The genome is our 100,000 or so genes, the collective recipe for the building and running of the human body. These 100,000 genes are sited across 23 pairs of chromosomes. ‘Genome,’ is divided into 23 chapters, a chapter for each chromosome. By looking at our genes we can see the story of our evolution, what makes us individual, how our sexuality is determined, how we acquire language, why we are vulnerable to certain diseases, how the mind has developed. ‘Genome’ also argues for the genetic foundations of free will. While many believe that genetics proves biological determinism, Ridley will show that in fact free will is itself is encoded – everything that makes us human can be read in our genes.