Review of Genes of the Past
Posted: 01 Nov 2024, 20:28
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Genes of the Past" by Christer Jansson.]
Genes of the Past by Christer Jansson is a sci-fi/fantasy book that is so well done that it leaves the reader wondering if the author knows something happening in the modern world that we do not. The plot is well thought out and straightforward: the discovery (in the 1960s) of a hominin fossil in the Moroccan desert reveals proteins of unknown function. This discovery leads a scientist to believe in the hypothesis that men in the distant past had a different form of communication (I don't want to give spoilers, but this would be considered a superpower today). The book then develops with a brilliant scientist known as "Symphony" searching for the truth. By the end of the book, the reader will be surprised by the possible scenarios in a world where this "superpower" could be commercialized.
This is a brilliant book with many good qualities. It is entertaining and makes the reader think about the possibilities (and dangers) of human engineering in the coming decades. Supposedly, "well-intentioned" people can take the initiative to develop technologies that will create chaos for all of humanity. This is probably already happening without us knowing it. When a work manages to entertain and simultaneously develop our critical sense, it is because it is terrific. The author is an intelligent, funny, and very talented scientist. What I liked most was that he created a profound and entertaining book.
One aspect that I thought could be problematic is the excessive description of food. The author makes it clear more than 10 times in the book how much he likes scones and even gives cheesecakes a score on a scale from 1 to 10. The repeated descriptions of food could be a problem, but the truth is that the author is so funny that he makes you laugh at these passages and the conversations he has with the dogs. Therefore, I didn't find anything negative to mention about this book. Besides, the book's editing is flawless, and I couldn't find a single grammatical error.
I don't need to repeat that I enjoyed Genes of the Past, right? It's a clever, intriguing, and thought-provoking book. I was surprised to read on the last page that the author is a retired scientist. It's impressive that a scientist is so good with words and can talk to readers in a cohesive, humorous, and intelligent way. Since I couldn't find anything negative, the final score is self-evident: 5 out of 5 stars.
Sci-fi/fantasy lovers tend to enjoy this work. Although this genre may be difficult for some people, we are talking about a book that could be set in the modern world and not about reptiles in space or similar books. There is scientific content that is explained in a way that even a layperson could understand, and the reader is left wondering to what extent it is fiction or reality. Even though enthusiasts of this genre are the ideal target audience, I do not recommend the book to anyone under 18 because there are many swear words.
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Genes of the Past
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Genes of the Past by Christer Jansson is a sci-fi/fantasy book that is so well done that it leaves the reader wondering if the author knows something happening in the modern world that we do not. The plot is well thought out and straightforward: the discovery (in the 1960s) of a hominin fossil in the Moroccan desert reveals proteins of unknown function. This discovery leads a scientist to believe in the hypothesis that men in the distant past had a different form of communication (I don't want to give spoilers, but this would be considered a superpower today). The book then develops with a brilliant scientist known as "Symphony" searching for the truth. By the end of the book, the reader will be surprised by the possible scenarios in a world where this "superpower" could be commercialized.
This is a brilliant book with many good qualities. It is entertaining and makes the reader think about the possibilities (and dangers) of human engineering in the coming decades. Supposedly, "well-intentioned" people can take the initiative to develop technologies that will create chaos for all of humanity. This is probably already happening without us knowing it. When a work manages to entertain and simultaneously develop our critical sense, it is because it is terrific. The author is an intelligent, funny, and very talented scientist. What I liked most was that he created a profound and entertaining book.
One aspect that I thought could be problematic is the excessive description of food. The author makes it clear more than 10 times in the book how much he likes scones and even gives cheesecakes a score on a scale from 1 to 10. The repeated descriptions of food could be a problem, but the truth is that the author is so funny that he makes you laugh at these passages and the conversations he has with the dogs. Therefore, I didn't find anything negative to mention about this book. Besides, the book's editing is flawless, and I couldn't find a single grammatical error.
I don't need to repeat that I enjoyed Genes of the Past, right? It's a clever, intriguing, and thought-provoking book. I was surprised to read on the last page that the author is a retired scientist. It's impressive that a scientist is so good with words and can talk to readers in a cohesive, humorous, and intelligent way. Since I couldn't find anything negative, the final score is self-evident: 5 out of 5 stars.
Sci-fi/fantasy lovers tend to enjoy this work. Although this genre may be difficult for some people, we are talking about a book that could be set in the modern world and not about reptiles in space or similar books. There is scientific content that is explained in a way that even a layperson could understand, and the reader is left wondering to what extent it is fiction or reality. Even though enthusiasts of this genre are the ideal target audience, I do not recommend the book to anyone under 18 because there are many swear words.
******
Genes of the Past
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon