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The Voyage of Sorcerer II: The Expedition That Unlocked the Secrets of the Ocean’s Microbiome Hardcover – September 12, 2023

by J. Craig Venter (Author), David Ewing Duncan (Author), Erling Norrby (Foreword)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 6 ratings
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“Will undoubtedly shape our understanding of the global ecosystem for decades to come.”
―Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of The Emperor of All Maladies

A celebrated genome scientist sails around the world, collecting tens of millions of marine microbes and revolutionizing our understanding of the microbiome that sustains us.

Upon completing his historic work on the Human Genome Project, J. Craig Venter declared that he would sequence the genetic code of all life on earth. Thus began a fifteen-year quest to collect DNA from the world’s oldest and most abundant form of life: microbes. Boarding the Sorcerer II, a 100-foot sailboat turned research vessel, Venter traveled over 65,000 miles around the globe to sample ocean water and the microscopic life within.

In The Voyage of Sorcerer II, Venter and science writer David Ewing Duncan tell the remarkable story of these expeditions and of the momentous discoveries that ensued―of plant-like bacteria that get their energy from the sun, proteins that metabolize vast amounts of hydrogen, and microbes whose genes shield them from ultraviolet light. The result was a massive library of millions of unknown genes, thousands of unseen protein families, and new lineages of bacteria that revealed the unimaginable complexity of life on earth. Yet despite this exquisite diversity, Venter encountered sobering reminders of how human activity is disturbing the delicate microbial ecosystem that nurtures life on earth. In the face of unprecedented climate change, Venter and Duncan show how we can harness the microbial genome to develop alternative sources of energy, food, and medicine that might ultimately avert our destruction.

A captivating story of exploration and discovery, The Voyage of Sorcerer II restores microbes to their rightful place as crucial partners in our evolutionary past and guides to our future.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Belknap Press: An Imprint of Harvard University Press
  4. Publication date
    September 12, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.1 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0674246470
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0674246478
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

Quote from Siddhartha Mukherjee

Quote from Martine Rothblatt

Quote from Sir Richard J. Roberts

Quote from Aristides Patrinos

Quote from Jamie Metzl

Quote from Margaret Leinen

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Writing with award-winning science journalist Duncan, Venter presents a lively account of a groundbreaking exploration of the microbiome of the Earth’s waters…Important and adventurous science on the high seas.”―Kirkus Reviews

“Explains with admirable clarity the science and technology involved in this global ocean-sampling expedition.”―Simon Ings, The Telegraph

“Part science writing and part travelogue, the coauthors use a combination of interviews, media accounts, ship’s logs, blogs, and scientific publications to describe the mission and travels of Venter and Sorcerer II, as well as what they see as the outcomes and meanings of these expeditions…clear and enjoyable to read.”―Kristoffer Whitney, H-Net

“An epic travelogue, brimming with the excitement of discovery. With characteristic panache, Venter unveils the teeming array of bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotes that crowd our planet’s oceans. His research will undoubtedly shape our understanding of the global ecosystem for decades to come.”―Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies

“An exhilarating account of how creative science is accomplished. Few would guess just how many microbes live with us and how much they contribute to human health, both directly in our bodies and by making sure the air we breathe supports life. I have always loved bacteria, but after reading this I have an enhanced appreciation of their value to life on this planet. I highly recommend it.”―Sir Richard J. Roberts, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

“The Voyage of Sorcerer II combines panoramic linguistic imagery with trenchant scientific insights to provide the reader a virtual seat aboard the most important ship of discovery since Darwin’s Beagle. Venter reveals to us why Earth should be called ‘Water’ and why the ocean’s microscopic life is our deepest and most magical reservoir of genetic diversity. This page-turner gives each of us the thrill of seeing our planet’s largest universe through the brilliant, intrepid eyes of the scientist who has done more than anyone to unlock the secrets of life.”―Martine Rothblatt, founder and CEO, United Therapeutics

“A tour de force. Following in the paths of the Beagle and the Challenger, Venter has expanded biology’s horizons. This book explores microbial life on a global scale, providing cutting-edge solutions to problems of environmental change.”―Aristides Patrinos, Chief Scientist and Director of Research, NOVIM

“A fascinating inside look at Venter’s historic expeditions that makes the experiences, the analysis, and the transformative discoveries come alive.”―Margaret Leinen, Director, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego

“We humans may think we are the most important species on Earth, but we’re actually just bit players in a far broader and more complex microbial world. In this exciting journey into that deeper world, Venter and Duncan expand our scope of what it means to be alive.”―Jamie Metzl, author of Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity

“A ripping tale of how a sailing adventure and science can be combined to revolutionize our understanding of our bodies, the oceans, and the planet.”―Jack Gilbert, Associate Vice Chancellor for Marine Science and Director of the Microbiome and Metagenomics Center, UC San Diego School of Medicine

About the Author

J. Craig Venter is founder, Chairman, and CEO of the J. Craig Venter Institute, a nonprofit research organization. He is cofounder of the biotechnology companies Celera, Synthetic Genomics, and Human Longevity, Inc. A member of the National Academy of Sciences, he has received numerous public honors and scientific awards, including the US National Medal of Science.

David Ewing Duncan is an award-winning science journalist. A contributor to Wired, Vanity Fair, the New York Times, National Public Radio, ABC News, The Atlantic, and National Geographic and the bestselling author of eleven books published in twenty-one languages, he was founding director of the Center for Life Science Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Belknap Press: An Imprint of Harvard University Press (September 12, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0674246470
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0674246478
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.2 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 6 ratings

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J. Craig Venter

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
6 global ratings

Top review from the United States

mp
5.0 out of 5 stars The best book I've read in 5 years
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2023
"The Voyage of the Sorcerer II" by Craig Venter is a compelling and thought-provoking read that takes the reader on an extraordinary journey of scientific discovery and personal adventure. In this book, Venter chronicles his ambitious expedition aboard the Sorcerer II, a quest that aimed to sample and decode the genetic diversity of the world's oceans. His narrative skillfully intertwines the technical aspects of genomics and biodiversity with the raw beauty and challenges of sailing through some of the planet's most uncharted waters.

What makes this book particularly engaging is Venter's ability to convey complex scientific concepts in a manner that is both accessible and enthralling to the lay reader. He shares not only the groundbreaking scientific discoveries made during the expedition but also the personal reflections and philosophical insights gained from his experiences. The book is filled with vivid descriptions of exotic locations, the diverse life forms encountered, and the technical hurdles overcome in the process of sequencing and analyzing the myriad of genetic materials collected.

Venter's passion for exploration, both scientific and geographic, shines through every page, making "The Voyage of the Sorcerer II" not just a record of a scientific expedition, but a testament to human curiosity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in genomics, environmental science, or the sheer adventure of pushing the boundaries of what is known. It’s an inspiring reminder of how much there is still to discover about our world and the life that inhabits it.
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