I was excited to receive this book from the library, and the audiobook is read by the author - always a plus.

The author provides a lot of detail, and this includes and excellent index and references. The chapter on bison, Bone Mining, and the follow up chapter Intended Consequences are in the author's field, and both well done. I listened to the audiobook and followed references from the physical book, both from the local library. I thought the author's conclusions in the final chapter - what would it take for humans to accept genetic modifications - were spot on.

While the information is nicely collected, the storytelling is not as well done in the other chapters - which also lacked the anecdotes and humor from the bison and mammoth stories. I believe some pictures and graphics would have helped. Whether more information or a better connected story - I just wanted more.

Maybe that's the pop-science aspect of the book. Malcolm Gladwell tells several stories, not really connected. Beth Shapiro is trying to connect her stories and draw conclusions - and maybe that's the failing. I liked the book - I just didn't love it.