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Human Diversity

The Biology of Gender, Race, and Class

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Human Diversity

By: Charles Murray
Narrated by: David Baker
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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.

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

©2020 Charles Murray (P)2020 Twelve Anthropology Social Sciences Sociology

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Critic reviews

"[A] timely investigation into a worsening class divide no one can afford to ignore." (Publisher's Weekly)
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Alhough technical in parts and from a European perspective a very US-centric, overall this is not only very informative but also inspiring. It is a fairminded, evidence based, commentary on social science issues. His description of the new intellectual elite, and their failings, in the US, resonates with crticisms of left-leaning, metropolitan, academic, elitist, identity politics in the UK.
Apart from a regrettable deference to religion, I think this is a wonderful book.

Technical, in parts, but worth the effort.

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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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A fascinating read: a detailed and tightly reasoned exploration of the research. As a clinical psychologist with long standing experience in cognitive assessment I feel that the differences between people shown in the data should be discussed and taught in clinical psychology training courses. It was not discussed on our doctoral training course. I haven’t heard from colleagues that it is explored on other doctoral training programs. The research and data on differences between men and women are usually not acknowledged and we were taught a social construct formulation. Differences were formulated as being due to the environment and systematic inequality. Reading Charles Murray, along with evolutionary psychologists such as David Buss, has given me a data based framework for thinking more clearly about how to understand and support people clinically. Highly recommended.

Fascinating read, detailed and tightly reasoned and backed up

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Whilst the detail of the narrative can be challenging sometimes, this is a fabulous book that dissects the facts about race, gender, genes, environment and good old-fashioned luck brilliantly. I liked it so much I shall be buying it in hardback. Good job Charles Murray.

Detailed, brilliantly researched and honest.

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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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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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A comprehensive overview of the state of genetic research and its implications for social sciences from my favourite social scientist.

Perhaps more data-heavy than is best suited to audiobooks (I found myself pausing and making notes), but the narrator was engaging and I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Giving this 5 stars because I'd like to see more of Murray's work on Audible.

Sensitive and thorough

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The author has written a very timely and useful book. Whether his conclusions are sound or not the book is a worthy contribution to the debate around nature and nurture in politics. It is sometimes hard to follow as an audiobook due to the technical jargon and statistical data.

Moderate and nuanced

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

A glimpse into the future

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