The best books on DNA

25 authors have picked their favorite books about DNA and why they recommend each book.

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The Gold Bug Variations

By Richard Powers,

Book cover of The Gold Bug Variations

All of Powers’ books are brilliant, for all kinds of reasons. I remember this book when it first came out decades ago. First of all, it’s just great entertainment, a great story with rich characters. Then, at the same time, Powers captures the beauty of science and discovery as he immerses the reader in the time after the discovery of the double-helical structure of DNA when there was a mad rush to figure out how DNA could encode proteins. Powers captures it all and gets the science right and brings in similarities between the DNA code and music and captures what it’s like working in a lab. How is this possible?

The Gold Bug Variations

By Richard Powers,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Gold Bug Variations as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A novel which follows the lives of four scientific researchers as they twist about each other in a double helix of desire, weaving intricately through the themes of music, science, language and love. By the author of "Three Farmers on Their Way to a Dance" and "Prisoner's Dilemma".


Who am I?

I am a scientist with a love for fiction, and I’m very intrigued by and like to explore the intersections of science with the rest of the world— art, fiction, race, religion, life, and death.  I bring these intersections into my teaching and writing. Over the past 30 years, I’ve taught Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns, undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, physicians and professors at Emory University, cadets at the Air Force Academy, and the general public. Why does science matter? Why is it beautiful? Dangerous? It’s the novelists who tell us best.


I wrote...

The Enlightened Gene: Biology, Buddhism, and the Convergence That Explains the World

By Arri Eisen, Yungdrung Konchok,

Book cover of The Enlightened Gene: Biology, Buddhism, and the Convergence That Explains the World

What is my book about?

Karma and epigenetics?  Sentient beings and the microbiome? This book tells the story of how, at the Dalai Lama’s request, modern science is being integrated into the curriculum of Tibetan Buddhist monastic universities— this curriculum’s first significant change in 600 years.

We tell this story through the eyes of us two very different authors who helped initiate the project now in its fifteenth year— a Jewish, white biochemist from the American South and a Buddhist monk who grew up herding yak on the Tibetan plateau. How all of us— teachers and students— think about science, life, and teaching and learning is transformed.

Smiley

By Laurann Dohner, Dar Albert (illustrator),

Book cover of Smiley

This series can actually fit into sci-fi as well as shifter romance. The main leads are human experiments whose DNA is spliced with animal DNA. Hence they are stronger with heightened senses with characteristics of animal DNA they have been spliced with. The story opens with their rescue and them being provided a separate compound to reside. Each story follows a rescued species and Smiley is my pick because he’s the most cheerful and free spirited new species among them all. And this story is a heartwarming romance woven with a lot of action that will keep the readers on their toes.

Smiley

By Laurann Dohner, Dar Albert (illustrator),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Smiley as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

*** THIS IS A RERELEASE OF A PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED BOOK ***

Vanni is furious when her fiancé tricks her into attending a conference where his father’s church is protesting the New Species Organization. She hates everything those vile bigots stand for. Vanni goes to the bar to cool off and ends up seated next to a handsome New Species. Things heat up fast when they are both drugged.

Smiley doesn't want to believe the sweet human would dose them with the breeding drug. He's willing to trust her and determined to save her life. He'll hold her. Protect her. Offer…


Who am I?

I’m a paranormal romance and fantasy author who fell in love with fantasy as a young girl. My journey as a reader started when I was four, but what changed me entirely was Russian Tales woven with magic. I’m passionate about Lycans, Werewolves, Witches, Vampires, and everything that’s magical. I like to write sizzling tales of love and betrayal.


I wrote...

Lycan's Blood Queen

By Catherine Edward,

Book cover of Lycan's Blood Queen

What is my book about?

Aaron George Randolph, ruling King of the Lycans, is hell-bent on revenge for his mother’s brutal death at the hands of Vampires. But when a suspicious student takes up residence on his turf, he can’t help but be drawn to her despite knowing what she is.

Taken into custody by the ruling family of Brookedge, Mia’s life is complicated by the whole different world of mythical creatures living among humans. Now, she must survive the impending civil war between old rivals, all the while learning about her true self and the power she holds. What begins as vicious hostility changes into defying desire as Aaron and Mia are brought together by an unforgiving grudge that miraculously blooms into something unexpected that neither knew they needed.

Where the Truth Hides

By Liane Carmen,

Book cover of Where the Truth Hides

I'm a fan of intriguing mysteries that really leave me guessing from start to finish. I loved this book because I truly couldn't predict the ending. The story teaches the reader to really pay attention when something doesn't seem right. I felt complete shock with that twist ending.

Where the Truth Hides

By Liane Carmen,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Where the Truth Hides as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Buried secrets can be deadly.

Becky Morgan has a life most women would envy until a car accident lands her in the hospital. She insists she’s fine, but it quickly becomes clear she’s changed. She’s forgetful, paranoid, short-tempered. Her husband wants to write off her change in personality to the IVF hormones she's taking in an attempt to get pregnant.

Becky's best friend, Jules Dalton, is a gorgeous, single woman, with a habit of sabotaging relationships. When Jules loses the man who could have been “the one,” she confronts the realization that being adopted at birth is contributing to her…


Who am I?

I’m an author of spy and treasure-hunting books! As a Christian, I’m always looking for mysteries and adventures of all kinds that leave my heart pounding, but the story itself contains high morals and justice. I love a dash of mystery, a cup of comedy, a sprinkle of romance, and a dollop of drama. These are some of my favorite picks. They’re all incredibly different too, so if you like variety, this is the list to be visiting. The order was automatically randomized—they’re all fantastic! The authors all have true hearts of gold, so definitely go out and support their amazing work today! God bless! 


I wrote...

Perception and Deception: A Spy Series

By Andrea Hintz,

Book cover of Perception and Deception: A Spy Series

What is my book about?

Romance, action, suspense, and intrigue in this spy series! A small-town, grocery store owner's simple life begins to teeter towards something perilous after a beautiful, undercover agent moves into town...

Inheritance

By Dani Shapiro,

Book cover of Inheritance: A Memoir of Genealogy, Paternity, and Love

Like DNA, I can’t keep a secret…until I picked up Inheritance, I had never read a memoir. I learned about the book from a friend in my DNA support group who raved about it. The author took a DNA test on a whim and suddenly found the bottom falling out of her world as she knew it. She became a detective as she followed clues and uncovered a long-kept sperm donor family secret. The author writes candidly about her struggles, questions the DNA test results raised, and meeting her biological father. Written in lyrical prose, Dani Shapiro invites you on her rollercoaster DNA journey. Take a seat and get ready for a beautiful and compassionate telling.

Inheritance

By Dani Shapiro,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Inheritance as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the acclaimed author of Inheritance and host of the hit podcast Family Secrets: a memoir about the staggering family secret uncovered by a genealogy test, an exploration of the urgent ethical questions surrounding fertility treatments and DNA testing, and a profound inquiry of paternity, identity, and love.

“Memoir gold: a profound and exquisitely rendered exploration of identity and the true meaning of family.” —People

In the spring of 2016, through a genealogy website to which she had casually submitted her DNA for analysis, Dani Shapiro received the stunning news that her beloved deceased father…


Who am I?

The Complete Book of Aspen is based on my DNA experience. I was crushed after taking a DNA test to learn that the man who raised me was not my biological father. It rocked the foundation my life was built upon. Suddenly I was struggling with my identity, wondering why I am who I am. This led to a deep dive into DNA-related books. I read everything I could, from DNA science to memoirs to novels whose characters were affected by DNA discoveries. I liked seeing how these brave souls handled their heartbreak. Not only is the subject fascinating, but it’s also comforting to know, fictional or not, that we're never alone.


I wrote...

The Complete Book of Aspen

By Danna Smith,

Book cover of The Complete Book of Aspen

What is my book about?

When Aspen’s best friend gives her a DNA test kit, a half teaspoon of spit is all it takes to discover her entire life has been a lie.

Learning that her beloved late father was not her biological father—and that her mother had deceived her—ignites a wild storm of emotions. Aspen struggles with her identity and the burden of being the gatekeeper of this closely guarded family secret. When her mother refuses to reveal her biological father’s name, Aspen sets out on a courageous journey to find him. A heartbreakingly hopeful young adult novel-in-verse by award-winning author and poet, Danna Smith, based on her true DNA experience. 

The DNA Book

By DK, DK,

Book cover of The DNA Book

With DNA testing becoming increasingly popular in millions of households these days, children are being exposed to the topic at an early age. The author does an excellent job at describing the concept to kids (and to adults, if you are like me, because let’s face it, DNA science is complicated!). With a mix of bold illustrations and photos, we learn what DNA is, how it is responsible for who we are, how we can catch criminals with DNA, genetic engineering, and much more. There are no guesses. No fables. No secrets. Just easy-to-understand facts wrapped in a colorful package. There is something refreshing about that.

The DNA Book

By DK, DK,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The DNA Book as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

This book introduces children ages 7-9 to the amazing science of DNA, genetics, and what makes you you.

It's inside every living plant and animal, from the tiniest seed to the person standing next to you, but how much do you know about DNA? This book gives children an in-depth look at DNA and its role in all living things--from why we have different-colored eyes to why we age. Discover what DNA is, what it does, and how it shapes our lives, including inheritance and why we look like our parents; forensic science and how DNA evidence helps catch criminals;…


Who am I?

The Complete Book of Aspen is based on my DNA experience. I was crushed after taking a DNA test to learn that the man who raised me was not my biological father. It rocked the foundation my life was built upon. Suddenly I was struggling with my identity, wondering why I am who I am. This led to a deep dive into DNA-related books. I read everything I could, from DNA science to memoirs to novels whose characters were affected by DNA discoveries. I liked seeing how these brave souls handled their heartbreak. Not only is the subject fascinating, but it’s also comforting to know, fictional or not, that we're never alone.


I wrote...

The Complete Book of Aspen

By Danna Smith,

Book cover of The Complete Book of Aspen

What is my book about?

When Aspen’s best friend gives her a DNA test kit, a half teaspoon of spit is all it takes to discover her entire life has been a lie.

Learning that her beloved late father was not her biological father—and that her mother had deceived her—ignites a wild storm of emotions. Aspen struggles with her identity and the burden of being the gatekeeper of this closely guarded family secret. When her mother refuses to reveal her biological father’s name, Aspen sets out on a courageous journey to find him. A heartbreakingly hopeful young adult novel-in-verse by award-winning author and poet, Danna Smith, based on her true DNA experience. 

Book cover of Biomedical Self-Engineering: Book 1

Carl is an unhealthy old man who gets the break of a lifetime when a strange accident enables him to upgrade his DNA. Not only is it like taking a sip from the fountain of youth, but Carl can also adopt some of the sensory super powers that animals have. But rather than this turning into another boring superhero story, Biomedical Self-Engineering is the story of a nice guy whose positivity brushes off on almost everyone he encounters. Carl’s not out to save the world. He’s just out to make each day a little better for himself and others.

Biomedical Self-Engineering

By Jon Svenson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Biomedical Self-Engineering as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Divorced and working as a security guard in Portland, 73 year old Carl is attacked by an unknown creature before he is able to taser it to death. After being released from the hospital, he discovers by accident that he is unwittingly acquiring DNA samples from other people he touches. 
He discovers a number of shocking facts about himself when a blue box appears in his right eye, Most importantly, he discovers that his health is nowhere near to what he assumed it would be. Can he reverse the negative aspects of his health using these blue boxes somehow? And…


Who am I?

I’m a LitRPG author and narrative designer for the video games industry. I’ve written and designed for many RPGs and have always found it satisfying when the player character’s actions tangibly improve the in-game situations of the NPCs. In my own LitRPGs and interactive fiction, I intentionally place the player characters within communities they will come to care about and see grow as their own personal power grows. To me, a character build is more about relationships than upgrades. Stats are just numbers until they affect the lives of others. Then they become story.


I wrote...

Skulls of Atlantis

By Edwin McRae,

Book cover of Skulls of Atlantis

What is my book about?

"It’s mateship that turns a pirate into a hero."

Captain Grace Deadeye Cortez lives in a virtual game world of magic, monsters and marauding pirates. Atlantis has risen from the depths and Deadeye aims to plunder the city of its ancient riches. With a motley crew and mighty ship at her command, Deadeye and her mateys will shoot and swash through anything that crosses their course. But our plucky pirate captain is in for the shock of her buccaneering life. An ancient sea god has awoken, threatening everything that Deadeye holds dear.

Forensics

By Val McDermid,

Book cover of Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, Dna, and More Tell Us about Crime

Journalist and award-winning crime writer Val McDermid is known for her gritty novels. In Forensics, she draws on her connections to introduce us to forensic crime fighting around the world. The best part for me: she introduced behind-the-scenes elements to cases I thought I already knew. And she is a novelist. She knows how to tell a good story.

Forensics

By Val McDermid,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Forensics as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

In the course of researching her best-selling books, McDermid has become familiar with many branches of forensics, and now she uncovers the history of this science and the people who make sure that for murderers, there is no hiding place. Forensic scientists can unlock the mysteries of the past and help serve justice using the messages left by a corpse, a crime scene, or the faintest of human traces. Now available in paperback, Forensics goes behind the scenes with some of these top-level professionals and their groundbreaking research, drawing on original interviews and firsthand experience on scene with top forensic…


Who am I?

When I started writing mysteries, beginning with St. Martin’s Malice Award-winning Southern Fried, I wanted to get the medical, investigative, and courtroom details right. What better resource than good first-hand accounts from professionals who do those things every day? I must admit that, over several decades now, I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole. Real life is full of stories that, if told as fiction, would leave readers rolling their eyes in disbelief. The gruesome and cruel don’t interest me. I’m drawn to the storytellers who can capture the worst moments and turn them into finely written, compelling, accurate stories, showing us the complexity of life. 


I wrote...

Charlotte True Crime Stories: Notorious Cases from Fraud to Serial Killing

By Cathy Pickens,

Book cover of Charlotte True Crime Stories: Notorious Cases from Fraud to Serial Killing

What is my book about?

Crimes that captivated the Charlotte area over the years run the gamut from missing people to the wrongly accused. This collection of headline stories features a little woman who got away with murder, violent motorcycle gangs, crusading mothers, a fraudster who claimed a president was poisoned by his wife, a serial killer who broke all the rules, and even the man who made Bigfoot. With a mystery novelist's ear for a good tale, Cathy Pickens presents more than a century of sensational sinister deeds that marked this diverse and dynamic city.

Flight of Shadows

By Sigmund Brouwer,

Book cover of Flight of Shadows

In this sequel to Broken Angel, the main character has been genetically altered (spoiler) and must now live a life of secrecy and shame. As the story unfolds we see the darkness behind the circumstances of her birth. There is hope at the end of the book, though not necessarily what one would expect. It is a book that keeps you thinking long after you finish, almost haunting in its effects. It is beautifully written and I would read it many times over. 

Flight of Shadows

By Sigmund Brouwer,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Flight of Shadows as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Her genetic secret could change humanity forever.
Her DNA grants her the ultimate power. 
But all she wants is to disappear. 

Looming buildings rise into the sky of a near-future America, shadowing the desperate poverty of the soovie parks, death doctors, and fear bombs. In this world of walled cities, where status matters most, Caitlyn Brown is desperate to remain invisible, wrongly believing what she needs to hide is the deformity on her back. The powerful want her for so much more.
 
She’s forced to take flight again, relying on the help of Razor, a street-smart illusionist she can’t trust.…


Who am I?

I love books and movies that contain paranormal, supernatural, or Sci-fi elements. I also enjoy a good romance, especially when it contains “forbidden” elements or some major obstacles. However, I don’t always appreciate work that is too graphic. As a person of Christian faith, I have often found it challenging to find books and movies that pique my interests but that aren’t preachy or full of pat answers, especially if they come from a Christian worldview. I’ve listed some of my absolute favorites that meet all the criteria: suspense, thrills, a bit of edgy content without being too graphic, and a touch of the unexpected.


I wrote...

Conspiracy of Bones: And the Beat Goes On

By Tracy Krauss,

Book cover of Conspiracy of Bones: And the Beat Goes On

What is my book about?

Canadian-born archaeologist Mark Graham unearths a remarkable discovery while at a dig in the mountains of Zimbabwe – pterodactyl remains and giant human bones buried together. Speculation leads to the possible existence of a mythical race known as ‘Nephilim’, a pre-flood people alleged to have descended from both gods and men. But skepticism and sabotage delay Mark and his team as the dig site is compromised, putting their discovery – as well as Mark’s very life – in grave danger. Deceived and framed by trusted friends and colleagues, Mark struggles to safeguard his findings and protect his reputation in order to unearth the mystery behind the bones. 

Book cover of Who We Are and How We Got Here: Ancient DNA and the New Science of the Human Past

This book explains in a wonderful language how we became the humans we are, from the roots in Africa to the spreading across continents. It even reconstructs the genetic fingerprints of Tschingis Kan in the modern human genome along his war routes. From DNA recovered from bones we also learn how waves of migrations with associated pandemics replace one continental gene pool with another one, and how the Americas were inhabited. Every educated person can understand this book. Truly eye-opening. 

Who We Are and How We Got Here

By David Reich,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Who We Are and How We Got Here as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

The past few years have witnessed a revolution in our ability to obtain DNA from ancient humans. This important new data has added to our knowledge from archaeology and anthropology, helped resolve long-existing controversies, challenged long-held views, and thrown up remarkable surprises.

The emerging picture is one of many waves of ancient human migrations, so that all populations living today are mixes of ancient ones, and often carry a genetic component from archaic humans. David Reich, whose team has been at the forefront of these discoveries, explains what genetics is telling us about ourselves and our complex and often surprising…


Who am I?

I love books on our living world that take a wide perspective, employ a simple and clear voice, are intellectually appealing, and are conclusive. Bringing things ‘to the point’ has been my own principle of academic teaching for decades. Teaching plant sciences across all grades, I always tried to be ‘emotionally touching’ because this is the best way to create lasting knowledge. I am convinced that good science does not require jargon and can sell in everyday, common language and does best, if it goes to heart. The books I am listing, adopt this principles of communication. They open an arena of basic natural science knowledge about the world we are part of. 


I wrote...

Alpine Plant Life: Functional Plant Ecology of High Mountain Ecosystems

By Christian Körner,

Book cover of Alpine Plant Life: Functional Plant Ecology of High Mountain Ecosystems

What is my book about?

Plant life in the cold alpine world across the globe reveals fundamentals of biology. The 500-page, richly illustrated book is written in a way that helps non-specialists to dive into 17 chapters of telling stories about climate, soils, life under snow, freezing stress, how plants use water and acquire nutrients and carbon, how they grow and reproduce and what a warmer future will bring to them. It is the only book on that subject that has interested a broad readership from students of biology, interested lay readers, conservationists, and people who like mountain climbing and wish to understand what they see along their path.

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings

By Annette Gordon-Reed,

Book cover of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy

Not a biography in the strict sense, this book is an investigation into “an American controversy” by a legal scholar that demonstrates the value of historical research and analysis by showing how Jefferson’s grandchildren, and white scholars and biographers following their lead, effectively conspired to hide the truth of Jefferson’s 30+ relationship with a woman he owned. And Gordon-Reed published this book a full year before the DNA-based analysis showed that Jefferson was overwhelmingly likely to have been the only father to Hemings’s four children.

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings

By Annette Gordon-Reed,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

When Annette Gordon-Reed's groundbreaking study was first published, rumors of Thomas Jefferson's sexual involvement with his slave Sally Hemings had circulated for two centuries. Among all aspects of Jefferson's renowned life, it was perhaps the most hotly contested topic. The publication of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings intensified this debate by identifying glaring inconsistencies in many noted scholars' evaluations of the existing evidence. In this study, Gordon-Reed assembles a fascinating and convincing argument: not that the alleged thirty-eight-year liaison necessarily took place but rather that the evidence for its taking place has been denied a fair hearing.

Friends of Jefferson…


Who am I?

I’ve been fascinated by American women’s lives my whole life, reading and writing women’s biographies from high school through graduate school and into my career as a professional historian. I was raised in the Great Lakes region of the United States, and was educated at Bryn Mawr College and the University of Pennsylvania. I teach early American history, women’s history, and the history of sexuality at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, and am at work on a book about women’s lives in the generation after the American Revolution.


I wrote...

The Many Captivities of Esther Wheelwright

By Ann Little,

Book cover of The Many Captivities of Esther Wheelwright

What is my book about?

Born and raised in a New England garrison town, Esther Wheelwright (1696–1780) was captured by Wabanaki Indians at age seven. Among them, she became a Catholic and lived like any other young girl in the tribe. At age twelve, she was enrolled at a French-Canadian Ursuline convent, where she would spend the rest of her life, eventually becoming the order’s only foreign-born mother superior. Among these three major cultures of colonial North America, Wheelwright’s life was exceptional: border-crossing, multilingual, and multicultural.

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