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The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality Kindle Edition

by Kathryn Paige Harden (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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A provocative and timely case for how the science of genetics can help create a more just and equal society

In recent years, scientists like Kathryn Paige Harden have shown that DNA makes us different, in our personalities and in our health—and in ways that matter for educational and economic success in our current society.

In The Genetic Lottery, Harden introduces readers to the latest genetic science, dismantling dangerous ideas about racial superiority and challenging us to grapple with what equality really means in a world where people are born different. Weaving together personal stories with scientific evidence, Harden shows why our refusal to recognize the power of DNA perpetuates the myth of meritocracy, and argues that we must acknowledge the role of genetic luck if we are ever to create a fair society.

Reclaiming genetic science from the legacy of eugenics, this groundbreaking book offers a bold new vision of society where everyone thrives, regardless of how one fares in the genetic lottery.

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In recent years, scientists like Kathryn Paige Harden have shown that DNA makes us different, in our personalities and in our health—and in ways that matter for educational and economic success in our current society.	Harden introduces readers to the latest genetic science, dismantling dangerous ideas about racial superiority and challenging us to grapple with what equality really means in a world where people are born different. Harden shows why our refusal to recognize the power of DNA perpetuates the myth of meritocracy, and argues that we must acknowledge the role of genetic luck if we are ever to create a fair society.	“This brilliant book is without a doubt the very best exposition on our genes, how they influence quite literally everything about us, and why this means we should care more, not less, about the societal structures in which we live.”―Angela Duckworth, author of Grit

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Harden diligently fights a desperate battle to enlist science to serve progressive social reform." ― Kirkus Reviews

"An engagingly written and highly accessible account of how genes shape our lives. . . . [The Genetic Lottery] richly merits the widespread attention it has received."---Robert H. Frank, Administrative Science Quarterly

"[Harden] is a beautiful writer, weaving together personal narrative and complex technical concepts skillfully. Her writing is accessible to nonexperts, and the argument she makes―that it is both valuable and politically progressive for researchers of social outcomes to study DNA―is provocative. With this argument, The Genetic Lottery invites a necessary debate."---Daphne Oluwaseun Martschenko, Hastings Center Report

"A book that is closely argued and packed with compelling scientific and statistical evidence. . . . This is a fascinating and detailed discussion of how genetic and environmental factors are braided together in all of us, shaping our destinies for good or ill. Harden’s ideas challenge existing orthodoxies, and she is also aware that complex research such as this is often misused. But her passionate commitment to tackling inequality and changing society is not to be doubted."---P. D. Smith, The Guardian

"The Genetic Lottery is one of the most thought-provoking books I've read this year."---Dan Falk, CBC Radio

"Kathryn Paige Harden's The Genetic Lottery is both a novel contribution to this set and a novel kind of contribution, in that she does something much of the rest of this work does not: take a definite position on the political and social implications of behavioral genetics. . . . The book is a masterly tour of the state of the art of behavioral genetics and its relevance for pressing social questions."---Bryan Cwik, Bioethics

"In creating a new synthesis that neither ignores the role of genetics nor misappropriates it, Harden acknowledges the importance the genetic lottery plays in shaping our life outcomes, while cautioning against misinterpreting the genetically laden differences among people as implying inborn, societal superiority. Harden examines the nascent field of behavioral genetics in an intellectually humble way, by detailing in lay terms the science of genetics and its applicability to differential life outcomes among people, and by incorporating this knowledge to advance social policies and social considerations that limit inequities."---Mark Rapala, International Social Science Review

"Harden has illuminated a path forward free of racial bias and 'superior-inferior' dichotomies to build on seeking applications for greater social equality."---E. B. Boatner, Lavender Magazine

"[An] outstanding new book. . . . It’s scientifically spot on, historically adroit, and excellently written. Required reading."---Adam Rutherford

"The ultimate claim of The Genetic Lottery is an extraordinarily ambitious act of moral entrepreneurialism. Harden argues that an appreciation of the role of simple genetic luck―alongside all the other arbitrary lotteries of birth―will make us, as a society, more inclined to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy lives of dignity and comfort."---Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker

"An Economist Book of the Year"

"The Genetic Lottery is a good read, peppered with relatable stories and examples. Harden pulls off the trick of simultaneously introducing a technical field to newcomers; addressing deep, specialist debates; and taking seriously the intersection of scientific and philosophical analyses of inequality."---Aaron Panofsky, Science

"A thought-provoking read."---Jerry Coyne, Washington Post

"A welcome resource for scholars and policy makers who want to advocate for and initiate equitable social changes with the help of reliable, expert knowledge."---J. F. Heberle, Choice

"One of the most impressive things about [The Genetic Lottery] is Harden’s crystal-clear exposition of complex scientific research and methods. This alone is a gift to the public and every scientist should be grateful to her for helping the public understand genomic research and causal inference."---Jonathan T. Rothwell, Rothwell's Newsletter

"Kathryn Paige Harden has been waging a noble battle to liberate genetic science from its reactionary connotations, and especially the foul practice of eugenics. Her point, pithily made in this important book, is that knowledge of genetics is essential to any progressive politics and can be harnessed to advance the cause of equality."---Matt d’Ancona, Tortoise

"While acknowledging the roles our environment and experiences play in shaping our lives, Harden makes the case that social scientists who want to address the roots of inequality must reckon with genetics. . . . The more researchers understand about the myriad factors that influence how our lives turn out, the more they can help improve outcomes for everyone. Genetics is one of those factors, Harden argues: when we ignore it, the most vulnerable suffer."---Jennifer Latson, Texas Monthly

Review

“This brilliant book is without a doubt the very best exposition on our genes, how they influence quite literally everything about us, and why this means we should care more, not less, about the societal structures in which we live.”―Angela Duckworth, author of Grit

“To me, the aim of genetic research should be threefold: to find out which differences between people are real, which of those matter, and how to use that knowledge to get the best outcomes for all people. This fascinating book is a step toward that goal.”―David Epstein, author of Range

“Harden expertly explains what we can―and importantly, can’t―take away from genetic research, and does so without shying away from the complexities or controversies. Nobody should be allowed to opine about genetics in public until they’ve read this book.”―Stuart Ritchie, author of Science Fictions

“A thoughtful, brave, and very engaging book. In contrast both to those who see genetic differences as justifying hierarchy and to those who reject the study of the influence of genes on social stratification, Harden argues that understanding the findings of behavioral genetics is essential if we are to create a more just society.”―Peter Singer, Princeton University

“The Genetic Lottery is a must-read for anyone who cares about understanding why humans differ from one another. Harden lights a clear path toward an anti-eugenic genetics that embraces human diversity and works toward equity for all humans.”―Russell A. Poldrack, author of Hard to Break

“Compelling and highly readable. Harden dispels the myths that genes are destiny, that their influence is all-or-none, and that those who work on genetics are eugenicists. She makes a persuasive case that if we understand genes this can help us work towards a fairer society.”―Dorothy Bishop, University of Oxford

“Harden skillfully integrates genetic research and social science to address inequality. She demonstrates that empirical advances in understanding the role of biology and social influence in life outcomes can productively inform our moral debates and public policy decisions, if only we can forthrightly address the blinkered generalizations of the past.”―Matt Grossmann, author of How Social Science Got Better

“In this thoughtful, important, and fascinating book, Harden presents a new synthesis of genetics and egalitarianism, showing how an appreciation of the power of genes is essential for moving us towards a good and just society. The Genetic Lottery is going to have a major impact on how everyone thinks about luck, merit, and human nature.”―Paul Bloom, Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology, Yale University, author of The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B091MQ771M
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press (September 21, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 21, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 6293 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 305 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0691242100

Best Sellers Rank: #280,650 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #8 in Developmental Biology (Kindle Store)
- #35 in Genetic Science
- #51 in Developmental Biology (Books)

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4.3 459 ratings

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Kathryn Paige Harden

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Kathryn Paige Harden is a professor in the Department of Psychology at UT, where she leads the Developmental Behavior Genetics lab and co-directs the Texas Twin Project.

Harden received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Virginia and completed her clinical internship at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School before moving to Austin in 2009. Her research has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and the New Yorker, among others. In 2017, she was honored with a prestigious national award from the American Psychological Association for her distinguished scientific contributions to the study of genetics and human individual differences. Follow her on Twitter at @kph3k.

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SLC

An impressive academic achievement & a powerful social argument

Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2023

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The Genetic Lottery is an ambitious, fully realized argument to change the zeitgeist about how we think about (or don’t think about) the role of genetics in people’s place and access to resources and opportunities in society. Harden points out that, currently, two views dominate the discussion. One is an updated form of eugenic thinking that genes are the determiner of inequalities and cannot be meaningfully altered. The other is that genetic influences are minimal and any discussion of them is dangerous. Social equality demands that we assume that they don’t matter and we should act accordingly. Harden makes the point that both of these views are not just wrong, but preventing any progress we as a society could make if we moved to a more sophisticated and nuanced view of what behavior genetics can and cannot tell us. She lays out her argument in her book in several phases. First, she summarizes the current state of research in behavior genetics, explaining current methods and what they can and cannot tell us. Then she traces the development of societal views of genetics from Galton through eugenics, publication of The Bell Curve, and up to current times. Finally, she addresses current social inequalities and makes the case that a proper understanding of genetics can help to address inequalities if used properly. She argues that genetics creates inequalities through a random lottery; no one is responsible for their genotype. Society and the more fortunate in the lottery have an obligation to help those less fortunate, and we are all more fortunate and less fortunate in some ways. In addition to summarizing key research studies, she is also good at coming up with relatable examples of the points she is making, for example the use of glasses of varying strength to correct genetic deficiencies in vision. Harden pulls in data from a wide variety of fields to make her case, and clearly she has thought these issues through for many years before writing this book.

I, as a psychology professor, really appreciated this book. I have not had much updating of my understanding of behavior genetics since graduate school. Harden gives clear and accessible accounts of GWAS and other modern developments in genetics. It was great to update my understanding and find that the book supported my general views on heritability. I find her arguments strong and compelling, and even when I don’t agree with them, I know they are thoughtful and grounded in evidence. The book is clearly written and well organized. It is for those who really want a deeper, clearer understanding of behavior genetics and how it might address social inequality. It’s also full of the author’s personal views, which she freely shares. It becomes pretty clear that she savors good food. Those anecdotes and observations give the book a human dimension.

5 people found this helpful

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Robert Doyle

Interesting but not completely convincing

Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2022

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The author makes a strong case for the impact of genes on the individual. For some this means a stronger possibility for success than others who are less fortunate in the human lottery. As she points out to talk about this is often considered taboo because of past experience with Eugenics. But to completely deny the impact of DNA on our ability to function in society is not only naive but also reduces our chances of generating an equitable society. This is where here arguments come up short. She has easily identified how the current system is systematically unfair, but fails to come close to proposing a reasonable alternative.

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Steve Ceresnie

Parent to child: Half of Me is Half of You --- but We Don't Know Which Half

Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2022

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Over the years, I would tell my two daughters that half of my genetics is half of their genetics – but we don’t know which half. My daughters always felt I took genetics too seriously when trying to explain personality, mental maladies, academic achievement, and more. Kathryn Paige Harden, a Professor of Psychology at University of Texas at Austin in her elegant book takes genetics and equality seriously. Her progressive politics informs her exploration of heredity and egalitarianism. Harden states that, “the widespread tendency to ignore the existence of genetic differences between people has hobbled scientific progress in psychology, education, and other areas of social science. She adds, “Genetic differences between us matter for our lives. They cause differences in things we care about. Building a commitment to egalitarianism on our genetic uniformity is building a house of sand.”

She is part of a growing group of like-minded social science researchers who take their deep knowledge of the tools of genetics she discusses in depth to further educational and economic egalitarianism. She agrees with the statement that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. She agrees with the liberal philosopher John Rawls famous declaration in his book, “A Theory of Justice:” “The natural distribution is neither just nor unjust…They are simply natural facts. What is just and unjust is the way institutions deal with these facts.”

The idea of equality is appealing. What is meant by equality is not clear. That corporate executives, movie and television stars, talented athletes, brilliant talk show hosts, make millions of dollars. Is that fair? - perhaps not. Is it reality? - yes. Who, may I ask, is going to determine what is fair and what members of society get what resources. People often complain that society is not fair. There is no one named society. Even the words income distributions make it sound like somebody or some group is distributing income --- there is no such group. Economics and revolutions teach us it is very easy to institute government programs that make things worse for the people you are trying to help.

Harden makes the case that we risk much misunderstandings to ignore the influence of genetics AND environments. We can use nature to understand nurture. I could not agree more. She uses restaurants as a helpful creative metaphor to bring home the importance of nature and nurture. She asserts that many different factors influence a restaurant’s success: the ingredients of the food, the preparation, presentation, ambience, service, and price. The ingredients of the food are only one factor of many predicting how popular the restaurant is.

Harden has sustained suspicion and skepticism from her colleagues on the political left. She writes, “In my experience many academics hold the conviction that discussing genetic causes of social inequalities is fundamentally a racist, classist, eugenic project.”

There are those on the political left that believe discrimination accounts for much of the differences between groups. To wait for others to like you before you get ahead is to play the role of victim - a role that never leads to success.

When talking about genetics and equality, Harden states, “People are, in fact, more likely to support redistribution when they see inequalities as stemming from lucky factors over which people have no control than when they see inequalities stemming from choice.” Again, what exactly redistribution means in practical terms, and who makes the "fair" decisions about the definition of the inequalities that people have no control over. In our system, there is nobody in charge of distributing our incomes.

Sometimes equality is linked with equity. How can we understand the implications of genetic diversity and expect equal outcomes among various groups?

“The Genetic Lottery,” is a forceful, incisive book that takes you on a tour of the latest developments in behavioral genetics while taking equality seriously. She devotes two chapters to the important topic of personal responsibility.

She reminds us that thousands of genes make up the components of personality traits, intelligence, and educational achievement, for example, mixed with the complexity of culture, context and more.

I admire Dr. Harden for taking on such provocative ideas.

I recommend listening to the podcast of psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of, “Grit”) interviewing Kathryn Paige Harden.

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Top reviews from other countries

apas

Things worth knowing!

Reviewed in Italy on April 25, 2022

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It's very interesting. It should be widely read.

Walter Kraus

Political statement

Reviewed in Germany on January 22, 2022

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This book is more like a political statement than an informational book. I got the impression that facts are bend to fit into the authors political beliefs.

Not really to recommend.

Amazon Customer

Print error

Reviewed in Australia on April 10, 2022

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The media could not be loaded.

Printing error. The first half of the first chapter is missing and instead there is part of another book “cold coast” by Robyn Mundy - novel set in the Arctic

Nani

The increase of genetic knowledge is for the better

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2022

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The widespread use of genetic correlation/causation with life dynamics could help solving many conundrums of psichology, which experiments are largely funded frequently without significant improvements.

2 people found this helpful

PS

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2022

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This book is wide-ranging, but always accurate.
The author consistently undoes the frequent conflation of empirical and moral claims.
She clearly explains the genetics. The political philosophy is spot-on. The criticism of social-science research that ignores genetics is penetrating. The policy suggestions are well-informed and practicable.
Altogether, a very impressive book that deserves to be widely read.

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