How to Argue With a Racist: What Our Genes Do (and Don’t) Say About Human Difference

Rutherford (The Book of Humans), a geneticist at University College London, addresses this short but impactful volume to the question of what his discipline has to say about racial difference. His thesis is expressed clearly and concisely: “Neither race nor racism has foundations in science.” Taking on four tendentious arguments, Rutherford effectively dismantles each. Skin color, he explains, is “a superficial route to an understanding of human variation, and a very bad way to classify people.” “Racial purity is a pure fantasy” in humans, given that “people have moved around the world throughout history and had sex wherever and whenever they could.” He finds a genetic component to success in sports, but one far outweighed by cultural aspects. On the other hand, he can find precious little data linking genetic differences between populations to differences in intelligence. While Rutherford relies on cutting-edge research to substantiate his points, he is not an apologist for everything scientific, recognizing the errors and racism present in the work of previous researchers. Rutherford’s work provides ample ammunition to anyone wishing to use science to combat racial stereotypes. Agent: Will Francis, Janklow. (July)