Controlling Human Heredity (Control of Nature) [Paperback]

Diane B. Paul (Author), Morton L. Schagrin (Editor), Michael Ruse (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1573923435 | ISBN-13: 978-1573923439 | Publication Date: November 1999

In the late nineteenth and the early twentieth century, it was widely assumed that society ought to foster the breeding of those who possessed favourable traits and discourage the breeding of those who did not. Controlled human breeding, 'eugenics' as it was labelled by Francis Galton, seemed only good common sense. How did eugenics come to exert such powerful and broad appeal? What events shaped its direction? Whose interests did it finally serve? Why did it fall into disrepute? Has it survived in other guises? These are some of the questions that Diane Paul sets out to answer - questions that have acquired a new urgency in light of developments in genetic medicine. The eugenics movement appeared to be dead - associated with race and class prejudice, in particular the crimes of the Third Reich - or was it just sleeping? Has eugenics returned in the guise of medical genetics? In the last decade, historians have come to understand that support for eugenics was diverse and tenacious, with most geneticists remaining enthusiasts through at least the 1930s. This new historiography emphasises eugenics' broad and persistent appeal and its close association with genetics. In "Controlling Human Heredity", Professor Paul aims to bridge the gap between expert and lay understandings of the history of eugenics and thereby enrich the debate on the perplexing contemporary choices in genetics medicine.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...provides important lessons about the relations of genetics and society that must not be forgotten." -- Religious Studies Review, January 1999

"...well-written and provocative..likely to broaden the perspectives of all readers." -- Quarterly Review of Biology, December 2003

Product Details

• Paperback: 158 pages
• Publisher: Humanity Books (November 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573923435
• ISBN-13: 978-1573923439
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #21,595 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #73 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Current Events > Poverty > Social Services & Welfare

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introductory Survey of the History of Eugenics, December 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Controlling Human Heredity: 1865 To the Present (Control of Nature) (Paperback)

Diane Paul has produced a readable and brief introduction to the history of eugenic thought. After an excellent overview chapter, Paul proceeds chronologically from Francis Galton and social Darwinism through twentieth century campaigns for sterilization and immigration restriction in the name of eugenic reform. Paul convincingly argues that eugenics has been used by proponents of a variety of causes and political persuasions, left and right. With announcements every week of the discovery of the gene for some ailment, Paul's book is both timely and important. As the debates over cloning, genetic screening, or gene therapy continue, this book will provide a much needed historical context that can only help as we reflect on today's eugenics.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 20 pages of information in a 120 page book., July 24, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Controlling Human Heredity: 1865 To the Present (Control of Nature) (Paperback)

It is interesting (strange actually) that theauthor chose to present an inherently historicaltopic in a non-chronological format. The book is instead organized as a series of (IMHO arbitrary) topics, and the subject is analyzed in turn from the perspective of each. In fact, there is a great deal of redundency from "topic" to "topic", so much so in fact that reading any 20 pages of the book are as good as reading the whole. Still, those 20 pages would constitute a good introduction to the subject.

0 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars BENT, September 14, 2010

By 

Deee - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Controlling Human Heredity (Control of Nature) (Paperback)

When the book arrived, it was bent and dented on the front cover, binding, and backside, almost to the point of ripping the pages. Actually, the spine has a small rip through it already; however, the rest of the pages remain sufficient. I do not recall if I bought the book new or used, but there is a "new book" sticker on it. If I bought it new, I would be very dissatisfied by the condition of the book I received it in. If used, which I am assuming as a "benefit of the doubt", then I am moderately dissatisfied. In either case, not one of my happy customer moments...