Lee Hood did that rarest of things. He enabled scientists to see things they couldn’t see before and do things they hadn’t dreamed of doing. Hood led the team at Caltech in the 1980s that developed the first automated DNA sequencer. That invention set the stage for the Human Genome Project, gave rise to the field of genomics, and enabled scientists to envision a future of personalized medicine. In this engrossing biography, Luke Timmerman tells the life story of an exceptionally driven man. Drawing on never-before-reported details from the scientist’s files, public records, and more than 150 interviews with friends and detractors, Hood is a revealing portrait of one of the most influential biologists of our time and a deeply human look at science itself. "A must-read popular science book." Forbes "A thorough biography [that] never shies away from the contradictions of this forceful personality...Hood deserves to be a household name." Kirkus Reviews (starred review; named among the 100 Best Indie Books of 2017 ) "Excellent. A window into the birth of personalized medicine. Read it!" Siddhartha Mukherjee , Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Emperor of All Maladies and The Gene "A terrific portrait, not just of Hood but science itself, both of them human, flawed, complicated and ultimately triumphant." Deborah Blum , Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist, author of The Poisoner's Handbook "A thrilling ride through the life of a visionary biologist." Mendelspod "A page-turner." Bio-IT World "A revealing story that should resonate beyond the biotech world." Geekwire "A masterful guide to one of the most important scientists of the 20th century." Genome magazine "An engrossing look at the man, his times, the technology he brought into being and the implications for humanity." San Diego Union-Tribune