A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived by Adam Rutherford - Non Fiction - Paperback

Details
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781780229072
Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson (Orion Publishing)

Overview
A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived is Adam Rutherford's captivating exploration of what our DNA reveals about the shared story of humanity. Blending cutting-edge genetics with history, this bestselling popular science title traces migration, disease, war, and love through the code written into every cell. Accessible, witty, and endlessly fascinating, it is essential reading for anyone curious about where we come from and what makes us human.

About the Book
Every human genome is a record of an extraordinary journey. In this book, geneticist and broadcaster Adam Rutherford takes readers on a tour through the expanding landscape of genetic science, showing how our genes encode the history of our species: births, deaths, disease, famine, migration, and countless generations of reproduction. Rutherford examines what genetics can tell us about Neanderthals, redheads, murder investigations, dead kings, plagues, and the concept of race, while also demonstrating what history can teach us about the science of genes. Rather than a dry scientific treatise, the book reads as a lively detective story, unpicking myths and misconceptions along the way — including popular but flawed claims about ancestry, royal bloodlines, and genetic destiny. Rutherford's central message is that while DNA carries an astonishing amount of information about our species as a whole, it says far less about any one of us as individuals than commercial ancestry tests might suggest. The result is a demystifying, deeply researched, and often very funny account of human origins, ideal for readers of popular science, history, and anyone who has ever wondered about their own family's deep past. It has been widely praised as one of the standout science books of its year, combining rigorous research with Rutherford's engaging, conversational style honed through years of broadcasting and journalism.

• Bestselling popular science book from an award-shortlisted author
• Explains complex genetics in clear, witty, accessible language
• Covers history, evolution, disease, and human migration through DNA
• Debunks common myths about ancestry and genetic destiny
• Brand new paperback, perfect for gifting or personal reading
• Ideal for fans of science, history, and general non-fiction

About the Author
Adam Rutherford is a British geneticist, science writer, and broadcaster. He studied genetics at University College London and completed a PhD on the developing eye, contributing to research identifying the first genetic cause of a form of childhood blindness. He worked as an editor at the journal Nature and has written several books, including Creation, which was shortlisted for the Wellcome Trust Book Prize. Rutherford presents BBC Radio 4's Inside Science and, with Dr Hannah Fry, The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry, alongside numerous science documentaries.

Why You'll Love This Book
Smart, funny, and endlessly quotable, this book turns genetics into a page-turning story about who we really are. Perfect for curious readers, science lovers, and anyone wanting a thoughtful gift with real substance.

Please Note: Image shown may vary slightly from the actual UK edition cover; ISBN and edition are as stated above.