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Excellent logical and statistical analysis.
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Why Race Matters: Race Differences and What They Mean
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Opposing the denial of race differences and the claim that they do not matter anyway, Michael Levin explains why these differences do matter. He summarizes what has been written about the differences in intelligence and temperament, and, more important, explores their larger significance. Finding significant genetic difference between races, Levin unflinchingly considers the broad social and philosophical implications of these variations. No one making an effort to think clearly about race can ignore Why Race Matters.
415 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1,1997
This edition
- Format
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415 pages, Hardcover
- Published
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January 1, 1997 by Praeger Pub Text
- ISBN
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9780275957896
- ASIN
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0275957896
- Language
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English
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Rating(4.2 / 5.0, 16 votes)
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Kickass book!
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Well, I was honestly a little worried that I would end up with people calling me racist for even having read this book, let alone reviewing it. Then I remembered I don't really care.
I imagine that most people pick up this book because it *seems* to use pretty good factual evidence to logically confirm their racial biases. There are a multitude of books that run the counter argument to this novel too. It would be interesting to read them side by side.
But, I did find this novel interesting and it wasn't really because of the race talk (which is hard to put to the side in a book called "Why Race Matters") it was because of the "unnecessary morality society places on different traits" argument Levin puts forth.
"More intelligent and cooperative groups are seen to be just that—more intelligent and cooperative. There is no cosmic perspective from which greater intelligence and cooperativeness are “better,” just as there is no cosmic perspective from which wings are “better” than fins. The (groups) simply differ, in abilities (and) behavior."
He went quite a bit more, but I do believe there is an interesting perspective in all this. As a society we often look at any minority group (not just racial, but subcultural, ideological, religious, sexual orientation, etc) and judge whether they are doing well based on income and societal position. There is this idea that if one is not a CEO of a fortune 500 company, a high ranking government official, or a celebrity than you have failed somehow. Levin's argument (without the race bit) is that whether you are living life successfully could be judged by other standards-- self esteem, personal relationships, emotional well-being, satisfaction, health and athletic ability. That maybe we should stop placing such value on money and power as the only way to judge a group's success.
There is the counter argument that money and power control everything, and therefore are important in the rubric of success. I get that. But I do think it is also a valid point that maybe we need to change the rubric itself to be more inclusive and to better exemplify what being a functioning, healthy and successful person is. There is more to this book than just this argument, however this is the one that I found most value in.
At any rate, I found the book interesting but I can understand why people find it incredibly offensive.
I imagine that most people pick up this book because it *seems* to use pretty good factual evidence to logically confirm their racial biases. There are a multitude of books that run the counter argument to this novel too. It would be interesting to read them side by side.
But, I did find this novel interesting and it wasn't really because of the race talk (which is hard to put to the side in a book called "Why Race Matters") it was because of the "unnecessary morality society places on different traits" argument Levin puts forth.
"More intelligent and cooperative groups are seen to be just that—more intelligent and cooperative. There is no cosmic perspective from which greater intelligence and cooperativeness are “better,” just as there is no cosmic perspective from which wings are “better” than fins. The (groups) simply differ, in abilities (and) behavior."
He went quite a bit more, but I do believe there is an interesting perspective in all this. As a society we often look at any minority group (not just racial, but subcultural, ideological, religious, sexual orientation, etc) and judge whether they are doing well based on income and societal position. There is this idea that if one is not a CEO of a fortune 500 company, a high ranking government official, or a celebrity than you have failed somehow. Levin's argument (without the race bit) is that whether you are living life successfully could be judged by other standards-- self esteem, personal relationships, emotional well-being, satisfaction, health and athletic ability. That maybe we should stop placing such value on money and power as the only way to judge a group's success.
There is the counter argument that money and power control everything, and therefore are important in the rubric of success. I get that. But I do think it is also a valid point that maybe we need to change the rubric itself to be more inclusive and to better exemplify what being a functioning, healthy and successful person is. There is more to this book than just this argument, however this is the one that I found most value in.
At any rate, I found the book interesting but I can understand why people find it incredibly offensive.
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The author did a terrible job. Just truly bad.
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Marcus Dooley on GR put it well when he described this book as the "greatest treatise on race ever written". Levin not only looks at the empirical facts, but he uses his superior intellect to deduce public policy, rational action, and make very interesting conjectures. The best aspect of Levin's writing is his use of metaphors and comparisons to elucidate the points he makes. They strip one of societal prejudices and allow one to make correct conclusions based on the evidence.
Highly recommended to intelligent people who can constrain moral fervor and digest technical, but very rewarding information!
Highly recommended to intelligent people who can constrain moral fervor and digest technical, but very rewarding information!
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A must read for anyone interested in race. Levin's book is the greatest treatise on race ever written. I couldn'd recommend Why Race Matters more highly.
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This book is as subtle as a sledgehammer... though, considering the subject matter, its unlikely to do anything less.
Like many other books on this subject, it is very America-centred and makes seldom mention of the subject matter in countries outside of the US, but nevertheless Michael Levin goes into excruciating detail about the history of race relations in America, the cultural and philosophical differences between the races, and the genuine issues that have yet to be resolved in America even after more than half a century after the success of the Civil Rights movement and the cultural and legislative shift towards racial egalitarianism.
Although Levin provides little in the way of a solution to these ongoing issues, he does point out the direction it must take first before America as a whole can heal the racial rift; acknowledge that there are clear and definable differences between the races.
Like many other books on this subject, it is very America-centred and makes seldom mention of the subject matter in countries outside of the US, but nevertheless Michael Levin goes into excruciating detail about the history of race relations in America, the cultural and philosophical differences between the races, and the genuine issues that have yet to be resolved in America even after more than half a century after the success of the Civil Rights movement and the cultural and legislative shift towards racial egalitarianism.
Although Levin provides little in the way of a solution to these ongoing issues, he does point out the direction it must take first before America as a whole can heal the racial rift; acknowledge that there are clear and definable differences between the races.
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Excellent book, lots of controversy.
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