A review by phronk
Life at the Speed of Light: From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life by J. Craig Venter

3.0

The history, scientific achievements, and speculation in this book are mind blowing, but that can be hard to see through the dry, rambling writing. Gifted popular science writers can communicate complex science in a way average people can at least feel like they understand, but unfortunately, Venter can't quite do it. I feel like key details are left out, which instead of dumbing it down enough to understand, just makes it harder to follow. More straightforward chapters resemble shopping lists more than stories, jumping from item to item with no particular order or direction.

But you know, the material covered is so incredible, that the book partially succeeds despite itself. It's still worth reading for that.