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Race is not a biological reality.
Racism thrives on our not knowing this.
Racist pseudoscience has become so commonplace that it can be hard to spot. But its toxic effects on society are plain to see—feeding nationalism, fueling hatred, endangering lives, and corroding our discourse on everything from sports to intelligence. Even well-intentioned people repeat stereotypes based on “science,” because cutting-edge genetics are hard to grasp—and all too easy to distort. Paradoxically, these misconceptions are multiplying even as scientists make unprecedented discoveries in human genetics—findings that, when accurately understood, are powerful evidence against racism. We’ve never had clearer answers about who we are and where we come from, but this knowledge is sorely needed in our casual conversations about race.
How to Argue With a Racist emphatically dismantles outdated notions of race by illuminating what modern genetics actually can and can’t tell us about human difference. We now know that the racial categories still dividing us do not align with observable genetic differences. In fact, our differences are so minute that, most of all, they serve as evidence of our shared humanity.
Click to download a printable PDF of the Reading Group Guide for your book club!★ An International Bestseller
One of New Scientist’s 13 Best Science and Technology Books of 2020
A Goodreads Choice Awards Best Book of 2020, Science & Technology, Runner Up
One of BBC Science Focus Magazine’s 28 Best Nonfiction Books of 2020
One of Big Think’s 10 Best Science and Technology Books of 2020
A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year
“A fascinating debunking of racial pseudoscience . . . engaging and enlightening.”—Manjit Kumar, The Guardian
“Nobody deals with challenging subjects more interestingly and compellingly than Adam Rutherford, and this may be his best book yet. This is a seriously important work.”—Bill Bryson
“This book [shows] that race is biologically meaningless and that modern genetic science is a racist’s worst enemy, [revealing] that you are related to royalty, that every Nazi had Jewish ancestors and that you share no DNA with half your ancestors. An essential book on a critical issue.”—David Olusoga, professor of public history at the University of Manchester
“Smashes race myths that plague society.”—Layal Liverpool, New Scientist
“[Proves] that the concept of ‘race’ has no basis in science . . . an excellent overview of human genetics.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A book that could save lives.”—Kathryn Paige Harden, The Spectator
“Rutherford equips readers with the tools to discredit the prejudices of both racists and well-intentioned people. Despite its fraught history, scientists’ understanding of genes has long since converged on one truth: race, while very real as a social construct, has no foundation in science.”—Scott Hershberger, Scientific American
“Short but impactful. . . . Rutherford’s work provides ample ammunition to anyone wishing to use science to combat racial stereotypes.”—Publishers Weekly
“Bringing together compelling stories, irreverent humor, and informed science reporting, Rutherford debunks some of the most pernicious myths and fallacies about race. . . . Recommended. All readers.”—Choice
“Essential reading in an age of false science, resurgent racism, and conspiracy theory—and the perfect antidote to racial bigotry.”—Simon Sebag Montefiore, historian and author of The Romanovs
“As timely as it is invigorating and important.”—Peter Frankopan, professor of global history at the University of Oxford
“Lucid, enlightening, witty, and delightful.”—Kate Fox, codirector of the Social Issues Research Centre
“A counter-blast to those who would use science to justify prejudice.”—Tom Gatti, New Statesman
“Timely and accessible.”—The Bookseller, Editor’s Choice
“Remarkable. . . . The reader is provided the fascinating scientific weaponry to confidently take on questions about race, genes, ancestry. Ultimately, Rutherford’s book is a challenge against the manipulation, misrepresentation, and abuse of science to justify hatred and prejudice.”—Big Think
“Urgently relevant. . . . Many nations have seen an efflorescence of anti-racist reading lists. Rutherford’s book is rightfully on them.”—Alondra Nelson, Nature
“Rutherford offers a general audience a compelling scientific refutation of racist claims that still enjoy wide circulation.”—Literary Review of Canada
“A timely discussion on how to counter racist arguments from a scientific point of view. . . . Rutherford systematically deconstructs where and how [racist] biases arose . . . and why the science actually does not support these claims.”—Shelf Awareness
“Rutherford debunks [racism] brilliantly. What he shows, carefully and in detail, is that genetics, properly understood, doesn’t support any of this disgusting nonsense.”—UnHerd
“[Rutherford] is an excellent science communicator. His toolkit arrives at an opportune time, when open expression of bigotry is increasingly pushing its way into popular discourse. . . . Highly recommend.”—Greg Laden, American Scientist
“Don’t get frenetic when racists cite genetics: just use hard science to prove them wrong.”—Evening Standard
“Poignant. . . . A 21st-century manifesto for understanding human evolution and variation related to race. It is also a timely weapon against the misuse of science to justify bigotry and casual racism.”—Cosmopolitan
“Adam Rutherford is the perfect writer to arm you with evidence.”—Claudia Hammond, author of Time Warped
“Doubtlessly one of the most important reads of the year. But it’s arguably the most interesting too . . . engaging and thought-provoking throughout.”—Thomas Ling, BBC Science Focus Magazine
