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Human Diversity

The Biology of Gender, Race, and Class

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About this listen

 All people are equal but, as Human Diversity explores, all groups of people are not the same -- a fascinating investigation of the genetics and neuroscience of human differences.
The thesis of Human Diversity is that advances in genetics and neuroscience are overthrowing an intellectual orthodoxy that has ruled the social sciences for decades. The core of the orthodoxy consists of three dogmas:

- Gender is a social construct.

- Race is a social construct.

- Class is a function of privilege.

The problem is that all three dogmas are half-truths. They have stifled progress in understanding the rich texture that biology adds to our understanding of the social, political, and economic worlds we live in.

It is not a story to be feared. "There are no monsters in the closet," Murray writes, "no dread doors we must fear opening." But it is a story that needs telling. Human Diversity does so without sensationalism, drawing on the most authoritative scientific findings, celebrating both our many differences and our common humanity. Anthropology Social Sciences Sociology

Critic reviews

PRAISE FOR COMING APART:

"I'll be shocked if there's another book this year as important as Charles Murray's Coming Apart."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}David Brooks, The New York Times
"Mr. Murray's sobering portrait is of a nation where millions of people are losing touch with the founding virtues that have long lent American lives purpose, direction and happiness."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Wall Street Journal
"'Coming Apart brims with ideas about what ails America."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Economist
"[An] incisive, alarming, and hugely frustrating book about the state of American society."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Bloomberg Businessweek
"[A] timely investigation into a worsening class divide no one can afford to ignore."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Publisher's Weekly
"[Murray] argues for the need to focus on what has made the U.S. exceptional beyond its wealth and military power...religion, marriage, industriousness, and morality."—p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: center; font: 12.0px Arial}Booklist (Starred Review)
All stars
Most relevant
Charles Murray gives an authoritative and balanced survey of this topic. If you respect the scientific method and like assertion to be backed up by evidence, you will like this book. It is quite dense in parts, so people will have to put in a little effort in places.

The humanity of the author shines through.

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Eye opening and intriguing from start to finish. Great references and examples throughout. highly recommended.

A glimpse into the future

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We are in the age of Genomics, genes are winning the argument over environment as what makes us who we are. Not least because our environments are becoming more similar. Intelligence is becoming more concentrated in the ruling classes, with social, economic and educational segregation. We like people like us.

Current definitions of intelligence are narrow, personality definition shallow, and genders too easily limited to stereotypes. It is impossible to ignore this research because it works for the mass of humanity and this opens up its box of tricks. This research represents the future, and it is vital to understand its basis. This book provides that understanding

Nonetheless the cultivation of a particular form of intelligence throughout the upper reaches of society may not be best for the human race long term. It is increasingly hard to overthrow current paradigms from Big Pharma to economic models. Not least because it limits our ability to adapt to future changes. It does not allow a route for "genius" as opposed to" excellence" even to exist let alone flourish. If you are unhappy with the current direction of research and thinking - know your enemy and understand his / her weapons. Charles Murray does not entirely side with the direction this research is leading the human race. I have ordered a hard copy of this book on the strength of this listen. The references are too important and the framework worthy of further study. This is a guide to modern genomics weapons systems of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and you want a human future, we all need to familiar with its direction of travel.

Intelligence Essentials 101

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Great book that covers human behaviour through genetics. Interesting read. Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in biology and genetics

Great Book

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It's exactly as described: a no nonsense exploration of real differences in gender, race & class.

Excellent treatment of the topic

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