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Unique: The New Science of Human Individuality
Inspired by the abundance of unique personalities available on dating websites, a renowned neuroscientist examines the science of what makes you, you.
David J. Linden has devoted his career to understanding the biology common to all humans. But a few years ago he found himself on OkCupid. Looking through that vast catalog of human diversity, he got to What makes us all so different? Unique is the riveting answer. Exploring everything from the roots of sexuality, gender, and intelligence to whether we like bitter beer, Linden shows how our individuality results not from a competition of nature versus nurture, but rather from a mélange of genes continually responding to our experiences in the world, beginning in the womb. And he shows why individuality matters, as it is our differences that enable us to live together in groups.
Told with Linden's unusual combination of authority and openness, seriousness of purpose and wit, Unique is the story of how the factors that make us all human can change and interact to make each of us a singular person.
David J. Linden has devoted his career to understanding the biology common to all humans. But a few years ago he found himself on OkCupid. Looking through that vast catalog of human diversity, he got to What makes us all so different? Unique is the riveting answer. Exploring everything from the roots of sexuality, gender, and intelligence to whether we like bitter beer, Linden shows how our individuality results not from a competition of nature versus nurture, but rather from a mélange of genes continually responding to our experiences in the world, beginning in the womb. And he shows why individuality matters, as it is our differences that enable us to live together in groups.
Told with Linden's unusual combination of authority and openness, seriousness of purpose and wit, Unique is the story of how the factors that make us all human can change and interact to make each of us a singular person.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published September 29, 2020
40 people are currently reading
784 people want to read
About the author
David J. Linden
12 books138 followersDavid J. Linden, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His laboratory has worked for many years on the cellular substrates of memory storage in the brain and a few other topics. He has a longstanding interest in scientific communication and served for many years as the Chief Editor of the Journal of Neurophysiology. He is the author of two bestselling books on the biology of behavior for a general audience, The Accidental Mind (Harvard/Belknap, 2007) and The Compass of Pleasure (Viking Press, 2011) which, to date, have been translated into 14 languages. His most recent book, Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart and Mind will be published by Viking Press (USA/Canada) on January 28, 2015
He lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his two pleasure-seeking children.
He lives in Baltimore, Maryland with his two pleasure-seeking children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 18, 2024
4 "an interesting overview on fascinating topics' stars !!
A ribbon of Excellence read for 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, the author/scientist and Perseus Books for an ecopy. This was released Sept 2020 and I am providing an honest review.
What makes us unique from other family members, other community members and those across the world. Scientist Mr. David Linden explores the latest research on a myriad of topics in an intelligent, accessible and entertaining fashion. Here is an overview of all the topics covered with varying degrees of detail and depth:
-the breeding of Soviet foxes in 1940s to increase domesticity and tameness
-a look at twin studies and all the helpful scientific data that was gleaned (Jim twins)
-maternal infections in mice during a certain point in pregnancy led to autism in offspring
-Ms. Streisand cloning her dog
-a fascinating look at memory and how faulty they are in addition to brain plasticity
-intersexuality
-gender identity and gender expression
-sexual orientation
-food preferences
-how scent operates in various species
-variability in sleep
-content and types of dreams
-a very interesting debunking of racist ideologies
So much more.....
Well worth reading. One tidbit I found most helpful is this:
....individuality is not a matter of "nature vs. nurture" but rather "heredity interacting with experience, filtered through the inherent randomness of development"....
A ribbon of Excellence read for 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, the author/scientist and Perseus Books for an ecopy. This was released Sept 2020 and I am providing an honest review.
What makes us unique from other family members, other community members and those across the world. Scientist Mr. David Linden explores the latest research on a myriad of topics in an intelligent, accessible and entertaining fashion. Here is an overview of all the topics covered with varying degrees of detail and depth:
-the breeding of Soviet foxes in 1940s to increase domesticity and tameness
-a look at twin studies and all the helpful scientific data that was gleaned (Jim twins)
-maternal infections in mice during a certain point in pregnancy led to autism in offspring
-Ms. Streisand cloning her dog
-a fascinating look at memory and how faulty they are in addition to brain plasticity
-intersexuality
-gender identity and gender expression
-sexual orientation
-food preferences
-how scent operates in various species
-variability in sleep
-content and types of dreams
-a very interesting debunking of racist ideologies
So much more.....
Well worth reading. One tidbit I found most helpful is this:
....individuality is not a matter of "nature vs. nurture" but rather "heredity interacting with experience, filtered through the inherent randomness of development"....
July 4, 2020
Utterly Fascinating. With this book, David Linden looks to the genetic - and thus, biological - factors of human individuality, from sex to race to neurology to senses and everything in between. The science is well documented - roughly 30% of the version of the book I read is bibliography - and recent - some citations were from 2019, when presumably the book was being written. It is also well balanced politically, stating with a fair degree of exactitude what the science currently says on any number of issues without going into the political debates surrounding those issues - including sex, gender, sexuality, and race specifically. Overall truly a fascinating deep dive that is incredibly readable while also being so exact, and thus one of the better science books I've encountered this year. Very much recommended.
August 26, 2021
Really enjoyed this one.
This is a survey of different topics in genetics and neuroscience all concerned with individual differences - What some identifiable ones are, How they come into being and how they fit into what is known or known that it is not quite known about brain function.
David J. Linden has a way with words that makes for some great science entertainment, personally much of the more broad concepts were already known to me but this book still managed to make for an integrative reading(Or in my case listening) experience. Especially as Linden did not shy away from going molecular on us. That is some great set of usefull data in here which i will return to for reference.
So enough of shallow scratching of what it was like listening to this, what are the actual concrete subjects being covered?
Heritability, very interesting twin studies and how developmental molecular randomness sabotages the neat idea of identical persons from the begining.
Which transcription factors end up in each cell when one cell replicates itself is random or to use a word which I find more inducive to my sense of woke science terminological sensibility "contingent" (Could be otherwise).
Analogous to how Mitochondra end up being shared unequally between two cells in duplication.
We have lots of interesting aspects in the environment to consider too for example *shared/unshared* conditons.
As neuroendocrinologist Robert sapolsky said: "Height might run in the family(80% heritability) but speaking polish does too ".
Living conditions in the same socio economical milieu, with the same parents trying to treat the twins similarly still leads to different end results.
How that?
While the initial genes might be the same, throughout life mutations will cause and then enhance differences in code and especially epigenetic regulation.
The chapters on sex differences and sexual orientation were very interesting also.
Turns out that evidence in one randomly selected twin study undergone statistical analysis (Dont we love them?) points to 20 percent heritability of sexual orientation in women and 40 in men.
Also same sex siblings of homosexual persons are 20% likely to be homosexual in comparison to 3 percent in the general population.
The chapter "We are Anti-Pandas" also brought much great info about our sense of smell. For example how its expression differs in around 400 genes in each person.
Also the sense is very plastic(able to go through change)
The last two chapters are 1. about dreams and 2. the last one about population differences and how they are missconstructed by notions of pure race theories.
Just wanted to share some tidbits before I forget what it was like listening through this book :)
This is a survey of different topics in genetics and neuroscience all concerned with individual differences - What some identifiable ones are, How they come into being and how they fit into what is known or known that it is not quite known about brain function.
David J. Linden has a way with words that makes for some great science entertainment, personally much of the more broad concepts were already known to me but this book still managed to make for an integrative reading(Or in my case listening) experience. Especially as Linden did not shy away from going molecular on us. That is some great set of usefull data in here which i will return to for reference.
So enough of shallow scratching of what it was like listening to this, what are the actual concrete subjects being covered?
Heritability, very interesting twin studies and how developmental molecular randomness sabotages the neat idea of identical persons from the begining.
Which transcription factors end up in each cell when one cell replicates itself is random or to use a word which I find more inducive to my sense of woke science terminological sensibility "contingent" (Could be otherwise).
Analogous to how Mitochondra end up being shared unequally between two cells in duplication.
We have lots of interesting aspects in the environment to consider too for example *shared/unshared* conditons.
As neuroendocrinologist Robert sapolsky said: "Height might run in the family(80% heritability) but speaking polish does too ".
Living conditions in the same socio economical milieu, with the same parents trying to treat the twins similarly still leads to different end results.
How that?
While the initial genes might be the same, throughout life mutations will cause and then enhance differences in code and especially epigenetic regulation.
The chapters on sex differences and sexual orientation were very interesting also.
Turns out that evidence in one randomly selected twin study undergone statistical analysis (Dont we love them?) points to 20 percent heritability of sexual orientation in women and 40 in men.
Also same sex siblings of homosexual persons are 20% likely to be homosexual in comparison to 3 percent in the general population.
The chapter "We are Anti-Pandas" also brought much great info about our sense of smell. For example how its expression differs in around 400 genes in each person.
Also the sense is very plastic(able to go through change)
The last two chapters are 1. about dreams and 2. the last one about population differences and how they are missconstructed by notions of pure race theories.
Just wanted to share some tidbits before I forget what it was like listening through this book :)
August 11, 2020
As a science nerd myself I found the topic of this book very interesting. The writing style was very accessible and easy to get through. I learned so many new things. I found the sections on sexuality and gender very interesting.
April 25, 2021
لعقود من الزمان ، كان التفكير السائد في مجال علم النفس ، وفي المجتمع ككل ، هو أن أهم محدد لشخصية الفرد البالغ هو تأثير الأسرة المباشرة ، وخاصة الوالدين. جاءت هذه الفكرة من الحركة النفسية في القرن العشرين المسماة السلوكية ، والتي اعتبرت أن البشر يأتون إلى العالم كألواح فارغة ، وعلى استعداد لتشكيلها من خلال التجربة الاجتماعية.
نتيجة لذلك ، كانت هناك صدمة كبيرة عندما أظهرت تجارب MISTRA ارتباطات أعلى بكثير في مقاييس الشخصية في أزواج التوائم مقارنة بالأخوة العاديين . كانت النتيجة الرئيسية أن حوالي 50 في المائة من التباين في الشخصية يمكن تفسيره عن طريق التوريث (الوراثة_ الجينات). هذا ينطبق على جميع المقاييس القياسية الخمسة للشخصية (الانفتاح ، والضمير ، والانبساط ، والقبول ، والعصابية) ويتناقض بشكل مباشر مع فرضية اللوح الفارغ للسلوكيين.
.
David Linden
Unique
Translated by #Maher_Razouk
نتيجة لذلك ، كانت هناك صدمة كبيرة عندما أظهرت تجارب MISTRA ارتباطات أعلى بكثير في مقاييس الشخصية في أزواج التوائم مقارنة بالأخوة العاديين . كانت النتيجة الرئيسية أن حوالي 50 في المائة من التباين في الشخصية يمكن تفسيره عن طريق التوريث (الوراثة_ الجينات). هذا ينطبق على جميع المقاييس القياسية الخمسة للشخصية (الانفتاح ، والضمير ، والانبساط ، والقبول ، والعصابية) ويتناقض بشكل مباشر مع فرضية اللوح الفارغ للسلوكيين.
.
David Linden
Unique
Translated by #Maher_Razouk
January 14, 2023
This popular neuroscience book about what makes us who we are by a high-school friend of mine is delightful, humorous, fascinating, well written and edifying. It displays an impressive breadth and depth of knowledge and great educational skill.
February 28, 2021
More of an excellent curated overview of genetics and public perception than specifically about uniqueness of individuals but I really enjoyed it nonetheless. Written well (and in many places argued well) for laypeople rather than scientists themselves but again, the bibliography was extensive covering both classic papers and really recent papers re-examining and contextualizing the classics.
March 1, 2021
This book was like reading a fascinating textbook. It was entertaining and informative. I enjoyed it quiet a bit, and would recommend it to anyone.
February 17, 2022
Another reviewer said something along the lines of, "like reading a very engaging textbook," and I think that really sums Unique up. As lukewarm as that might sound, I really enjoyed this book! David Linden is a neuroscientist who, inspired by scrolling dating profiles, decided to do a deep dive into the science of what differentiates people so much, despite the similarities in our DNA. He takes the reader through a variety of different facets of biology that make people both similar and unique: genetics and upbringing, of course, but also things like sense of taste and smell, sexuality and gender, race, mental illness... throughout the book, Linden creates an extremely well rounded view of human individuality by focusing on both the nature and nurture side of the debate.
I learned a lot from this book. It's so packed with the science and biology of all of our differences, yet written in a way that feels extremely accessible to those of us who are decidedly not scientists. Linden does a great job of maneuvering all of the science-y speak in the book and combining it with accessible commentary, relevant anecdotes, and the occasional witty quip.
My favorite aspect of this book was probably the way that Linden approached sensitive topics -- sex, sexuality, gender, race, etc. Linden is clearly focused on the science, which he provides in spades, but delivers it in a nuanced way that is also very much focused on the social aspects of these topics. His book is a tribute to human individuality, of course, but he also emphasizes the way that people have been oppressed for differences and condemns this discrimination as well. His emphasis on taking a moral and equality oriented approach, rather than a biological one, for the handling of gender expression and sexuality in society was much appreciated, for example. On the topic of race as well, Linden was very clear in delivering scientific insight while also debunking the kind of racist pseudoscience known to circulate among white supremacist groups. Racists, TERFS, and bigots of all sort love to drag out (often incorrect) biological justifications for their beliefs, and it was refreshing to read a scientist acknowledge those beliefs, debunk them, but also assert that it would still be morally wrong to discriminate against others even if the biology was siding in the favor of the bigots (which, again: it isn't.)
Overall, I really enjoyed this! It could tiptoe into dryness, at times, but I listened to the audiobook and I think that kept it lively and interesting. I also think we should pour one out for this book for having such a bland cover. It's an interesting read, yet I almost passed it up because it really does look like a textbook. Still, I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a nuanced and engaging crash course on the biology of what makes us different.
I learned a lot from this book. It's so packed with the science and biology of all of our differences, yet written in a way that feels extremely accessible to those of us who are decidedly not scientists. Linden does a great job of maneuvering all of the science-y speak in the book and combining it with accessible commentary, relevant anecdotes, and the occasional witty quip.
My favorite aspect of this book was probably the way that Linden approached sensitive topics -- sex, sexuality, gender, race, etc. Linden is clearly focused on the science, which he provides in spades, but delivers it in a nuanced way that is also very much focused on the social aspects of these topics. His book is a tribute to human individuality, of course, but he also emphasizes the way that people have been oppressed for differences and condemns this discrimination as well. His emphasis on taking a moral and equality oriented approach, rather than a biological one, for the handling of gender expression and sexuality in society was much appreciated, for example. On the topic of race as well, Linden was very clear in delivering scientific insight while also debunking the kind of racist pseudoscience known to circulate among white supremacist groups. Racists, TERFS, and bigots of all sort love to drag out (often incorrect) biological justifications for their beliefs, and it was refreshing to read a scientist acknowledge those beliefs, debunk them, but also assert that it would still be morally wrong to discriminate against others even if the biology was siding in the favor of the bigots (which, again: it isn't.)
Overall, I really enjoyed this! It could tiptoe into dryness, at times, but I listened to the audiobook and I think that kept it lively and interesting. I also think we should pour one out for this book for having such a bland cover. It's an interesting read, yet I almost passed it up because it really does look like a textbook. Still, I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a nuanced and engaging crash course on the biology of what makes us different.
September 29, 2020
Inspired by the abundance of unique personalities available on dating websites, a renowned neuroscientist examines the science of what makes you, you. Not too long ago, David Linden found himself on OkCupid, one of the world’s great catalogues of human idiosyncrasy. Fortunately for his lonely heart, he found his soulmate. But, being a scientist, he couldn’t help but ask what made the whole thing work? His new book, Unique, gives the answer. During this book, Linden will tell us more about what he’s learned about the origins and importance of human individuality.
From the womb in which we developed to the food we just ate, Linden’s book explores the myriad factors that make us each unlike any other. At the heart of human individuality are our genes, but these are not genes that preordain our destiny. Rather, they are flexible ones, easily manipulated by the intrinsic randomness of human development and our experience in the world. Perhaps even more surprisingly, Linden reveals why human individuality—the things that set us apart—are in fact essential to our ability to live together.
Written in a style accessible to a layperson, Linden writes with fluidity and a potent and engaging mix of humour and solemnity. I reckon most people will find this book absolutely fascinating, as I did, and there is certainly an abundance of new, intriguing information to learn throughout. He explores topics including genetic factors, sexuality, nature v nurture, senses, memory, gender, race and neurology. I appreciated that there was a substantial bibliography at the rear which, if you are so inspired, makes it easy to discover more books on the topic. A riveting deep dive into an endlessly interesting topic, Unique is an eminently readable work on the scientific basis of individuality. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Basic Books for an ARC.
From the womb in which we developed to the food we just ate, Linden’s book explores the myriad factors that make us each unlike any other. At the heart of human individuality are our genes, but these are not genes that preordain our destiny. Rather, they are flexible ones, easily manipulated by the intrinsic randomness of human development and our experience in the world. Perhaps even more surprisingly, Linden reveals why human individuality—the things that set us apart—are in fact essential to our ability to live together.
Written in a style accessible to a layperson, Linden writes with fluidity and a potent and engaging mix of humour and solemnity. I reckon most people will find this book absolutely fascinating, as I did, and there is certainly an abundance of new, intriguing information to learn throughout. He explores topics including genetic factors, sexuality, nature v nurture, senses, memory, gender, race and neurology. I appreciated that there was a substantial bibliography at the rear which, if you are so inspired, makes it easy to discover more books on the topic. A riveting deep dive into an endlessly interesting topic, Unique is an eminently readable work on the scientific basis of individuality. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Basic Books for an ARC.
May 29, 2023
Much of this book was so-so, going over evolution, genes, and the role of other factors in making people who they are. I felt like a lot was hashing over things I knew. As he dug deeper, the role of gene expression and experience became more clear. Finally, when he dove unabashedly into issues of race (and racists), building on all that he had covered, I realized I was dealing with a much deeper and interesting work. I ended up liking this a lot. And it is going to be one of those books I will be referencing for some time.
And let me see if I can summarize one key element in the book. Yes, Darwin was right about evolution and our genetic blueprint is a product of all of that. But each of us has experience. And experience can affect how genes get expressed. Plus, so many factors are a combination of genes and other factors. Further, many things (almost all things) result from a combination of multiple genes (and countless other things like gene expression) so that we can only vaguely understand the drivers. This book is new(ish) and I suspect could not have been written quite this way 20 years ago. And we will know more in another 20 years. The details on the role of individual genes has been a tsunami of learning and information. And one that leaves us realizing we have only scratched the surface...
And let me see if I can summarize one key element in the book. Yes, Darwin was right about evolution and our genetic blueprint is a product of all of that. But each of us has experience. And experience can affect how genes get expressed. Plus, so many factors are a combination of genes and other factors. Further, many things (almost all things) result from a combination of multiple genes (and countless other things like gene expression) so that we can only vaguely understand the drivers. This book is new(ish) and I suspect could not have been written quite this way 20 years ago. And we will know more in another 20 years. The details on the role of individual genes has been a tsunami of learning and information. And one that leaves us realizing we have only scratched the surface...
December 2, 2024
What a sad book! Not that the story or information was sad. The sad thing to me is that such amazingly cool content was presented in such a boring and dull way. Firstly, each chapter seems somewhat disconnected from the others. It's almost like this professor wrote a bunch of essays and then decided to combine them all together into a book. Of course, he mentions DNA and the whole nature vs. nurture debate, but he also includes random chapters on sleep, taste, and two chapters on sexual orientation. The sad thing to me is that he had such amazing and cool things to say, but he writes them as if he were writing a textbook, so I felt like I had to read through long and boring explanations to get to the hidden gems of cool stuff. (I had to read the footnotes to find out that some twins actually have different fathers, or that the word orange didn't exist as a color in England until after the fruit called the orange showed up there, and even the cool info in the footnotes was written dry and boring.) I just felt like screaming that this guy had access to so much cool information and he chose to present it in such a dry way. I did learn a lot from this book, but still... the book had so much potential!
December 26, 2025
Overall, I am giving this book 3 stars due to how technical it got and there were 2 chapters that ultimately disinterested me. Furthermore, I think he could have made some broader conclusions about the information he provided. It felt like he didn’t emphasize enough why this stuff is so important. However, the book was still a worthwhile read. I very much appreciate the author’s humor and inquisitive nature to life. I feel the same curiosity, even when it involves admitting something weird or talking about something unconventional.
Most of the value that comes from this book for me is the discussion of studies and research. I know where to find some of the unique studies he mentioned if I want to take a closer look. It will be a great reference. I got a really good refresher on genes as well, and a reminder of how unique we really are. I like the following quote that I will paraphrase off the top of my head: if you were to clone yourself 1000 times, you would end up with 1000 unique individuals. This is to highlight the interrelatedness of genes and experience, and highlight to individuality. After reading this book, I believe, you will further understand why people are so unique. And I would hope you would use that information to extend more empathy to others, and understand that nobody is crazy. I like the studies of fruit flies who were cloned and raised in identical environments, and when taken through mazes, still behaved differently. Some had a predilection for left turns, and some showed more persistence in getting to the end. This is observable in something genetically simple as fruit flies, which I believe speaks wonders to individuality. I could talk forever about other examples, and this book speaks about the classic psychology observations. My red is not your red, my chilly room is not your chilly room, and the proportion/type of nerve endings in my genitalia is not the same as yours. Multiply this by 100000 for the other senses and arrangement of neurons and synapses and I would hope you would understand why everyone is wildly unique.
Most of the value that comes from this book for me is the discussion of studies and research. I know where to find some of the unique studies he mentioned if I want to take a closer look. It will be a great reference. I got a really good refresher on genes as well, and a reminder of how unique we really are. I like the following quote that I will paraphrase off the top of my head: if you were to clone yourself 1000 times, you would end up with 1000 unique individuals. This is to highlight the interrelatedness of genes and experience, and highlight to individuality. After reading this book, I believe, you will further understand why people are so unique. And I would hope you would use that information to extend more empathy to others, and understand that nobody is crazy. I like the studies of fruit flies who were cloned and raised in identical environments, and when taken through mazes, still behaved differently. Some had a predilection for left turns, and some showed more persistence in getting to the end. This is observable in something genetically simple as fruit flies, which I believe speaks wonders to individuality. I could talk forever about other examples, and this book speaks about the classic psychology observations. My red is not your red, my chilly room is not your chilly room, and the proportion/type of nerve endings in my genitalia is not the same as yours. Multiply this by 100000 for the other senses and arrangement of neurons and synapses and I would hope you would understand why everyone is wildly unique.
November 2, 2020
I'm someone who is mainly interested in psychology than biology, and typically, only neuroscience books keep my attention if it's too biological. With that being said, I really enjoyed this book Unique from David Linden. The book dives into genetic traits of family, issues with our memories, sex, dreams, and so much more. I think one of my favorite chapters was on the differences with how we taste things because that's a question I've had forever. Like why do I hate sushi, but so many people love it? I think I got some answers.
I bought this book because I think it's important to know how similar we all are while also noticing some of our unique differences, and the book didn't disappoint. Even if you're not super into biology, David Linden does a great job simplifying some subjects that usually lose me in other books, so I highly recommend it if you're interested in learning about what makes us unique.
I bought this book because I think it's important to know how similar we all are while also noticing some of our unique differences, and the book didn't disappoint. Even if you're not super into biology, David Linden does a great job simplifying some subjects that usually lose me in other books, so I highly recommend it if you're interested in learning about what makes us unique.
December 25, 2020
This was a great book! David really knows his stuff and I enjoyed his commentary and personality in his writing. I think anyone who wants to learn more about how genetics and environment interact in development to produce our unique selves would find this book entertaining.
I give the book three stars because, as David points out a number of times, he tends to provide us with an "alphabet soup" for gene names or other acronmys, but then he'll follow up with something like "the specific names aren't important, what's important is..." which leads me to question why he felt the need to insert these complicated titles into the writing itself. Much better to insert them within brackets so as to not break up the flow of the sentence. Don't let this detract from your decision though. Just a minor critique!
I give the book three stars because, as David points out a number of times, he tends to provide us with an "alphabet soup" for gene names or other acronmys, but then he'll follow up with something like "the specific names aren't important, what's important is..." which leads me to question why he felt the need to insert these complicated titles into the writing itself. Much better to insert them within brackets so as to not break up the flow of the sentence. Don't let this detract from your decision though. Just a minor critique!
July 1, 2021
Linden, a neuroscientist, surveys a range of characteristics figuring in human individuality with respect to their heritability and non-heritability: general physical and behavioral traits, sex and gender, sexual preference, food preferences, sleeping and dreaming. He treats specific topics in considerable forensic detail to fairly represent the state of current scientific knowledge (and often enough he reports that as "we don't know yet"), sometimes more than a reader's interest may require; but he also summarizes key generalizations with clarity and good humor. One imagines a condensed edition with less technical detail would be a comfortable alternative for many readers. A primary lesson is to abandon "nature versus nurture" arguments and find understanding instead examining "heredity interacting with experience, filtered through the inherent randomness of development".
January 22, 2024
Rated 7 out of 10. A book that addresses why we are all so very different. It covers everything from sexuality, gender, and intelligence to what kinds of foods we like and dislike, and why. My favorite section explained why there could not possibly be any such thing as an 'aryan' race. The author disputes the concept of nature versus nurture and offers a completely different (and more logical) theory. Although some of this I'd heard before (in bits and pieces), I found it to be a worthwhile read on the whole.
The author sometimes delved a bit too far into genetic and/or other scientific jargon, and usually apologized for doing so.
"Each of us operates from a different perception of the world and a different perception of ourselves." Contemplate that!
The author sometimes delved a bit too far into genetic and/or other scientific jargon, and usually apologized for doing so.
"Each of us operates from a different perception of the world and a different perception of ourselves." Contemplate that!
February 1, 2021
This was a little more scientific than I thought it would be. I skipped parts because of that. I thought there would be more on nature/nurture throughout the book. Research on sleep and on food was interesting.
I did like how he spoke for the mistakes some people make about Race and he is very clear at the end of that chapter that there is no evidence for intelligence related genes between races.
I did like how he spoke for the mistakes some people make about Race and he is very clear at the end of that chapter that there is no evidence for intelligence related genes between races.
November 10, 2021
Linden dissects the science behind personality with a new definition for individuality, "heredity interacting with experience, filtered through the inherent randomness of development". He admits that it's not as catchy as "nature vs. nurture" but you can't help but be convinced by his reasoning. The chapters are packed with a lot of interesting science and I only wish he had spent more time on the ethical dilemmas of gene editing and manipulation.
March 7, 2023
An interesting deep read on aspects of genetics that quantify and qualify uniqueness among humans. Although there are more details than I might have originally been interested in, the author conveys them in such a manner to make them interesting and understandable. Some fascinating information was conveyed including the such tidbits as the fact that fetal cells can remain in and influence the health of the mother long after the pregnancy has ended.
February 7, 2021
Can't say I agree with the book. Yes, while it is true that your upbringing can dictate your unique characteristics. It's only when we mindlessly allow the media, TV, internet, our parents, friends to tell us how we should act, like, and fall in love that we can run statistics on individuality. It's when we have an intention to live for our goals that our uniqueness shines.
January 23, 2022
A perfect collection of facts on the interplay of genetic, stochastic and environmental factors for traits from height to gender to intelligence. Well researched and well presented. An antidote to anecdotal opinions on nature versus nurture - in fact, Linden cleans up this antiquated and simplified dichotomy with more data and less opinion.
August 21, 2023
I was expecting this to be a little more we're-all-beautiful-snowflakes but was pleasantly surprised to find that in fact, it was an accessible yet scientific and often amusing exploration of the nature of genes, environment, and what saying "nature-versus-nurture" is super missing the point. I enjoyed it!
September 28, 2023
More like a 4.5 stars -- a lot of information is not new for me, but it's still an utterly enjoyable read. What makes us unique? How much does heredity, environment, experience, and just universal randomness affect our individuality? It's a nice summary of relevant studies so far. I like the tone of the book as well.
July 20, 2025
В начале мне очень нравилась книга, много полезной информации, исследований, а на середине пришла актуалочка - целая глава посвящена тому что пол не равно гендер, очень спорная глава, если учитывать, что цисгендерных мужчин и женщин больше 97% населения. После этого пошла глава о дискриминации по расовому признаку с актуалочкой. Очень спорная книга.
November 9, 2020
So accessible! Really enjoyed this page turner, which balances detail and writing for those new to the topic. Great read for those interested in how each of us becomes who we are—and what that means for how we live and work with one another.
January 27, 2021
Loved this book! Thank you to researcher David Linden for compiling research on so many interesting topics. My favorite chapters were on sex and memory. Through scientific studies as well as everyday observations, this book will have you think about not only why you look like you do, but why you do what you do!
March 24, 2023
This book was very disappointing, having just read Robert Sapolsky's "Behave". This book lacks the consistent throughline and nuance that Sapolsky's book has. Granted this book is much shorter, but for me it was not worth finishing.
October 20, 2023
I think this book clears up a lot of stuff in our mind and is just in its presentation of the factual information. This book will have profound impact how I see people, countries and culture.
June 30, 2024
Compelling information, well done
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