Human Diversity

Here is a new book:

In Human Diversity, Charles Murray sets out to demonstrate three things: (1) There are biological reasons why men and women behave differently. (2) Human populations have evolved so many genetic differences that different groups cannot be expected to think and behave identically. (3) Increasingly, the people who are rich and influential got that way because they have biologically rooted talents and abilities, not because of unfair privilege. The NY Times

gives it a very negative review.

The main question is: Why am I asking these questions of Charles Murray? True, the burden of proof is on him to make a case for this “exciting” scientific revolution (whose discoveries just happen to regurgitate some of humanity’s most pernicious, wearying and stubborn stereotypes). But proof is not Murray’s concern. Despite its blizzard of statistics, the book’s most astonishing (and telling) declaration is on the first page. If “you have reached this page” — the first page, I remind you — “convinced that gender, race and class are all social constructs, and that any claims to the contrary are pseudoscience, you won’t get past the first few pages before you can’t stand it anymore. This book isn’t for you.” He continues smoothly: “Now that we’re alone...”

Now that we’re alone. This book is for the believers. Rigorous readers, skeptics, the unindoctrinated — you won’t be persuaded by “Human Diversity,” but why should that matter? You’re not even invited. How’s that for a safe space. How’s that for an orthodoxy.

Don't you just hate it when science confirms some long-held stereotypes?

At least Murray and the reviewer are in agreement on one thing -- that the book is not written for that reviewer. The reviewer (and the NY Times) are committed to a leftist world view that does not permit an examination of the facts on this topic.

Update: Sailer criticizes the review. He said the reviewer has a female Indian name.