Technical, in parts, but worth the effort.

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.

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1 person found this helpful

Great Book

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

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Fascinating read, detailed and tightly reasoned and backed up

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.

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Detailed, brilliantly researched and honest.

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.

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The humanity of the author shines through.

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.

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2 people found this helpful

Excellent treatment of the topic

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

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Sensitive and thorough

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.

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5 people found this helpful

Moderate and nuanced

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.

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4 people found this helpful

Intelligence Essentials 101

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.

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6 people found this helpful

A glimpse into the future

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

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