Siddhartha Mukherjee tells the story of the gene in a way that is both personal and historical. And he does it very competently. He is a very good writer who occasionally likes to include almost lyrical descriptions. While this might turn-off some experts, I do think this style is essential to convey the meaning and importance to laypeople. As a scientist working in the field of biotechnology, I knew most of the science that was being described, but still the story behind the science and the human element in the story made it a compelling read. You might find some experts disagreeing on some details presented in this book (on epigenetics, IQ, etc). But to my mind, these are not serious enough to reduce the overall quality of the book. Attempting to write a book of such a huge scope is highly ambitious and it should be appreciated.

Highly recommended!