Superior

The Return of Race Science

By: Angela Saini

Narrated by: Angela Saini

Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

'We can draw lines across the world any way we choose, and in the history of race science, people have. What matters isn’t where the lines are drawn, but what they mean.'

Modern science is pivotal in our understanding of race - not because of the lines that thinkers through the centuries have chosen to trace but because, once grouped, what they thought belonging to these groups signified. 

In Superior, award-winning science writer Angela Saini explores the concept of race, both past and present. At its heart, race is the belief that we are born different, in character and intellectually as well as in appearance. It’s the notion that as groups of people we have certain innate qualities that are not only visible but which may also have helped define the passage of progress, of the success and failure of the nations our ancestors came from. 

But modern science has moved on from these beliefs, finding reality to be much more complicated. Taking us from Darwin through the civil rights movement to 23andMe, Saini examines how deeply our present is influenced by our past and the role that politics has so often had to play in our understanding of race. Superior is a rigorous, much needed examination of the insidious history and damaging consequences of race science - and the unfortunate reasons behind its apparent recent resurgence across the globe.  

©2019 Angela Saini (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

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)

Best book on race science … if that’s a thing

Loved authors voice , brilliant performance . In depth detailed study and a totally new outlook in the world of racism . I wish everyone read this book .

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.

Everyone should read this book.

Well written, and well narrated audiobook. Very important message exceptionally presented in an engaging way.

Totally Fascinating

A fascinating history, well written well read and well produced

I learned alot Highly recommended.

Whose interests are served by 'race realism'?

Beautifully read by the author, I found this an illuminating corrective to the discredited yet persistent idea that humanity is naturally (as opposed to historically, culturally and economically) subdivided into distinct racial groups. Spoiler alert: it isn't. The differences between members of the same supposed ethnic groupings are far greater than the differences between them, and our common-sense divisions between peoples break down under scientific scrutiny. The book exposes the error of assuming that these divisions are real, then looking for data to confirm them, and is insightful on the researchers, both well-intentioned and malicious, who have promoted ideas of 'race realism' and 'human biodiversity'. The pursuit of race science, whether to 'explain' or to 'justify' inequality, is a dishonest and harmful endeavour which is supported and carried out by the powerful in order to cement their advantages.

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.

Fascinating and well performed

I was expecting something more surface level and rooted in simple retelling of historical wrongs. Instead the book pivots to the contemporary and attacks the premise at a more systemic level, shying clear of dwelling on moralising or drowning the listener in the comfort of righteous indignation at The Bad Ones. It's also well performed by the author and flawlessly edited which is always welcomed

very interesting

digs into claims/ studies that "prove" racial differences, eg hypertension and sickle cell are Black diseases.
Correlation v causation.
Why you should check who funds a research paper, etc.

Excellent research into prejudice

This book is thoroughly researched and clearly presented.

I no longer believe in race.

Thinking of oneself as superior is a pitiful condition, which may highlight personal fears and insecurities.

May we all deepen our empathy and understanding of each other.

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.

Great book

Really informative and deep into race and racism in our society, amazing work or Angela Saini
Thank you