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How to Argue with a Racist

History, Science, Race and Reality

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How to Argue with a Racist

By: Adam Rutherford
Narrated by: Adam Rutherford
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About this listen

The Sunday Times best seller.

As heard on BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week.

Racist pseudoscience may be on the rise, but science is no ally to racists. Instead science and history can be powerful allies against bigotry, granting us the clearest view of how people actually are, rather than how we judge them to be. How to Argue with a Racist dismantles outdated notions of race by illuminating what modern genetics can and can't tell us about human difference. It is a vital manifesto for a 21st-century understanding of human evolution and variation and a timely weapon against the misuse of science to justify racism.

Please note: the updated edition includes a new preface from the author.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Adam Rutherford (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group Biological Sciences Ethics & Morality Evolution & Genetics Genetics Philosophy Racism & Discrimination Science Social Sciences Discrimination Social justice Inspiring Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

"The ultimate anti-racism guide." (Caroline Criado Perez)

"Seriously important." (Bill Bryson)

"A fascinating debunking of racial pseudoscience." (Guardian)
All stars
Most relevant
This book has certainly piqued my interest in contemporary attitudes to race. I look forward to reading more by Adam Rutherford.

Valuable and informative

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I decided to listen to this book after being confronted with arguments from an extended family member that some racial groups are genetically superior/inferior to others with respect to intelligence. The same person had previously told me he thought people from Africa inherently had no work ethic, and that the mentally disabled should be exterminated because they were too much of a drain on resources. I tended to dismiss his comments as dark humour or born from the kind of ignorance and prejudice I grew up around, responding casually and referring to the Wikipedia entry on scientific racism. However, his relentless attempts to quote science as supporting his view that some races are genetically superior/inferior to others, coupled with the fact that he was spreading these views among family members and on his private Twitter feed really got me thinking, I'm 52 and of mixed heritage, and I seriously thought that such attitudes were dying or confined to the closet, but that is clearly not the case.
This book is a modern and scientific rebuke of the scientific racist. It is much needed because overt and covert racism are very much alive and well in our society, and it is not enough to dismiss it, it needs to be challenged wherever and whenever it raises its ugly head. The one thing that I think is missing from this book is a greater emphasis, and celebration of, genetic diversity and the essential role it plays in evolution. All species rely on genetic variation as that is part of the mechanism of natural selection that allows a species to adapt and evolve. Our differences, both genetically and phenotypically, are to be celebrated and valued as such.

Highly informative on the issue of race & genetics

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A complex subject yet written in an approachable way ( many thanks for that! )with plenty of facts and data, the audio is clear and upbeat, thoroughly enjoyed.

Fascinating read & listening.

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It would be great if this was part of the school curriculum. Highly informative. Vanquishes a vast array of misinformation surrounding the subject of race.

Essential reading/listening - expertly explained

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This book highlights many misconceptions and corrects consistent casual and aggressive prejudice. This work provides clarity, education and guidance and answers a plethora of questions the work sheds light on day to day assumptions, founded in mistruths.

Crucial illustration of many misconceptions.

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