Customer Reviews

Controlling Human Heredity (Control of Nature)

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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.

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.

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...