Superior

The Return of Race Science

By: Angela Saini

Narrated by: Hannah Melbourn

2019 Best-Of Lists: 10 Best Science Books of the Year (Smithsonian Magazine) · Best Science Books of the Year (NPR's Science Friday) · Best Science and Technology Books from 2019 (Library Journal)

An astute and timely examination of the re-emergence of scientific research into racial differences.

Superior tells the disturbing story of the persistent thread of belief in biological racial differences in the world of science.

After the horrors of the Nazi regime in World War II, the mainstream scientific world turned its back on eugenics and the study of racial difference. But a worldwide network of intellectual racists and segregationists quietly founded journals and funded research, providing the kind of shoddy studies that were ultimately cited in Richard Herrnstein and Charles Murray’s 1994 title The Bell Curve, which purported to show differences in intelligence among races.

If the vast majority of scientists and scholars disavowed these ideas and considered race a social construct, it was an idea that still managed to somehow survive in the way scientists thought about human variation and genetics. Dissecting the statements and work of contemporary scientists studying human biodiversity, most of whom claim to be just following the data, Angela Saini shows us how, again and again, even mainstream scientists cling to the idea that race is biologically real. As our understanding of complex traits like intelligence, and the effects of environmental and cultural influences on human beings, from the molecular level on up, grows, the hope of finding simple genetic differences between "races" - to explain differing rates of disease, to explain poverty or test scores, or to justify cultural assumptions - stubbornly persists.

At a time when racialized nationalisms are a resurgent threat throughout the world, Superior is a rigorous, much-needed examination of the insidious and destructive nature of race science - and a powerful reminder that, biologically, we are all far more alike than different.

©2019 Angela Saini (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“An important and timely reminder that race is ‘a social construct’ with ‘no basis in biology.’” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

“A well-argued, timely, sobering wake-up call for those who believe science is always objective and apolitical. Highly recommended for academic researchers, journalists, and general science readers alike.” (Library Journal, starred review)

“In Superior, Saini expertly chronicles the broader social forces that have reinvigorated race science.... For such a weighty topic, Superior is a surprisingly easy-to-read blend of science reporting, cultural criticism, and personal reflection.” (Slate)

"In this essential book, Angela Saini deftly shows how science and racism have long been intertwined, why that pernicious history continues to this day, and why ‘race science’ is so deeply flawed. Deeply researched, masterfully written, and sorely needed, Superior is an exceptional work by one of the world’s best science writers.” (Ed Yong, author of I Contain Multitudes: The Microbes Within Us and a Grander View of Life)

Superior book

This book points out the folly and danger of "race" in a post human genome age, although my DNA profile says that I'm 75% Nigerian it really only measures those who live there now can we really say that ev we everyone sampled lived there for over three hundred years? Populations move around and what does that really mean? It's not like I can say to a Nigerian "I'm Nigerian ". I 'm too mixed. I probably couldn't recieved an organ transplant from most Nigerians nor would I react the same way to some medicines as and "average" (whatever that means) Nigerian. The key take away to all this should be within group variations is greater than between group variations (think of Kevin Hart vs Shac ) .

great narration, love her accent

fair speed and clear pronunciation, recommend!

the content is not new, though it is worth listening if you never read relevant content.

A nuanced take

This audiobook is first of all performed very well, and even more importantly represents a thorough and nuanced take on the complex and complicated history of race and racism in science.

Excellent exploration of the history and effects

Excellent exploration of the history and effects of Race Sciences. Honestly I believe if your not educated on the history of Race Sciences than you are literally wasting your time discussing matters of social justice. This book is a excellent start.

A good review of the issues

It was a good review of the issues and history of race in science. I was hoping for more science facts.

Excellent critique the new (old) race science

An excellent and very well researched critique of the new race science. The race hucksters are back, they have new names and they have new pseudoscientific angles but it all comes back to the same race science that has been so disproven so many times.

very informative

I wanted to listen to this ever since I heard about it and I'm glad I did. Well researched and very thorough, it goes through history and talks about the flaws in believing that race is biological. Absolutely brilliant

Great book. Terrible narration.

It sounded like a robot was narrating. No modulation whatsoever. Book was very well written however.

Everyone should read this book!

When will the day come when we can look at each other and see another human being? Thank you for writing so candidly about what has plagued us for so long. Too many of us have the desire to see ourselves as better than another. Bigotry is just a way to alleviate personal insecurity. Imagine what we will be able to accomplish when we start truly working together as one group.

Exceptional

This is a great cook the dressing is what is described as racism many of the different reasons for it how it develops and why it’s still maintain as a promise to seek superiority by some.