Superior
The Return of Race Science
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Superior
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Narrated by:
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Angela Saini
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By:
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Angela Saini
About this listen
Financial Times Book of the Year
Telegraph Top 50 Books of the Year
Guardian Book of the Year
New Statesman Book of the Year
‘Roundly debunks racism’s core lie – that inequality is to do with genetics, rather than political power’ Reni Eddo-Lodge
For millennia, dominant societies have had the habit of believing their own people to be the best, deep down: the more powerful they become, the more power begins to be framed as natural, as well as cultural. When you see how power has shaped the idea of race, then you can start to understand its meaning.
In the twenty-first century, we like to believe that we have moved beyond scientific racism, that most people accept race as a social construct, not a biological one. But race science is experiencing a revival, fuelled by the misuse of science by certain political groups.
Even well-intentioned scientists, through their use of racial categories in genetics and medicine, betray their suspicion that race has some basis in biology.
In truth, it is no more real than it was hundreds of years ago, when our racial hierarchies were devised by those in power.
In Superior, award-winning author Angela Saini explores the concept of race, from its origins to the present day. Engaging with geneticists, anthropologists, historians and social scientists from across the globe, Superior is a rigorous, much needed examination of the insidious and destructive nature of race science.
©2019 Angela Saini (P)2019 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"In this essential book, Angela Saini deftly shows how science and racism have long been intertwined, why that pernicious history continues to this day, and why 'race science' is so deeply flawed. Deeply researched, masterfully written, and sorely needed, Superior is an exceptional work by one of the world's best science writers." (Ed Yong)
"This is an essential book on an urgent topic by one of our most authoritative science writers." (Sathnam Sanghera)
This is an urgent and important book. It contains a warning: you thought racism might be on its way out of science? You thought wrong." (Observer)
What listeners say about Superior
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Nia7x
- 10-07-20
Wow!
Angela Saini handled a traumatising subject with great sensitivity and flair. I learned so much from this book.
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- Bennett Gaverne
- 30-05-19
This is a great book
I think everyone should read this book. It is a modern masterpiece. Angela Saini has written something here that will stand the test of time.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Matthew Ungaro-Wright
- 19-08-19
Superior read
Absolutely loved it! The author has really done her home work on the topic covering a wide range of views on such a hot subject.
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- Miss Rachel Brackenridge
- 28-08-20
Everyone should read this book.
Well written, and well narrated audiobook. Very important message exceptionally presented in an engaging way.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Sara Lincoln
- 28-06-19
Superb
One of the best audio books I have ever listened to. Helped me to understand research, as well as the topic. I currently want to buy this for my friends and those who I think misunderstand the way evidence is used in policy.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- ventouse
- 10-01-20
An eye-opening read.
This book should be read by all kids/teenagers at school. It's a crime against humanity to not read this book to your kid, family and friends. It was an eye-opener. We, Humans, are complicit in our ignorance... and I am a research scientist!
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- MS
- 25-04-24
An important reminder to always focus on epistemology
Although, inevitably, you can feel the writers own biases in the language used, it consistently reminds you to challenge how we know what we know, and does so in a compelling way.
Performance review: personally found the reading slow enough that it left me feeling a bit impatient and left my mind to wonder, but a listen at 1.3x remedied that.
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- David & Maria
- 11-06-19
Fantastic review of race science
Angela Saini has written a fantastic review of the history and development of race science. Looking at the key findings that have shaped the area, Saini demonstrates how the researchers' naivete and even cognitive biases have led a series of scientists to draw fallacious conclusions from limited data, and how any such discoveries have been promoted by groups with political interest in demonstrating the superiority of their own 'race'. I bought the audiobook, which is narrated by the author who has a pleasant, soothing voice, and calm even through the rather moving Afterword, which was my favourite part.
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- Michael Sinclair
- 09-09-21
essential reading
this book collates a vast amount of information on race science and presents it in an easily digestible format. it is not overly political, and simply shows how the science supporting a biologic concept of race is flawed. Great examples of structural and systemic racism. This book is a force for good.
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- LOLA
- 12-02-20
Great but lacking
This was a brilliant and incisive book however from Chapter 8 onwards the analysis felt really lacking. Saini rushes through cultural explanations and more contemporary race science only giving superficial dismissals to these arguments instead of giving the more watertight analysis and rebuttals she did in the earlier chapters.
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1 person found this helpful