Wow. What a fascinating book. It's deep and sometimes I felt a bit lost, but then I had an epiphany and it seemed to all come together. I know that we are all a mixture of the people who have come before. This book dove right in and made me much more appreciative of where we came from and where we're going. Having a population geneticist write this book, at times, I felt I was in a lecture hall. So much scientific dialogue and method and how he and his team went about getting the statistics. This was a story and a learning tool.

I'm the family historian and have Persian roots. My great-grandfather emigrated to the US in the very early 1900's On my Ancestry DNA I have Levantine lineage. It's at a small percentage, but it's there. I was intrigued when I saw that this book was going to be discussing my own roots and have enjoyed the journey I took while reading.

4 stars since I was overwhelmed at times with all the data.

I should start by saying I have absolutely no foundational knowledge in genetics—but I do have a background in sociolinguistics and sociocultural anthropology. What was interesting to me was that this book was certainly heavy on the genetics but not in a way that made me feel how out of my depth I was, Zalloua has a way of explaining concepts and walking you through his conclusions that is wonderfully clear and succinct. Beyond that, I appreciate the ways in which he touched on migrational patterns and differentiated the migration of peoples versus other things like culture or language, it was an overall well rounded book in that sense.

"Ancestors" is an ambitious undertaking to describe both in genetic and other terms who the people of the Levant are and have been. He traces the history of the peoples of the area as well as beyond, in many circumstances, both using genetics and archeology.

It is a read not for the casually interested, but the factors that he discusses are fascinating, especially given today's preoccupation with the ideas of race and ethnicity. I highly recommend for all history and political science majors in college, as well as those with an interest either in the Levant (generally Middle East, upper Africa, and into parts of Europe and Asia as well) or with the study of race, ethnicity, and culture. 4 stars because it could use some summaries at the end of each chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for and ARC #sponsored

Super interesting topic. I’m a biochemist with a special interest in genetics and genealogy, and this book was a very fascinating read. Even though I feel like the flow was kind of off and dragged a lot through a few parts, it was awesome to see how Zalloua was able to interweave the science and genetics with history to try and trace the origins and evolution of the levant throughout time. This is a work of nonfiction, but at certain points throughout the book, it reads like prose, the words woven together so beautifully that you couldn’t decipher it as “scientific text”. I was really impressed with that.

Zalloua, of Jordanian origin, doesn’t particularly believe in the idea of “ethnicity”, and leads us, as the reader around to the idea of how and why it is different from our genetic ancestry. To juxtapose that, he also talks about our identities and how they are forged by the people around us and our culture… especially for those who are indigenous to the Levant. He even brings up the shadiness of genetic testing companies and their somewhat ambivalent code of ethics, which I think is ESPECIALLY relevant to what’s happening now with 23 and me going down and the millions of peoples private DNA genomes going down with it. Zalloua essentially predicts the impact and implications of it here first.

I would give this a 3.8/5 because lowkey this book put me into a slump but it was definitely worth reading for me

This is a history of the Middle East and the Levant, with a special focus on Lebanon, told from the perspective of population genetics. It tells the story of waves of migration, beginning with the emergence of modern humans, and the formation of distinct communities through their DNA, attempting to combine broad accessibility with scholarly rigor. (For example, the flow of the narrative is uninterrupted by endnote numbers, but then the notes section contains all the additional details and citations, traceable by key phrases.)

The book juxtaposes rather dry, textbook-like sections that tell the story of the spread of certain ancient genetic signatures, and very lively stories dominated by the author's personality, such as his attempt to collect some DNA from isolated populations in Chad to make a point about the concept of indigeneity, or to find some "Phoenician" artifacts in the National Museum of Lebanon.

I wasn't entirely convinced by the structure of the book, including this combination of such stylistically different segments and some misleading signposting (e.g. it is suggested that the general outline of Levantine history will be told in a few thousand words, leaving the reader to expect that we will then move on to some central issue, when in fact most of the book is the outline of Levantine history). Also, there are some moments of sloppy writing that can be misleading to those who don't already know what's going on (e.g., the Eastern Roman Empire was not replaced by Byzantium as a different power/state, it's the same thing, and Central Asia is not between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea). But it was interesting and I learned a lot.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free eARC through Netgalley. Publication date April 29, 2025.

I did not agree with the author's foundational framework, despite the writing being good. Though the author is trying to be compassionate and encourage a form of multiculturalism, he is still promoting a type of questionable colonial science. He mentions that past genome projects might have been insensitive to indigenous people - but he believes that dna collection and genome projects now are more aware and does not offer current critiques. He implies that indigenous people now are simply holding onto past misunderstandings, instead of providing the actual reasons that many contemporary indigenous people still oppose these extractions and these problematic projects. Excellent explanations are provided by Kim TallBear and more indigenous scholars. Though many of his understandings about race and identity are more nuanced and compassionate than those of his colleagues, he still tells painfully cringey stories about his interactions with indigenous folks (including a moment when he awkwardly notices a scar on an African pilot, questions the person at their workplace - expecting about a gruesome war story - and then decides that he doesn't really want to hear the story anyway.) He acknowledges that his coworker is interested in "collecting" "exotic" DNA, yet he doesn't see a problem in THIS type of othering or taking, which is supposedly scientific. He is quite willing to blame religion for causing division in people, though. His arguments about Phoenicians not being colonizers are made less powerful without his actual definition of colonization. He continues to refer to the Phoenician colonies, but insists they were really sensitive and respectful when showing up places. I struggled rating this, as I found the content questionable, but the author felt more collaborative and caring than others in his field. If you are a lover of genome projects and do not want to critique them, then this book will work for you. I was interested in the presented history about the Levant and Lebanon.

Overall, this is an excellent book on DNA results and what they may or may not mean. The author is an expert on DNA with a focus on the Levant, a specific area in the Middle East. While his research on this area was interesting, his overall observations and insights were the stars of this book. By showing the past movements of large swaths of human beings over the span of time, the author brings into question what it means to be "indigenous" and how language may or may not correlate to genetic results. As an American of umpteen different ethnic heritages, this book resonated with me and gave me lots to think about.

I would like to read more about this subject from this author, but I would be more interested in his overall insights about human DNA. The tales of his field trips in Africa were also beautifully written and fascinating. These stories could be a book in themselves.

As an amateur genealogist, I was really looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, it was too esoteric for me. The writing style did not draw me in.

A powerful, science based refutation of the "evolution" (forgive the pun) of eugenics to nationality and culture discourse. The author comes out swinging in the introduction and the book is petal to the medal for the rest of the short book. I was very impressed by the authors frank discussion of culture in realistic terms instead of easily quantifiable datasets.

Just because something can be measured, doesn't mean it should or that it's useful!

I personally would have enjoyed a bit more of the science included in the book text and general expansion of some of the threads and ideas. All parts are well referenced, but I would have liked to not have to go seek out all the reference material for some further background on specific genetic details.

Overall, a powerful book that I hope gets read by scientists in diverse fields. I definitely recommend this as a primer to Sapiens or Eve and similar more in-depth texts that don't handle this nuance well or at all.

The Levant has long been the crossroads of empires and civilizations. They have left their marks etched into monuments and papyri across the region, but their signs also exist in the DNA of the people who originate there.

This is the first book I have read that relied on genetics to describe the history of a people, and I really learned a lot. The first 2/3rds of the book is a look into the history of homo sapiens and the first migrations out of Africa 90,000 years ago -- of which the Levant was one of the first stops. Zalloua shows how climate fluctuations affected migration from Africa and back until humans cought on and stayed about 60,000 years ago.

Through genetics he traces interactions and inter-breeding with Neanderthal groups and the migrations over the Zagros Mountains and further eastward into Asia and beyond (Australia and the Americas). It is a fascinating and detailed look at human history.

Zalloua's interest in genetics is highly personal. He is Lebanese, and he relates that he found in his own DNA the traces of both Crusaders and Arabs. He relates research he conducted for National Geographic to find evidences of Phoenecian heritage in sites across the Mediterranean -- a study which led him to find a close genetic relative in Sicily, of all places.

The last 1/3rd of the book focuses on the history we find in the history books. Zalloua shows the rise of empires, although he is focused on genetics more than on conquerors. As a historian, his account isn't convincing (I found an account of Hebrew history that differed from the accounts in the Bible and other histories of that era), but it connected his genetic research with mainline history nontheless.

Zalloua dismisses the idea of "culture conflict", a lends through which many interpret the Levant today. He shows, genetically, that there has been very little intermixing and conversion among the different religious communities of Iran: Christians stem from Greek and European immigrants to the region, Muslims from Arab and African lines. He also includes interesting accounts of the genetic history smaller Maronite and Druze communities there.

If you're reading for a unique insight on history, Ancestors: Identity and DNA in the Levant will provide it. I recommend it more for those with a scientific bent, though, not those trying to fill in gaps in their understanding of the cultures and empires that rose and fell along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

Special thanks to NetGalley and RandomHouse for providing me with an advanced galley in return for this honest review.

**Book Review: *Ancestors* by Pierre Zalloua**

In *Ancestors*, renowned geneticist Pierre Zalloua embarks on a profound exploration of identity, culture, and migration, particularly in the context of the Middle East. As the popularity of genetic testing surges, Zalloua's work serves as a crucial reminder that our understanding of ancestry is often oversimplified.

Drawing from his own experiences growing up in Lebanon, Zalloua delves into the complexities surrounding what it means to be "indigenous" to a land, especially in a region as historically rich and contested as the Levant. He challenges the notion that genetic ancestry alone can define one's identity, emphasizing the importance of history, culture, and the lived experiences that shape who we are.

Through a narrative that spans 100,000 years, Zalloua intertwines genetic research with the historical movements of people in the Levant, offering insights that are both enlightening and provocative. He deftly illustrates how the interplay of genetics, culture, and ethnicity has evolved, especially in a region marked by its diverse populations and turbulent history.

Zalloua's writing is both accessible and thought-provoking, making complex genetic concepts digestible for a broader audience. He urges readers to reconsider their perceptions of ethnicity and identity, promoting a more nuanced understanding that transcends simplistic genetic markers. His arguments are supported by a wealth of research, yet they resonate on a personal level, as he reflects on the real-life implications of these discussions.

*Ancestors* is not just a scholarly work; it is an invitation to engage with the ongoing conversation about who we are and where we come from. Zalloua's insights prompt us to reflect on the significance of our personal histories and the cultural narratives that inform our identities.

For anyone interested in genetics, anthropology, or the intricate tapestry of human history, this book is a must-read. Zalloua's compelling analysis reshapes our understanding of ancestry and identity, making *Ancestors* a pivotal contribution to the discourse surrounding heritage in the modern world.

Rating: 4/5

Ancestors: Identity and DNA in the Levant by Pierre Zalloua delves into the fascinating connections between genetics, history, and identity in the Levant, one of the world's most historically complex regions. Zalloua, a geneticist, expertly navigates how DNA can reveal deep ancestral roots and shed light on the interwoven history of the people in this region. Through a mix of scientific research, personal stories, and historical insights, he traces the movements and intermingling of populations over time, offering a fresh perspective on modern concepts of identity.

This book fits comfortably in the non-fiction genre, blending science and history with a moderate length of about 300 pages. The pacing is steady, balancing in-depth scientific discussions with engaging historical narratives. The feel is both educational and reflective, as Zalloua invites readers to explore their own heritage while understanding the shared genetic connections of the Levant.

Zalloua guides readers through both personal and scientific discovery. He combines complex genetic concepts with personal anecdotes, creating an intimate and informative reading experience. Uncovering hidden pasts and blending science with storytelling comes through strongly, making it appealing for those who enjoy explorations of identity and history.

One of the book’s strengths is how it makes complex genetic science accessible to non-experts, providing insight into how DNA reveals the migration and interconnection of populations in the Levant. Zalloua’s writing style adds needed relatability. However, the scientific language may be a bit challenging for readers unfamiliar with the terminology, and the historical depth might feel overwhelming for those not well-versed in the region's history.

Readers who are fascinated by genealogy, DNA testing, or the intersection of science and identity will find this book particularly engaging. It's also well-suited for anyone interested in Middle Eastern history and anthropology.

"Our genes are like silent witnesses, recording the paths our ancestors took, the battles they fought, and the love they shared. In the Levant, these stories intertwine like vines in a vineyard, revealing a rich tapestry of human history."