The Mismeasure of Man

Can human intelligence be measured? From 19th-century craniometry to today's methods of IQ testing, the author traces the history of scientists' attempts to assess human intelligence. He tackles the fundamental problems and scientists' own personal motives and prejudices.

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Can human intelligence be measured? From 19th-century craniometry (literally, the measurement of skulls) to today's vastly sophisticated methods of IQ testing, the author traces the history of scientists' attempts to assess human intelligence. Along the way he tackles the fundamental problems - the very idea of measurement seems reductive, suggesting that biology is destiny - morever as he vividly demonstrates, scientists' theories have too often been dangerous reflections of their own personal motives and racial/class/sexual prejudices. This book examines the fatal flaws in intelligence testing and reaffirms the richness and variety of human potential. This book won the National Book Critics' Circle Award for 1982.