In the Blood by Steve Jones is the transcript of the BBC television series of the same name. The author provides interesting information about genetics and exposes some of the myths and some of the conclusions which are emerging from genetic studies around the world.
While this is a fascinating hotch potch of information with some really memorable and quotable bits, it is nevertheless a book which seeks to document what was after all a television series. Each chapter may well have been a half and hour show and together with the pictures that no doubt accompanied the text would have been pleasant viewing. As a book however it ranges from interesting items that leave the reader highly anxious to read on to other items that are, at least from this reader's perspective more 'ho hum".
All in all, worth picking up and storing on your bookshelf as both a curiosity and as the source of some useful information. It has a wonderful section at the end called Further Reading which should enable people to follow up on some of the information provided and get some more in depth and presumably well researched information that corroberates some of the grander conclusions that this book reaches. Published by Harper Collins in 1996 it is probably only available in second hand bookshops and as long as you get it for a substantial reduction on its original sale price of $19.95 it is probably a good buy.
Have fun with it - but do not believe everything you read. Consider it as something that raises interesting questions rather than as a definitive answer to questions about genetics.
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