Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland
by Bryan Sykes
List Price:
Our Price: $11.95
You Save: $15.00 (56%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $10.00 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Bryan SykesEdition: Hardcover
Published: 2006-12-11
ISBN: 0393062686
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Book Reviews of Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland
Book Review: R1b (Oisin)
Summary: 3 Stars
If you understand my title, you might be similarly frustrated and fascinated by this book.
I do not have my Y-DNA (R1b) through the British Isles. What we know is our common family male ancestors were born in the Eastern Europe, but there common male ancestor came from Western Europe (Germany - confirmed through family genealogy). R1b is apparently one of the larger haplogroups for Y-DNA of males currently living in Germany, so this came as no surprise.
What was somewhat of a surprise is that it is obvious to me is that R1b is the main halogroup of the Celts even before I read the book, and by far the largest of the British Isles. Further, a closer look at our Y-DNA showed close matches, particularly in Scotland. I family friend - a medical doctor - explained that it is not unusual to have close matches exist across the English Channel. Consequently, I became very interested in the DNA makeup of western Europe.
I wanted some background on the DNA as the British Isles ties to the rest of Europe. The book does this, but in a very non-technical way. The author purposely avoids being technical. Unfortunately, I think the book sacrificed too much here for me, that is in his zeal to simplify the topic. On the other hand, if technical terms and scientific details turn you off, this is probably a good read for you.
He obviously understands DNA. But he digresses off the subject too often for my tastes, and I found the side-trips to be a bit silly at times. Maybe he writes in the same way he lectures (I can see how some might find these somewhat unrelated stories entertaining). But I don't think it necessarily follows that you should write like you speak. Maybe I am in in minority here.
On the other hand, I found the history of the Isles entertaining. Had my family history showed a more immediate tie to the Isles, I probably would have had greater interest and given the book a higher rating. This book was difficult for me to rate, as it was excellent in some ways, and a bit frustrating in others. Overall, the problems forced me to give it a lower rating, but I would still recommend the book to anyone interested in the topic of DNA and history of the British Isles.
I was fascinated to see how MtDNA relates to Y-DNA and that they have different histories (WOW!). The author does an excellent job of explaining this (MtDNA is the primary focus of the book, but he does address Y-DNA).
I do like how he broke down the analysis of DNA by region, and slowly started to make sense of the test results. But as other reviewers have mentioned, he could have done this a lot faster - I expected more information about DNA after reading about 300 pages. On the other hand, I found the data on the DNA collection in the appendix summarized well. Tying the results of the DNA to the known history of the Isles, is the big message of the book. So if you also want a history book of the Isles with an explanation on how DNA factors into it, along with a lot side-trips dealing with issues surrounding the collection of DNA from the public, this is a book for you.
Summary of Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland
WASPs finally get their due in this stimulating history by one of the world's leading geneticists.Saxons, Vikings, and Celts is the most illuminating book yet to be written about the genetic history of Britain and Ireland. Through a systematic, ten-year DNA survey of more than 10,000 volunteers, Bryan Sykes has traced the true genetic makeup of British Islanders and their descendants. This historical travelogue and genetic tour of the fabled isles, which includes accounts of the Roman invasions and Norman conquests, takes readers from the Pontnewydd cave in North Wales, where a 300,000-year-old tooth was discovered, to the resting place of "The Red Lady" of Paviland, whose anatomically modern body was dyed with ochre by her grieving relatives nearly 29,000 years ago. A perfect work for anyone interested in the genealogy of England, Scotland, or Ireland, Saxons, Vikings, and Celts features a chapter specifically addressing the genetic makeup of those people in the United States who have descended from the British Isles.
Physical Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Audiobooks on Cassette
- Audiobooks on CD
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- e-Books
- Engineering
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Medicine
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in My 2007 Readings
The Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two (Revised and Updated Edition)by James Sears, Martha Sears, Robert Sears, William Sears
Published: 2003-02-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.12
Price in other shops:
The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be, Second Editionby Armin A. Brott
Abbeville Press; Published: 2001-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.50
Price in other shops:
Instant Expert: Collecting Booksby Matthew Budman
House of Collectibles; Published: 2004-05-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $54.97
No One Belongs Here More Than You: Storiesby Miranda July
Scribner; Published: 2007-05-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
Severance: Storiesby Robert Olen Butler
Chronicle Books; Published: 2006-08-10; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.00
Price in other shops:
Saxons, Vikings, and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Irelandby Bryan Sykes
W. W. Norton; Published: 2006-12-11; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $13.75
Price in other shops:
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstressby Dai Sijie; Translator-Ina Rilke
Anchor; Published: 2002-10-29; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.94
I'll Go to Bed at Noon: A Novelby Gerard Woodward
W. W. Norton; Published: 2005-09-19; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.95
Price in other shops:
A Curious Earth: A Novelby Gerard Woodward
W. W. Norton; Published: 2008-03-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.40
Price in other shops:
August: A Novelby Gerard Woodward
W. W. Norton; Published: 2008-08-04; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.17
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Mapping Human History: Genes, Race, and Our Common Originsby Steve Olson
Mariner Books; Published: 2003-04-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
DNA & Genealogyby Colleen Fitzpatrick, Andrew Yeiser
Rice Book Press; Published: 2005-11-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.14
Price in other shops:
The Tribes of Britainby David Miles
Phoenix; Published: 2006-08-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.90
Price in other shops:
Adam's Curse: A Future without Menby Bryan Sykes
Published: 2004-03-31; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $18.81
Price in other shops:
Before the Dawn: Recovering the Lost History of Our Ancestorsby Nicholas Wade
Penguin Press HC, The; Published: 2006-04-20; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.35
Price in other shops:
Trace Your Roots with DNA: Using Genetic Tests to Explore Your Family Treeby Megan Smolenyak, Ann Turner
Published: 2004-10-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.94
Price in other shops:
The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odysseyby Spencer Wells
Random House Trade Paperbacks; Published: 2004-02-17; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
The Origins of the Britishby Stephen Oppenheimer
Robinson Publishing; Published: 2007-04-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.73
Price in other shops:
The Seven Daughters of Eveby Bryan Sykes
W. W. Norton & Company; Published: 2002-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.95
Price in other shops:
Deep Ancestry: Inside The Genographic Projectby Spencer Wells
National Geographic; Published: 2007-11-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.32
Price in other shops: