*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Seeds of Science gives a comprehensive overview on the current debate about GMOs, where the debate is at currently, the history of GMOs, and his own conversion from being anti-GMO to pro-GMO.

GMOs are a HOT topic–you can’t go anywhere without running into someone who has an opinion (usually a very steadfast, fiery one) on whether or not they’re good, whether or not we should be eating organic, etc. I appreciated this book for breaking down the history of how they came to be and why we might be so reluctant to adopt these foods into our society. It was incredibly interesting and I feel much more informed on the topic. Aside from the science, Lynas also goes through various areas that are trying to adopt GMOs and how the process works (or lags), which I found fascinating.

I’ve always been neutral on the topic of GMOs, since I don’t feel as though we really have enough information to make a judgment about them either way, so I was a good target audience for this book. Not super anti-GMO, but not super pro either. Of course, by reading this book, I lean more towards pro-GMO (I’m all for ways that can help countries and people avoid starvation), but I’ll still be keeping an open mind as research develops, something that Lynas also says is an important thing to do.

What really endeared this book to me is that Lynas dedicates a section talking about how debate, logic, and arguments work in our brain. He admits to being biased and even points out which argumentative tools he uses in the books. He also breaks down why it’s so hard to get people to change their mind on things. This, above all, sold the book to me. I love a person who is transparent about what their goal is and how they’re going about achieving that goal–especially since I couldn’t help but wondering how Seeds of Science presented the facts, versus what facts anti-GMO groups are operating on, and how might Lynas be smoothing those over? The fact that he points out he’s biased made me trust the book a little more and trust Lynas’s agenda.

Despite this book being rather informational and technical, this is an easy read. It flows nicely, and Lynas gives it a personal character by tying the information to his own thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. If I were teaching a history or science class in high school, this would be in my classroom, for sure. It could even work as a book to use in a curriculum about GMOs to spark a larger debate amongst students. And even if you’re not looking for curriculum stuff, this is an intriguing read that gives a lot of information about the topic in general. Definitely recommend.

Also posted on Purple People Readers. ( )