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A review by vikingvisuals
How to Argue with a Racist: History, Science, Race and Reality by Adam Rutherford
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
This is a very informative and fascinating book delving into the science that easily dismisses some common beliefs of white supremacists as well as some more widely stated bits of racist thinking, some of which are more widely expressed.
For someone who is interested in antiracist activism or getting more into it, this is a wonderful book for the toolkit. It provides enlightening insights into genetics that go beyond what one would typically learn in a basic biology course. Some explanations are a little dry or more charged with scientific jargon so as to not always be easily followable, but I can certainly partially chalk that up to my own misgivings.
The book doesn't actually discuss "how to argue with a racist", but the information given can easily be utilized in any such possible setting. For me what is a bit unfortunate is how the focus is generally towards blatant expressions of racism, generally as one would hear it from a white supremacist. I always think it's important in the context of racism to repeat that racism isn't a simple attribute that can be applied to someone, but instead one that is applied to thoughts and actions, including those of people you see every day (including oneself). It is still present, but not the main focus.
Personally I found some parts of the book to be hard to follow and think it would have helped to divide the four main chapters up in further smaller sections or multiple chapter themselves. This to me would have made my expectations of the coming pages more... expectable... and would have provided for an easier place of reference when wanting to go back to a particular section without having to rely on one's own notes or highlights.
All in all a truly great book, one with a wonderful goal and message and one that I hope will help many people to recognize where they may themselves have some unfounded beliefs and stear them further towards antiracism.
For someone who is interested in antiracist activism or getting more into it, this is a wonderful book for the toolkit. It provides enlightening insights into genetics that go beyond what one would typically learn in a basic biology course. Some explanations are a little dry or more charged with scientific jargon so as to not always be easily followable, but I can certainly partially chalk that up to my own misgivings.
The book doesn't actually discuss "how to argue with a racist", but the information given can easily be utilized in any such possible setting. For me what is a bit unfortunate is how the focus is generally towards blatant expressions of racism, generally as one would hear it from a white supremacist. I always think it's important in the context of racism to repeat that racism isn't a simple attribute that can be applied to someone, but instead one that is applied to thoughts and actions, including those of people you see every day (including oneself). It is still present, but not the main focus.
Personally I found some parts of the book to be hard to follow and think it would have helped to divide the four main chapters up in further smaller sections or multiple chapter themselves. This to me would have made my expectations of the coming pages more... expectable... and would have provided for an easier place of reference when wanting to go back to a particular section without having to rely on one's own notes or highlights.
All in all a truly great book, one with a wonderful goal and message and one that I hope will help many people to recognize where they may themselves have some unfounded beliefs and stear them further towards antiracism.