Unique review: A fascinating look at the science of individuality

Understanding how individual we all are means grappling with genetics and neuroscience. Unique: The new science of human individuality by David Linden is a great place to start

By Clare Wilson

Unique: The new science of human individuality

David Linden

Hachette

IN 1979, the US public was fascinated by news coverage of the “Jim twins”, a pair of identical twin brothers who were adopted at birth by different families, only to find each other at the age of 39.

The coincidence of their matching first names wasn’t their only similarity. They weren’t mirror duplicates of each other, in looks or temperament, but both worked in law enforcement and their hobby was carpentry. Both owned Chevrolets and took …