Hacking Darwin
Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity

Another book rec plucked from Bill Gates' reading list. Pros: There are a handful of interesting, thoughtful ideas about the near- and far-future consequences of genetic engineering, and the associated societal issues. It is a very good introduction to the state of genetic engineering (in animals, pl......more

Hacking Darwin is less about the methods of genetic modification than it is about the possibilities and philosophical quandaries of the thing. As a futurist, Jamie Metzl poses some perplexing ethical questions that will need to be addressed as we come to terms with what lies ahead. BENEFITS vs RISKS W......more

The book is a good way to introduce yourself to the many aspects of genetic manipulation in humans. The author is occasionally able to strike a good joke to break the science, but it's a science book, so don't be too optimistic. My problems with the title is that in some chapters it felt a little ch......more

A very good primer that covers genetically engineering ourselves & the issues that raises. I really liked the way the author framed some of the questions through stories. That really made the issues understandable, even personal. For instance, a woman in an IVF clinic choosing which embryo to bring......more

[I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.] This book is not heavy on the actual science details—if you’re looking for those, you’ll be better to get another book, but if you don’t know that much about genetics, then there won’t be anything in there impossibl......more