Customer Reviews

Better for All the World: The Secret History of Forced Sterilization and America's Quest for Racial Purity

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I found this to be an exemplary treatment of a fascinating topic--the American eugenics movement and compulsory sterilization. The author has certainly done his research and his command of the material is superb. He begins his discussion with the Carrie Buck case (1927), that legitimated state compulsory sterilization laws, which he examines in depth. This Supreme Court opinion, by Justice Holmes, forever is associated with his statement: "Three generations of imbeciles are enough." Strangely, after spending many pages probing the facts, the author really does not spend much time analyzing Holmes' opinion and his rationale. For that, one needs to check Ted White's biography of the Justice.

Next, the author moves into a history of the eugenics movement (including its British antecedents), both prior to and after the Buck case. The leading figures in the movement, including Charles Davenport and Harry Laughlin, are all profiled in depth and their activities documented over much of the first half of the 20th century. The role of the Carnegie and Rockefeller Foundations in funding eugenics research is also examined. The relationship between eugenics supporters and the infamous Immigration Act of 1924 also is discussed. The development of the compulsory sterilization device is as well studied and placed in perspective. One of the most interesting facets of the book is how closely the Nazis based their eugenics and race laws upon American examples, a somewhat embarassing fact that emerged from the Nuremberg trials. The last couple of chapters on several extended case studies struck me as repetitive and unnecessary, though they do add more of the poignant human dimension.

The author has included helpful illustrations and extensive notes. The writing is clear and moves along, although at 365 pages (not counting notes) the treatment certainly is not lean. Knopf continues its reputation for producing quality books that are a pleasure to hold and read--this being another example of the fine work of Berryville Graphics in Virginia.

I was absolutely absorbed by this book, which deftly interweaves the story of Eugenics as an abstract idea with the story of its all-too-real progenitors. Far too little is known about the American origins of this racist pseudo-science, and Bruinius manages to tell us all about it without ever sounding preachy or didactic. One of the best non-fiction books I've read in years, and a potent warning to those who would place too much faith in either science or ideology -- at the expense of real human lives.

This is one of those books that makes your hair stand up on your neck. Saw the author on C-SPAN during a recent book blitz with some of the best authors that caused me to make a huge order with Aamzon.com.

Now I had known some about eugenics and forced sterilization and the role Margaret Sanger and others played, but this book was a major eye opener. In it one discovers that forced sterilization was something aimed at white women until the very end of its run, and that California and not some state like Mississippi, Alabama etc had the highest numbers of forced sterilization.

That epilepsy was a medical condition they said required sterilization, even though we now know and have for decades that its a treatable condition and one that even people with exceptionally high IQ's can have, often a result of an accident NOT genetics.

And for those who have thought that Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes was the most brilliant jurist in American history, think again, when one reads that he fully supported forced sterilization as did New England Protestants whom the writer notes 'had been obsessed by the character of the nation'. 'In universities like Yale and Harvard, a theology of divine election was giving way to a theory of race that idealized the ancestry of the Nordics, and in particular the Germanic Anglo-Saxons'.

The author also shares that on December 1945 during the Nuremberg war trials against the Nazis that one would find out that it was the United States' laws requiring forced sterilization that had been copied by the Nazis. That it was the United States that they were emulating no matter how much they hated us.

Interestingly many of the same medical professionals who believed in and practiced forced sterilization on those who were considered inferior medically would have their view come home to haunt them. Both when they themselves developed medical conditions that had led to the sterilization of others or as in the case of Charles Davenport whose young son Charlie Jr succumbed to polio in 1916.

On page 85 one reads ' It is the first step with farmers and gardeners to endeavor to obtain good breeds of domestic animals and sedulously to cultivate plants, for it pays them well to do so' said a young student named Francis Galton from Cambrige University who lived during Queen Victoria's time.

The information on John H. Kellogg is facinating. Not just the part of his founding the Kellogg cereal company but his support of sterilization and other eugenic thought.

Its a book I couldn't put down and one I am about to re-read because I am sure there are things I missed. It also forced me to face my views on eugenics which I have mixed feelings on. Mainly because I think someone who is so mentally retarded as to not know how to avoid or protect themselves from pregnancy, might benefit in a humane way by being sterilized. Its an issue I question a lot.

The author ends by writing 'As human beings enter this new era considering the stunning promises of science and technology, as they contemplate the possibilities of directing their evolution and moving toward a more perfect state of being, the history of forced sterilization and Americas quest for racial purity is worth remembering.'

Interestingly I think of who would they want sterilized today were these laws still in effect. Sure someone might say Anna Nicole Smith or a Paris Hilton. But in reality I fear it would be people like Dr Stephen Hawking or the science whiz in school who happens to have epilepsy.

After reading Better for All the World, I must say I don't understand why this book was written or published. There is practically no new information here - nothing that hasn't been written about, much more thoroughly and interestingly, in books like War Against the Weak (Edwin Black) and The Unfit: A History of a Bad Idea (Elof Carlson).

There is a big problem with "Better for All the World: The 'Secret' History of Forced Sterilization and America's Quest for Racial Purity." That is, of course, that the history of forced sterilization in America is no secret. Many outstanding scholars have done extensive research and brilliant contributions in this area: Black, Lombardo, Carlson, Kevles, etc. Bruinius seems to be determined to ignore most of their work, an attitude that is incredibly arrogant, not to mention intellectually dishonest.

From the beginning of this book you are taken right into the story. I love how you can feel the coldness of the hospital as well as the coldness of the first sterolization, the beginning of what would change so many lives. It sets such a mood that remains throughout the novel, it is done in a brilliant way. Hearing the voices of those effected by this atrocity was really interesting. I would have liked to hear more about Lucille, she has such an interesting story. This book is going to really make you think. I loved it.

All that social history should be. In addition to the scholarship, this book has depth, nuance, and literary elegance.

I read this book, here in Brazil.This book is easy to read.Compared to "War against the weak" by Edwin Black, this book is smaller and a little better.

To example, while "War against the weak" didn't told that the famous american eugenicist Charles B. Davenport hadn't any grandson, this book shows that even having two daughters, both of his daughters had no child.

Even so, this book repeats many of the same mistakes made by Edwin Black's book "War against the weak".Some examples of these same mistakes are:

1-Even showing , about eugenics,the right way of catholics and the wrong way by protestants and jews, this book doesn't tells why among eugenics, religion decided so many.Support of eugenics was almost universal among famous jews and protestants in USA; at least until when Hitler came to power, in 1933.At the same times, Roman Catholic Church was eugenics' number one foe in USA.This book didn't tells that while Roman Catholicism had (and has) a Pope, protestants and jews were "following the bible", when they supported the eugenics.Such as happened during witch-hunting and slavery's times, many famous and powerfull people found on bible, support for eugenics.At the same times, there was not just one eugenics, even in USA there was hundreds of eugenics, while having tens of judaisms and hundreds of protestantisms.Jews and protestants saw on eugenics, such as a a mirror of his own religious believes.Only the opposition from Pope, priests and bishops didn't explained why eugenics was ever a failure, among catholic countries.Divorce existed in France and Italy, since XIX Century (both more than 90% catholics at eugenics's time).Eugenics was a godless religion, having many sects, even in USA.

2-Such as on Edwin Black's book, this book has too many space, about both Dr. Laughlin and Charles B. Davenport.They were both neurothic and crooks, but they were following orders from rich and powerfull americans; many of them jews.When in Hitler's times(1933-1945), they became useless both went to fame to nothing in a few years.About Laughlin's family, on page 180, this book writes:"Kirksville was the home of Andrew Taylor Still the visionary healer whose eccentric treatment methods physical manipulations to improve the body's natural functions." on same page 180:"Earl attended the osteopathic college".Well, osteopathy wasn't a type of medicine , but only quackery.Harry Laughlin's family was linked to quackery, but this book forgets this thing.

3-Too many american doctors of both sexes, were among eugenics's leaders.This same happended in every country where eugenics existed.Well, why this happened in USA and all the world?Because medicine was next to useless in eugenics' times.Even so, some decades before eugenics' creation, the doctors had replaced the pastors and religious leaders as God's preachers among people's minds.They were maily useless, but the people wanted something to believe.Having no medicine for the desiases, they told that eugenics was the solution, for medical and social problems in USA and many other protestants countries.

4-The same rich and powerfull americans who gave money, to Lenin, Russian Revolution and Hitler were also famous eugenicists.This book forgets this fact.

5-Feminism in America was deeply linked to eugenics.There's almost nothing about feminism in this book.

6-After World War II, eugneics became "population control" or neo-malthusianism in USA.Just one line of this book is about this very important fact.

This book is better than "War Against the weak" , but it remains a little weak many times.

"Better For All The World" reads more like a thriller than a study of America's legacy of forced sterilization. The author wisely takes a back seat to material that needs no embellishment to leave readers shocked to learn the extent of eugenics' entrenchment in the United States. I was especially unsettled to find myself considering the possible benefits of proactively limiting the suffering of future generations only to learn that the same view was shared by Adolph Hitler, who used America-bred eugenics to lead his nation to embrace genocide. With important elections on the horizon, Harry Bruinius reminds us of the grave danger of accepting easy solutions and relying on the political labels of our candidates.

I first heard about this book after reading the review in the San Diego Union-Tribune, which called it a "masterpiece of American cultural history." I was astonished at the topic, and couldn't believe it! I bought the book, since it has gotten such stellar reviews (like the Booklist review above), and it was one of the best books on history I've ever read. I usually hate books with footnotes, but this book reads like a novel, and the historical characters come alive in very profound way. The idea of eugenics and better breeding was a Nazi idea, I thought, but this book outlines its origins in the US and Britain. The most compelling parts of the book, however, are the stories of the victims, the women sterilized by state governments. This is historical writing at its finest.