or skin color, hair texture, slantedness of the eyes, etc.), we need personable stories to drive the point through, not a top-down lecture armed by evidence of haplotype frequencies. If scientific evidence could ever convince people, we wouldn't have needed this book in the first place.
All in all, I think there is so much wasted potential. Perhaps the book would've been more to my taste had it been written by a journalist.
SOME QUOTES FROM THE BOOK
p139
p159. Pan-nationalism is just another way to control people. The less diversity, the easier to control. This is the essence of right-wing politics.
p165. I wish the book could expand on this more, not leaving it just like this, a sound bite.
p183. The definition of the Levant doesn't show up until almost the end of the book, an interesting choice.
p214.
Unfortunately, the book did not meet my expectation. The majority of the text reads like a typical academic review paper, just without in-line citations. Sprinkled among the various ways to say this-evidence-indicates-that, we get a refresher on genetics (bless my undergraduate education, I still remember most of it), a crash course on the history of Levant, and intriguing anecdotes about the author's field work in Chad (probably the highlight of the book for me). Yet, these attempts at lightening the book feel heavy-handed and not very effective at engaging me in the narrative. It feels as if these had been added in response to the editor's requests.
I suppose the point the author is trying to make is that given the complex genetic background of the Levant people, if you happen to share a certain percentage of the Levant gene pool, that does not mean you have the Levant heritage. I totally get that, but the way this point comes across feels way too abstract and, dare I say, academic. I want stories, actual stories of people who follow the Levant culture and live the Levant live yet do not possess any of its tell-tale genes. Or stories of those who have the exact genetic makeup to be considered a "true" Levant descendant but are part of a completely different culture. Who do we consider to have the Levant heritage? To answer this question would be ten times more interesting, and challenging, than bullet-pointing through the migration waves in the Levant. If our goal is to caution that one's heritage should not be read entirely from genetics (or skin color, hair texture, slantedness of the eyes, etc.), we need personable stories to drive the point through, not a top-down lecture armed by evidence of haplotype frequencies. If scientific evidence could ever convince people, we wouldn't have needed this book in the first place.
All in all, I think there is so much wasted potential. Perhaps the book would've been more to my taste had it been written by a journalist.
SOME QUOTES FROM THE BOOK
The discussion was about extremism and how it had gotten so dangerous, especially in the Levant, where it permeated every community....I interrupted and said that what I meant was that we need to preserve the many cultures that exist in the eastern Mediterranean, no matter how many there are, and that if we were to do so, the Levant would be a fantastic place, a multicultural oasis. Accepting the other enriches oneself. By preserving cultures, our net gain could be peace not war.
p139
Pan-nationalism effaces real identifies; it buries heritage and has no place for multiculturalism.
p159. Pan-nationalism is just another way to control people. The less diversity, the easier to control. This is the essence of right-wing politics.
DNA is part of one's heritage, and heritage cannot be simplified to a genetic test.
p165. I wish the book could expand on this more, not leaving it just like this, a sound bite.
In s broader context, the Levant consists of the coastal eastern Mediterranean running from the mountains of Cilicia in southern Turkey to the northern Sinai Peninsula.
p183. The definition of the Levant doesn't show up until almost the end of the book, an interesting choice.
DNA does not define or determine an identity, a culture, or an ethnicity. It uncovers stories from the past but does not reveal who we really are. Identity is a rich and complex concept. It is the origin, the birthplace, and the early interactions. It is the lifetime experience. Identity is a personal and unique identifier; identity is yours to make.
p214.
September 30, 2024
The Levant has long been the crossroads of empires and civilizations. They have left their marks etched into monuments and papyri across the region, but their signs also exist in the DNA of the people who originate there.
This is the first book I have read that relied on genetics to describe the history of a people, and I really learned a lot. The first 2/3rds of the book is a look into the history of homo sapiens and the first migrations out of Africa 90,000 years ago -- of which the Levant was one of the first stops. Zalloua shows how climate fluctuations affected migration from Africa and back until humans cought on and stayed about 60,000 years ago.
Through genetics he traces interactions and inter-breeding with Neanderthal groups and the migrations over the Zagros Mountains and further eastward into Asia and beyond (Australia and the Americas). It is a fascinating and detailed look at human history.
Zalloua's interest in genetics is highly personal. He is Lebanese, and he relates that he found in his own DNA the traces of both Crusaders and Arabs. He relates research he conducted for National Geographic to find evidences of Phoenecian heritage in sites across the Mediterranean -- a study which led him to find a close genetic relative in Sicily, of all places.
The last 1/3rd of the book focuses on the history we find in the history books. Zalloua shows the rise of empires, although he is focused on genetics more than on conquerors. As a historian, his account isn't convincing (I found an account of Hebrew history that differed from the accounts in the Bible and other histories of that era), but it connected his genetic research with mainline history nontheless.
Zalloua dismisses the idea of "culture conflict", a lends through which many interpret the Levant today. He shows, genetically, that there has been very little intermixing and conversion among the different religious communities of Iran: Christians stem from Greek and European immigrants to the region, Muslims from Arab and African lines. He also includes interesting accounts of the genetic history smaller Maronite and Druze communities there.
If you're reading for a unique insight on history, Ancestors: Identity and DNA in the Levant will provide it. I recommend it more for those with a scientific bent, though, not those trying to fill in gaps in their understanding of the cultures and empires that rose and fell along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Special thanks to NetGalley and RandomHouse for providing me with an advanced galley in return for this honest review.
This is the first book I have read that relied on genetics to describe the history of a people, and I really learned a lot. The first 2/3rds of the book is a look into the history of homo sapiens and the first migrations out of Africa 90,000 years ago -- of which the Levant was one of the first stops. Zalloua shows how climate fluctuations affected migration from Africa and back until humans cought on and stayed about 60,000 years ago.
Through genetics he traces interactions and inter-breeding with Neanderthal groups and the migrations over the Zagros Mountains and further eastward into Asia and beyond (Australia and the Americas). It is a fascinating and detailed look at human history.
Zalloua's interest in genetics is highly personal. He is Lebanese, and he relates that he found in his own DNA the traces of both Crusaders and Arabs. He relates research he conducted for National Geographic to find evidences of Phoenecian heritage in sites across the Mediterranean -- a study which led him to find a close genetic relative in Sicily, of all places.
The last 1/3rd of the book focuses on the history we find in the history books. Zalloua shows the rise of empires, although he is focused on genetics more than on conquerors. As a historian, his account isn't convincing (I found an account of Hebrew history that differed from the accounts in the Bible and other histories of that era), but it connected his genetic research with mainline history nontheless.
Zalloua dismisses the idea of "culture conflict", a lends through which many interpret the Levant today. He shows, genetically, that there has been very little intermixing and conversion among the different religious communities of Iran: Christians stem from Greek and European immigrants to the region, Muslims from Arab and African lines. He also includes interesting accounts of the genetic history smaller Maronite and Druze communities there.
If you're reading for a unique insight on history, Ancestors: Identity and DNA in the Levant will provide it. I recommend it more for those with a scientific bent, though, not those trying to fill in gaps in their understanding of the cultures and empires that rose and fell along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Special thanks to NetGalley and RandomHouse for providing me with an advanced galley in return for this honest review.
May 31, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This book was published in the US by Random House on May 6th, 2025.
What do we inherit when we inherit identity? In Ancestors, geneticist Pierre Zalloua ventures into the tangled roots of the Levant to answer this question — not with certainty, but with curiosity and care. Both rigorous and tender, this book is a rare offering: a scientific inquiry that refuses simplicity, a cultural meditation grounded in genetic data, and a love letter to a region too often flattened by war, empire, and myth.
Zalloua begins by dismantling race — not just as a construct, but as a colonial invention. Through his accessible crash course on DNA and human evolution, he traces our shared origins, migration out of Africa, and the genetic mingling of Homo sapiens with Neanderthals and Denisovans, locating some of these first encounters right in the Levant. From there, he walks readers through thousands of years of movement, separation, and cultural formation — documenting how geography, climate, and war shaped the genetic fabric of the region.
But what makes Ancestors remarkable isn’t just the science — it’s Zalloua’s refusal to let genes define identity. Again and again, he reminds us that culture, language, and belonging are fluid. That indigeneity cannot be mapped with a microscope. That the Levant is not a battleground between East and West, but a convergence — a cradle of alphabets, gods, migrations, and meaning.
There are moments when the prose sags under the weight of data, especially in the final chapters, but even then, the heart of the book pulses strong. Zalloua’s critique of the Arab League’s cultural erasures, his deconstruction of “Semitic” identity, and his efforts to uncover the vanished Phoenicians are all grounded in a politics of preservation — not as nostalgia, but as resistance.
If you’re a reader drawn to science with soul, histories that resist binaries, or a reimagining of identity beyond the nation-state, Ancestors is well worth your time. It doesn’t just map genes — it maps the ever-unfinished story of human belonging.
📖 Read this if you love: cultural histories that resist borders, anti-essentialist takes on identity, and accessible science writing with heart.
🔑 Key Themes: Genetics and Identity, Indigeneity and Migration, Cultural Hybridity and Belonging, Anti-Racism and Colonial Critique, Ancestry and Epistemic Humility.
Content / Trigger Warnings: War (severe), Suicide (minor), Genocide (minor).
What do we inherit when we inherit identity? In Ancestors, geneticist Pierre Zalloua ventures into the tangled roots of the Levant to answer this question — not with certainty, but with curiosity and care. Both rigorous and tender, this book is a rare offering: a scientific inquiry that refuses simplicity, a cultural meditation grounded in genetic data, and a love letter to a region too often flattened by war, empire, and myth.
Zalloua begins by dismantling race — not just as a construct, but as a colonial invention. Through his accessible crash course on DNA and human evolution, he traces our shared origins, migration out of Africa, and the genetic mingling of Homo sapiens with Neanderthals and Denisovans, locating some of these first encounters right in the Levant. From there, he walks readers through thousands of years of movement, separation, and cultural formation — documenting how geography, climate, and war shaped the genetic fabric of the region.
But what makes Ancestors remarkable isn’t just the science — it’s Zalloua’s refusal to let genes define identity. Again and again, he reminds us that culture, language, and belonging are fluid. That indigeneity cannot be mapped with a microscope. That the Levant is not a battleground between East and West, but a convergence — a cradle of alphabets, gods, migrations, and meaning.
There are moments when the prose sags under the weight of data, especially in the final chapters, but even then, the heart of the book pulses strong. Zalloua’s critique of the Arab League’s cultural erasures, his deconstruction of “Semitic” identity, and his efforts to uncover the vanished Phoenicians are all grounded in a politics of preservation — not as nostalgia, but as resistance.
If you’re a reader drawn to science with soul, histories that resist binaries, or a reimagining of identity beyond the nation-state, Ancestors is well worth your time. It doesn’t just map genes — it maps the ever-unfinished story of human belonging.
📖 Read this if you love: cultural histories that resist borders, anti-essentialist takes on identity, and accessible science writing with heart.
🔑 Key Themes: Genetics and Identity, Indigeneity and Migration, Cultural Hybridity and Belonging, Anti-Racism and Colonial Critique, Ancestry and Epistemic Humility.
Content / Trigger Warnings: War (severe), Suicide (minor), Genocide (minor).
December 12, 2024
Ancestors: Identity and DNA in the Levant by Pierre Zalloua delves into the fascinating connections between genetics, history, and identity in the Levant, one of the world's most historically complex regions. Zalloua, a geneticist, expertly navigates how DNA can reveal deep ancestral roots and shed light on the interwoven history of the people in this region. Through a mix of scientific research, personal stories, and historical insights, he traces the movements and intermingling of populations over time, offering a fresh perspective on modern concepts of identity.
This book comfortably fits in the nonfiction genre, blending science and history with a moderate length of about 300 pages. The pacing is steady, balancing in-depth scientific discussions with engaging historical narratives. The feel is both educational and reflective, as Zalloua invites readers to explore their own heritage while understanding the shared genetic connections of the Levant.
Zalloua guides readers through both personal and scientific discovery. He combines complex genetic concepts with personal anecdotes, creating an intimate and informative reading experience. Uncovering hidden pasts and blending science with storytelling comes through strongly, making it appealing for those who enjoy explorations of identity and history.
One of the book’s strengths is how it makes complex genetic science accessible to non-experts, providing insight into how DNA reveals the migration and interconnection of populations in the Levant. Zalloua’s writing style adds needed relatability. However, the scientific language may be a bit challenging for readers unfamiliar with the terminology, and the historical depth might feel overwhelming for those not well-versed in the region's history.
Readers who are fascinated by genealogy, DNA testing, or the intersection of science and identity will find this book particularly engaging. It's also well-suited for anyone interested in Middle Eastern history and anthropology.
"Our genes are like silent witnesses, recording the paths our ancestors took, the battles they fought, and the love they shared. In the Levant, these stories intertwine like vines in a vineyard, revealing a rich tapestry of human history."
This book comfortably fits in the nonfiction genre, blending science and history with a moderate length of about 300 pages. The pacing is steady, balancing in-depth scientific discussions with engaging historical narratives. The feel is both educational and reflective, as Zalloua invites readers to explore their own heritage while understanding the shared genetic connections of the Levant.
Zalloua guides readers through both personal and scientific discovery. He combines complex genetic concepts with personal anecdotes, creating an intimate and informative reading experience. Uncovering hidden pasts and blending science with storytelling comes through strongly, making it appealing for those who enjoy explorations of identity and history.
One of the book’s strengths is how it makes complex genetic science accessible to non-experts, providing insight into how DNA reveals the migration and interconnection of populations in the Levant. Zalloua’s writing style adds needed relatability. However, the scientific language may be a bit challenging for readers unfamiliar with the terminology, and the historical depth might feel overwhelming for those not well-versed in the region's history.
Readers who are fascinated by genealogy, DNA testing, or the intersection of science and identity will find this book particularly engaging. It's also well-suited for anyone interested in Middle Eastern history and anthropology.
"Our genes are like silent witnesses, recording the paths our ancestors took, the battles they fought, and the love they shared. In the Levant, these stories intertwine like vines in a vineyard, revealing a rich tapestry of human history."
June 8, 2025
Disclaimer that I am not Lebanese, and that seems to be the target audience.
Such a thorny topic handled pretty well. I spent a semester studying Anatolian admixture during the Neolithic, so I was pretty familiar with large parts of this book. The personal stories were really interesting, and I thought he did a good job summarizing complicated scientific research. I can't say it was an amazing piece of writing, though. At times it was painfully obvious that Dr. Zalloua is a biologist - I was disappointed that the "Neolithic revolution" was introduced as such and not interrogated, especially when genetics make that time period so much more interesting. The history sections in general tended to be culture name place name event over and over, so pretty boring, but hard to do in such a short text. I would love to read a collaboration between him, some archaeologists, and historians on Lebanese identity. I think that would be a natural expansion of this work and a highly valuable cross-disciplinary synthesis.
The most impressive part was that he got through the whole book without the word "Israel" appearing.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Such a thorny topic handled pretty well. I spent a semester studying Anatolian admixture during the Neolithic, so I was pretty familiar with large parts of this book. The personal stories were really interesting, and I thought he did a good job summarizing complicated scientific research. I can't say it was an amazing piece of writing, though. At times it was painfully obvious that Dr. Zalloua is a biologist - I was disappointed that the "Neolithic revolution" was introduced as such and not interrogated, especially when genetics make that time period so much more interesting. The history sections in general tended to be culture name place name event over and over, so pretty boring, but hard to do in such a short text. I would love to read a collaboration between him, some archaeologists, and historians on Lebanese identity. I think that would be a natural expansion of this work and a highly valuable cross-disciplinary synthesis.
The most impressive part was that he got through the whole book without the word "Israel" appearing.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2025
Wow. What a fascinating book. It's deep and sometimes I felt a bit lost, but then I had an epiphany and it seemed to all come together. I know that we are all a mixture of the people who have come before. This book dove right in and made me much more appreciative of where we came from and where we're going. Having a population geneticist write this book, at times, I felt I was in a lecture hall. So much scientific dialogue and method and how he and his team went about getting the statistics. This was a story and a learning too.
I'm the family historian and have Persian roots. My great-grandfather emigrated to the US in the very early 1900's On my Ancestry DNA I have Levantine lineage. It's at a small percentage, but it's there. I was intrigued when I saw that this book was going to be discussing my own roots and have enjoyed the journey I took while reading.
4 stars since I was overwhelmed at times with all the data.
I'm the family historian and have Persian roots. My great-grandfather emigrated to the US in the very early 1900's On my Ancestry DNA I have Levantine lineage. It's at a small percentage, but it's there. I was intrigued when I saw that this book was going to be discussing my own roots and have enjoyed the journey I took while reading.
4 stars since I was overwhelmed at times with all the data.
May 10, 2025
I mostly enjoyed the book. The chapters are compelling and very readable, mostly striking a balance between scientific rigor and storytelling. Still, at times that balance felt slightly off to me—leaning a bit too far toward storytelling—but never in a way that was distracting or off-putting. I found the book informative and interesting, hence the 4 stars.
That said, the chapters often felt disconnected. Rather than forming a cohesive narrative, the book reads more like a collection of loosely related essays.
A small but recurring issue: the author frequently dates events by counting backward from the present (e.g., “2,355 years ago”), which works fine if you're reading soon after publication, but could become an issue over time—especially since he doesn’t round to the nearest decade or century. Elsewhere, he uses BC or CE. The inconsistency made it harder than necessary to keep the timeline straight.
That said, the chapters often felt disconnected. Rather than forming a cohesive narrative, the book reads more like a collection of loosely related essays.
A small but recurring issue: the author frequently dates events by counting backward from the present (e.g., “2,355 years ago”), which works fine if you're reading soon after publication, but could become an issue over time—especially since he doesn’t round to the nearest decade or century. Elsewhere, he uses BC or CE. The inconsistency made it harder than necessary to keep the timeline straight.
April 22, 2025
"Ancestors" is an ambitious undertaking to describe both in genetic and other terms who the people of the Levant are and have been. He traces the history of the peoples of the area as well as beyond, in many circumstances, both using genetics and archeology.
It is a read not for the casually interested, but the factors that he discusses are fascinating, especially given today's preoccupation with the ideas of race and ethnicity. I highly recommend for all history and political science majors in college, as well as those with an interest either in the Levant (generally Middle East, upper Africa, and into parts of Europe and Asia as well) or with the study of race, ethnicity, and culture. 5 stars for content, 4 stars because it could use some summaries at the end of each chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for and ARC #sponsored
It is a read not for the casually interested, but the factors that he discusses are fascinating, especially given today's preoccupation with the ideas of race and ethnicity. I highly recommend for all history and political science majors in college, as well as those with an interest either in the Levant (generally Middle East, upper Africa, and into parts of Europe and Asia as well) or with the study of race, ethnicity, and culture. 5 stars for content, 4 stars because it could use some summaries at the end of each chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for and ARC #sponsored
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May 27, 2025Quick read that attempts to provide an antidote to nationalism-based race science and racially tinged genetic studies. This book is obviously lovingly crafted. Zalloua's love for his native Lebanon's history and his curiosity regarding his own roots shine through and add some texture to his arguments. I'm Greek, so only obliquely mentioned here, but I found a lot to relate to in this book. It isn't always easy in this day and age to express one's ethnic pride without falling into blind nationalism. The argument here seems to be that genetics is just the beginning of identity and that 'ethnicity' is often a red herring used to grant some objective basis for what are really loose cultural practices. A necessary read for anyone looking for refuge from ethnonationalism.
June 28, 2025
This book is likely only interesting for a very specific audience. First and foremost, it is very technical. There is a lot of discussion about DNA and genetics and a lot of it frankly went right over my head. Second, it is specifically focused in the Levant. My personal opinion is that the Middle East - in general - is such a complex part of the world and unless you really study it or come from there, it is very difficult to understand. In this book, I found that lack of in depth knowledge of the area to be a problem in understanding the book.
Well written and researched. Likely very interesting for a specific audience. But just would not cater to a broad audience.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Well written and researched. Likely very interesting for a specific audience. But just would not cater to a broad audience.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 1, 2025
This is not an uninteresting book. But I’m not sure it’s really interesting unless you’re Lebanese. There’s a particularly sad bit: reading a geneticist speculate about linguistics. His point is that the Phoenicians really did invent the alphabet. It’s sad to read because these are the protestations of a people who have nothing to brag about their present… not unlike the Greek grandmother who insists everything is originally Greek.
July 16, 2025
Primer on human ancestry and near east identity and genetic history, but I just wish Near East specifics was described more instead of broad human ancestry and anthro history
August 16, 2025
interesting, though he shows his bias by erroneously using "palestine" ancient Israel and Judea (pre 70CE) or avoiding mentioning that region by name.
January 9, 2026
Thank you for picking me as a giveaway winner. This book was interesting but I don't agree with some of the timelines.
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