 The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life Books In Print, Audio Books. |
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The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life
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The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥
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Whatever your opinion, a classic.
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Murray and Hernstein's book is by now an infamous classic. This is too bad as the content is really mild, sobering, and well worth contemplating.
Far from being a racist screed, the text is more of a kick in the teeth. It asks us to look at reality and to stop day dreaming.
The thesis is rather simple: cognitive capacity is becomming more and more important in the modern United States (one could extend this globally, as have Lynn et al.). Therefore, our 'class' and 'caste' systems of old are breaking down into cognitive categories.
Those who are bright have a huge advantage over those who are not. This is true regardless of race or sex. The whole of Murray and Hernstein's book is one long argument for this simple premis. They show that g (general mental ability) matters in life. That it is not an artifact of factor analysis. They show that it is a highly heritable trait (h estimates hover around .4-.8) Furthermore, they show that it is related to work performance, social values, family values, and almost anything anyone could possibly think of measuring. After mounting an avalanche of data from the NLSY, the authors explain what such findings mean for a democratic society. If C.W. Mills book, The Power Elite, is held as the defining book on stratification during the Eisenhower years, then Murray and Hernstein's book must stand as the definitive tome on stratification for the information age. Interestingly, the thesis is more true today than it was when formulated over a decade ago.
The reaction to this book is so out of proportion with what it actually states that no short review can do it justice. However, I recommend that anyone with an open mind read this book and compare it to his/her own experiences.
I especially suggest this task to blank-slate sociologists. They riddicule it, cast aspersions upon Murray, leave work, drive past the poor enclaves and straight to their suburban houses in nice neighborhoods, with nice schools, where they send their prescious children. Damn that Murray! He is so wrong. |
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