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Community Corner

Sam Kean- Author of Disappearing Spoon and Violinist's Thumb


Why did Gandhi hate iodine? Why did the Japanese kill Godzilla with missiles made of cadmium? Can genetics explain a crazy cat lady’s love for felines? How did radium nearly ruin Marie Curie’s reputation? How does DNA lead to people with no fingerprints, or humans born with tails?



Sam Kean, author of the New York Times bestsellers The Violinist’s Thumb and The Disappearing Spoon has the answers and will welcome your questions on Thursday, February 21 at 7 p.m. in the Cole Auditorium. 


Both books were named Amazon top five science books of the year. In addition, Sam and his work have been featured on NPR’s Radiolab, All Things Considered, and Fresh Air. After his Greenwich visit, Sam will head for SXSW 2013 in Austin, TX.

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The Violinist’s Thumb explores our genes and DNA: Did the human race almost go extinct? How did the right combination of genes create the exceptionally flexible thumbs and fingers of a truly singular violinist? Unraveling the genetic code hasn’t always been easy—from its earliest days, genetics has been rife with infighting, backstabbing, and controversial theories—but scientists can now finally read the astounding stories buried in our DNA.



The Disappearing Spoon delves into every single element on the table and explains each one’s role in science, money, mythology, war, the arts, medicine, alchemy, and other areas of human history, from the Big Bang through the end of time.

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Sam Kean’s stories have appeared in The New York Times MagazineMental FlossSlateSmithsonian Air & Space, and The New Scientist. He was the national runner-up in the National Association of Science Writer’s award for best young science writer. 



AuthorsLive@GreenwichLibrary is free and open to all through the support of the Greenwich Library Board of Trustees and contributions by generous donors. Books are for purchase and signing at each event through Diane’s Books. Seating in the Cole Auditorium is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. Doors will open at 6:30 pm. 


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