In June 2000, for the first time in human history, scientists were able to unravel the mysteries contained within our genetic code. Craig Venter is the brilliant maverick who had made this happen. And since then, in 2006, he has gone on to decode the whole of his own genome, the first complete genome of any single human being. In "A Life Decoded" he tells his extraordinary life story from childhood, the young rebel running wild on the tracks, all the way through to the present day. It's a tale that includes Presidents, Prime Ministers and kings, princes of capitalism and science, but it is also a voyage of discovery through Venter's self-examination, his scientific accomplishments and his own genetic code. In life Craig Venter has pushed back the boundaries of the possible. "A Life Decoded" is the ultimate autobiography, asking us what we can ever really know of ourselves.
A Life Decoded: My Genome: My Life (Penguin Press Science)
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'This book marks the beginning of something new. It is the first molecular biography...Venter's account is never less than engaging' -- Sunday Times
`maverick, publicity hound, risk-taker, brash, controversial, genius, manic, rebellious, visionary, audacious, arrogant, feisty, determined, provocative. His autobiography shows they are all justified' -- Nature
`A Life Decoded is a page-turner throughout' -- New Scientist
`A wonderfully original work...brims with entertaining revelations about the feuds, fights and friendships that underlie great research projects' -- FT Magazine
`a voyage of discovery: a description of code-breaking as complex as the cracking of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and no less important'
-- Guardian
`maverick, publicity hound, risk-taker, brash, controversial, genius, manic, rebellious, visionary, audacious, arrogant, feisty, determined, provocative. His autobiography shows they are all justified' -- Nature
`A Life Decoded is a page-turner throughout' -- New Scientist
`A wonderfully original work...brims with entertaining revelations about the feuds, fights and friendships that underlie great research projects' -- FT Magazine
`a voyage of discovery: a description of code-breaking as complex as the cracking of ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and no less important'
-- Guardian
About the Author
J. Craig Venter is one of the leading scientists of the 21st century. He has made visionary contributions in genomic research. He is founder and president of the J. Craig Venter Institute and the J. Craig Venter Science Foundation.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By R. Bannerman
Format:Hardcover
Perhaps I'm being unkind but Craig is one of those people whose every life experience somehow has to surpass those of anyone else, you know the sort, his story always tops yours, his anecdote is always the ultimate. He's done it faster, bigger and better than you. But that's my only complaint - this is a fascinating biography set in the fast growing field
of molecular biology and it must be well written because it held my attention despite my complete ignorance of biology, molecular or otherwise. Of course its all about Craig and the essential point is that he pioneered the full sequencing/reading of a human genome (program code). Hithertoo I had the impression that Craig was an unscrupulous villain tryng to steal the secrets of our DNA and lock them up for profit. This book sets the record straight. Craig has been sinned against - on the one hand by greedy capitalists who sought to exploit him - and on the other by petty bureaucrats abetted by jealous academics who sought to stiffle him or steal his laurels. No wonder Craig has to pop off on his latest yacht every now and again and have a larger scale man v. nature adventure - but you can skip his yacht excursions without compromising the rest of the book. Finally, I'm sorry to say that Big Jim Watson doesn't emerge very well from this tale. I've long harboured (Cold Spring Harbour ?) a fond image of Watson and Crick rushing into the Eagle that famous Saturday lunchtime in January 1953 and woofing back pints of Abbott to celebrate discovering the meaning of life - and no one in the pub knew what they were talking about! Now my image is a bit dashed, as the "father" of DNA, Jim was no help to Craig's decodering endevours at all - it looks like he was obstructive and possibly devious. Another hero struck off. Good job Craig can take his place. This book is about Craig and molecular biology so far - his next book is going to be about the future. Bring it on !
of molecular biology and it must be well written because it held my attention despite my complete ignorance of biology, molecular or otherwise. Of course its all about Craig and the essential point is that he pioneered the full sequencing/reading of a human genome (program code). Hithertoo I had the impression that Craig was an unscrupulous villain tryng to steal the secrets of our DNA and lock them up for profit. This book sets the record straight. Craig has been sinned against - on the one hand by greedy capitalists who sought to exploit him - and on the other by petty bureaucrats abetted by jealous academics who sought to stiffle him or steal his laurels. No wonder Craig has to pop off on his latest yacht every now and again and have a larger scale man v. nature adventure - but you can skip his yacht excursions without compromising the rest of the book. Finally, I'm sorry to say that Big Jim Watson doesn't emerge very well from this tale. I've long harboured (Cold Spring Harbour ?) a fond image of Watson and Crick rushing into the Eagle that famous Saturday lunchtime in January 1953 and woofing back pints of Abbott to celebrate discovering the meaning of life - and no one in the pub knew what they were talking about! Now my image is a bit dashed, as the "father" of DNA, Jim was no help to Craig's decodering endevours at all - it looks like he was obstructive and possibly devious. Another hero struck off. Good job Craig can take his place. This book is about Craig and molecular biology so far - his next book is going to be about the future. Bring it on !
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Although essentially a biography of Craig Venter, the book is more than this. It is an up-to-date account of the very latest developments in genomic science. The book is also one side of the somewhat accrimonious dispute regarding the ownership of the human genome. Venter, the enfent-terrible of science, gives a detailed and exciting blow by blow account of the race to sequence the human genome. On one side the entrepreneurs and on the other side the government sponsored consortium determined to keep the genome in the public domaine. Although primarily a book for the initiated, this is a fast-moving thriller written by a born story-teller. At times the science is challenging for those without prior knowledge or interest in the field. Throughout however, there is Venter at the sharp-end of science continually pressing forward with new ideas, breaking all the existing rules and inventing new ones as he goes. Throughout the book there are clever references on the side, to various genes from Venters own genome which he has sequenced. Venter gives a description of the relevant gene and the implications of the particular genetic variant in terms of his future health. This is in itself unique.
Venter is a man driven, both in the laboratory and behind the wheel of his expensive yachts which he sails with a passion. There is only one thought in Venter's mind- success at any price. This book is a must for anyone wanting a current perspective of genomic science written by one of the leaders in the field.
Venter is a man driven, both in the laboratory and behind the wheel of his expensive yachts which he sails with a passion. There is only one thought in Venter's mind- success at any price. This book is a must for anyone wanting a current perspective of genomic science written by one of the leaders in the field.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Rolf Dobelli
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
J. Craig Venter says he is one of the "leading scientists of the 21st century," and he is. Venter is a brilliant visionary and pioneer in genomic research. He was first to decode the full DNA of a living organism, the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae. Later, Venter moved up significantly in scientific class by completing the DNA sequence of the human genome. Feverishly ambitious, he is now researching ocean genomes in hopes of finding new fuel sources and of becoming the first scientist to create artificial life. Venter does nothing halfway, hence his designation by Time magazine as one of the world's 100 most influential people. Yet, in scientific circles, he has also earned some disdain as an egotistical "wild man of biotech." Many scientists see his use of his own DNA in the human genome project as a shocking lack of scientific decorum. He comes across, in his own words, as narcissistic. This self-absorption, and his pervasive portrayal of himself as an altruistic purist constantly battling bureaucratic philistines, interferes with his story about how he cracked the human genome code. Clearly, it's not easy being a genius, but it sure is interesting, and so getAbstract recommends Venter's account of his scientific achievements.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Praise for J. Craig Venter
There was a lengthy period between my purchase of this book and my reading of it. I feared that an autobiography by the Founder and President of the J. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Random Reader
3.0 out of 5 stars
Who to believe?
Having recently heard John Sulston our Nobel Prize Winner in a half-hour R4 programme recently - what a self-effacing man - I had to read this book. Read more
Published 17 months ago by David R. Patten
5.0 out of 5 stars
It's not easy being a genius.
It's not easy being a genius. Venter describes how he cracked the human genome, but also gives a terribly depressing account of the politics of big science. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2010 by Loz
5.0 out of 5 stars
Science is politics by other means
If you ever were mistaken in thinking that science was the rational pursuit of objective knowledge, this autobiography will finally cure you of that misconception. Read more
Published on 12 July 2010 by Arthur Piper
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic
Ok, Craig Venter is not short of a trumpet or two for himself to blow, but what an amazing insight into the race to map the genome and a glimpse into what these genomicists do! Read more
Published on 11 July 2010 by Robert
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!
I have really enjoyed this book as it has science in it along with Craig Venter's life story. Any science lover should read this!
Published on 12 Jun 2010 by Steph_85
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