Science and Natural History discussion

Hi everyone! This was my first group read since joining, so I got a little excited and have finished already. Here are my thoughts. :)

In short, I thought it was a fantastic book - perhaps a little long and meandering at times, but definitely a great read, and I recommend it. That said, I was a little put off at first, thinking that it would be more about DNA than about genealogy and history. But by the end, I was glad it took the route it did. It opened my eyes to how interesting genealogy can be, from the passion it ignites (both positive and negative), its dangers for discrimination before and during the Nazi reign, or the times where family histories were hidden for various reasons.

It does, eventually, get to the story of DNA too. It's written by a journalist, not a scientist - so it's not full of technical detail. Instead, you'll read fascinating stories that have unravelled as DNA technology has improved, such as how distinct ancestries can be genetically mapped even within the seemingly homogeneous population of British families who have not immigrated for many generations.

For me, what's clear from this book is that our past is messy, entwined, but not unreadable or without individual flavour. Talking about genetic testing, treatment, modification and modern forms of eugenics (such as by prenatal or premarital genetic testing) is something we should be talking about more in the public arena, and this is a great book to start with. I still want to learn more, though!

Looking forward to seeing if anyone else reads it, and what your thoughts are!