56 pages • 1 hour read
Dorothy RobertsFatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First Century
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In Fatal Invention, Dorothy Roberts examines how the belief in a biological basis for race is inaccurate and instead argues that race is a political construct used to uphold systemic racism. She traces the co-construction of race by imperialism and science, exposes how modern genetic research perpetuates these racial biases, and critiques the consequential impact on medicine and surveillance technologies. This book discusses systemic racism, slavery, eugenics, police surveillance, and mass incarceration.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Dorothy Roberts' Fatal Invention is praised for its thorough examination of race, science, and biotechnology, with critics noting its compelling argument and robust research. However, some feel the book can be dense and challenging for general readers. Overall, it is highly regarded for its thought-provoking insights and critical analysis on the implications of racial science.
Who Should Read Fatal Invention?
A reader captivated by sociological and bioethical discussions, particularly those intrigued by the intersections of race, science, and technology, will enjoy Dorothy Roberts’ Fatal Invention. Fans of Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow or Harriet A. Washington's Medical Apartheid will find it especially compelling.