Intelligence: All That Matters Kindle Edition

This book is an excellent summary of current research into the nature of intelligence. The author clears away popular misconceptions about the basic scientific consensus regarding IQ, and provides a convenient, though short, sourcebook that should prove useful in any debate on the subject. More concise than the Bell Curve and A Troublesome Inheritance, Intelligence: All That Matters would serve as a good primer before delving into those more complicated books.

Recommended without reservation.

A lot of people have been dissing IQ as not relevant. There has been much talk about things like emotional intelligence, grit, growth mindset, etc. This brief book gives a nice look at the history of IQ, what it really means, the research behind it. Along the way there is a lot of evidence that IQ is still very important and relevant. It does not tell the whole story, but it does tell an important part of the story.

In our day-to-day consciousness, we automatically assume that people have different types of intelligences. If someone is lacking in one aspect, it is common to give them the benefit of doubt - "he's good at art, but terrible at math". We seem to naturally think of intelligence as distributive, where you have a certain number of points that you can allocate to each different type of intelligence. What intelligence research shows is that there is 'g' or general intelligence that is positively correlated with different tests of intelligence and that intelligence can be consildated into one entity.

This book is very short and can possibly be read in an hour. But it's not a book, but a primer. It summarizes the research that backs up that general intelligence does exist as fairly stable property. Furthermore, he dives briefly into what life outcomes 'g' correlates with and the possible biological foundations for intellgence. He explains potential consequences of the discovery of intelligence as a stable and not-so-trainable property for both sides of the politcal aile: offensive to the left because even in conditions of equality, biological determinism will force force some to excel over others, and to the right because it reduces the value of hard work and education and "seizing opportunities" as a driver for society since some are simply inherit intelligence and can display it at a remarkably young age.

Perhaps the greatest strength of the book is that he states all the important questions that intelligence research aims to answer - and what answers we think we have...with an emphasis on 'think' because he doesn't simply state conclusions but instead outlines theories that have sound emperical evidence while also considering alternative explanations, confounding variables and even possible weaknesses in a proposed theory.

If you have a background in cognitive science, or even if you're still a skeptic of measuring intelligence (a seemingly natural impulse) - you may use it for what I think it can be best used: a research portal. The back of the book is equally important as the actual book since it gives recommendations for articles or books to pursue to further convince yourself of the various hypothesis stated in the book. In the end, if you follow the research trail, the book will give you a guide of where to go looking for evidence, independent of it's future impact on your opinion: whether it will allow you to form counterintuitive opinions or perhaps reinforce your stance that you still need more convincing.

A decent book that uses correlations with anything greater than a regression value of 60 as the antithesis for intelligence and its correlations matters. Overall, a decent read and great insight into the minds of those who believe that IQ means everything or can predict everything. I for one believe socioeconomics to be a bigger predictor of success/well-being than IQ.

I loved this wonderful book. It is easy to understand and makes current research easily accessible to a lay reader. I recommended it to my adult children and encourage you to enjoy it.

Probably I have read a lot about IQ but would have liked to learn more. Like the author sticking to scientific method and providing correlation factor for every study.

Excellent book. It include the most importante and recent literaturature and contents about intelligence and its implications. Is very wel written and precisa witn the technical therminoloy. Excellent book.

Some don't want this to be true--that IQ is heritable and meaningful and measurable--but it is true. This book explains the evidence clearly and it's enjoyably written. Confront it and draw your own conclusion.