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A review by misspalah
Superior: The Return of Race Science by Angela Saini
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
“Race science had always sat at the intersection of science and politics, of science and economics. Race wasn’t just a tool for classifying physical difference but was also a way of measuring human progress, of placing judgement on the capacities and rights of others.”
― Superior: The Return of Race Science by Angela Saini
.
While I have a personal preference for ‘Inferior’, I find that ‘Superior’ is a superior book in terms of writing quality. Although it features a significant amount of name-dropping—which I believe is relevant—it often led me to pause my reading to look up these names. Nevertheless, the book skillfully engages in a profound discussion about the intersection of racial prejudice and the scientific discourse itself. To me, the book exemplifies what excellent science writing and journalism should aspire to achieve. It sheds light on numerous scientists whose work veers into misuse of evidence, often implying conclusions that the data doesn’t support. While unsurprising given that many of these scientists are white, it's still disappointing to realize that even scientists sometimes reinforce unfounded racial biases. The persistence of “race science” within the field is disturbing, indicating it hasn’t disappeared and, worryingly, may remain for a while yet. Furthermore, the book reveals critical insights about scientists who manipulate evidence to support claims that the data does not genuinely substantiate. It is disheartening yet unsurprising that many of these scientists are white. But being a scientist, one might assume their integrity would prevent such misrepresentation—this assumption is incorrect. The persistence of race science within the field is alarming, and it appears unlikely to diminish anytime soon. One of the book’s most crucial lessons is to approach any research on racial or population differences with a critical lens, as these studies are frequently flawed or biased. The author does an excellent job emphasizing that “race” is not a biological construct but rather a social, cultural, and political one. The scientific community’s insistence on examining race biologically has caused significant harm throughout history. The author also delves into the historical roots and social construction of race, illustrating how colonialism and slavery shaped its development. The consequences of this historical context are enduring, with contemporary views on race still influenced by colonial and slave legacies, often unconsciously. The past and present are inextricably linked. On a personal level, this book has deepened my understanding of how profoundly racism has influenced biology, while also showing me that there’s more to learn and unpack in this area. Superior is undoubtedly a book worth rereading, and it deserves to be part of the required reading list in high school or college. I highly recommend it to others.
― Superior: The Return of Race Science by Angela Saini
.
While I have a personal preference for ‘Inferior’, I find that ‘Superior’ is a superior book in terms of writing quality. Although it features a significant amount of name-dropping—which I believe is relevant—it often led me to pause my reading to look up these names. Nevertheless, the book skillfully engages in a profound discussion about the intersection of racial prejudice and the scientific discourse itself. To me, the book exemplifies what excellent science writing and journalism should aspire to achieve. It sheds light on numerous scientists whose work veers into misuse of evidence, often implying conclusions that the data doesn’t support. While unsurprising given that many of these scientists are white, it's still disappointing to realize that even scientists sometimes reinforce unfounded racial biases. The persistence of “race science” within the field is disturbing, indicating it hasn’t disappeared and, worryingly, may remain for a while yet. Furthermore, the book reveals critical insights about scientists who manipulate evidence to support claims that the data does not genuinely substantiate. It is disheartening yet unsurprising that many of these scientists are white. But being a scientist, one might assume their integrity would prevent such misrepresentation—this assumption is incorrect. The persistence of race science within the field is alarming, and it appears unlikely to diminish anytime soon. One of the book’s most crucial lessons is to approach any research on racial or population differences with a critical lens, as these studies are frequently flawed or biased. The author does an excellent job emphasizing that “race” is not a biological construct but rather a social, cultural, and political one. The scientific community’s insistence on examining race biologically has caused significant harm throughout history. The author also delves into the historical roots and social construction of race, illustrating how colonialism and slavery shaped its development. The consequences of this historical context are enduring, with contemporary views on race still influenced by colonial and slave legacies, often unconsciously. The past and present are inextricably linked. On a personal level, this book has deepened my understanding of how profoundly racism has influenced biology, while also showing me that there’s more to learn and unpack in this area. Superior is undoubtedly a book worth rereading, and it deserves to be part of the required reading list in high school or college. I highly recommend it to others.