Craig Venter is no ordinary scientist, and no ordinary man. He is the first human being ever to read their own DNA - and see the key to life itself. Yet in doing so, he rocked the establishment and became embroiled in one of the biggest controversies of our age.

This is the story of his incredible life: from teenage rebel and Vietnam medic, to daredevil sailor and maverick researcher, whose race to unravel the sequence of the human genome made him both hero and pariah. Incorporating his own genetic make-up into his story, this is an electrifying portrait of a man who pushed back the boundaries of the possible.

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.

Reviews
Maverick, publicity hound, risk-taker, brash, controversial, genius, manic, rebellious, visionary, audacious, arrogant, feisty, determined, provocative. His autobiography shows they are all justified * Nature *
An all-action autobiography -- , Books of the Year * Financial Times *
Craig Venter has scorched a trail through genetics ... A Life Decoded is a page-turner throughout * New Scientist *
The first genetic autobiography. It is also a cracking story -- , Books of the Year * The Times *
The man who shook up the cosy world of scientific research ... a brilliant book. Beautifully written, it is not only the most gripping but also the most important scientist's autobiography since James Watson's Double Helix * Sunday Telegraph *
Rebel, maverick, outsider and the Bono of genetics ... the book is a voyage of discovery * Guardian *
May be as important a book as James D. Watson's Double Helix -- , Books of the Year * Sunday Times *
Few scientists have stoked the flames of debate quite like Craig Venter ... A blow-by-blow journey through a frankly astonishing career * Scotsman *
'This book marks the beginning of something new. It is the first molecular biography ... Venter's account is never less than engaging' Sunday Times'A wonderfully original work ... brims with entertaining revelations about the feuds, fights and friendships that underlie great research projects' Financial Times Magazine


Awards
Short-listed for Royal Society Prize for Science Books: General Prize 2008.



Book Information
ISBN 9780141014418
Author J. Craig Venter
Format Paperback
Page Count 416
Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 145g
Dimensions(mm) 1mm * 1mm * 1mm