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The Skull Measurer’s Mistake: And Other Portraits of Men and Women Who Spoke Out Against Racism
In 1981, Stephen Jay Gould exposed the bad science behind nineteenth-century American studies that “proved” that Anglo-Saxons were superior because they had larger brains. In The Skull Measurer’s Mistake, Sven Lindqvist tells the story of Friedrich Tiedemann, the nineteenth-century German doctor who dared to speak out against such racist science when it was first practiced.
Often the history of racism is reduced to the study of racists. Less well known are the stories of those who argued and fought against prejudice and persecution. In this unique book, Sven Lindqvist, Swedish author of internationally acclaimed books on Africa, China, and Latin America, profiles more than twenty nineteenth-century men and women who, while not themselves victims of racism, went against the temper of the time to expose the many faces of prejudice.
Along with Tiedemann’s story, The Skull Measurer’s Mistake recounts the antiracist efforts of Benjamin Franklin, Helen Hunt, Joseph Conrad, Alexis de Tocqueville, and others whose names have been forgotten. Well-documented and rich in anecdote, Lindqvist’s book shows how racist arguments emerged—and reemerged—over time. At the book’s core is Lindqvist’s belief that knowledge of past debates about racism can help us defeat it now.
Often the history of racism is reduced to the study of racists. Less well known are the stories of those who argued and fought against prejudice and persecution. In this unique book, Sven Lindqvist, Swedish author of internationally acclaimed books on Africa, China, and Latin America, profiles more than twenty nineteenth-century men and women who, while not themselves victims of racism, went against the temper of the time to expose the many faces of prejudice.
Along with Tiedemann’s story, The Skull Measurer’s Mistake recounts the antiracist efforts of Benjamin Franklin, Helen Hunt, Joseph Conrad, Alexis de Tocqueville, and others whose names have been forgotten. Well-documented and rich in anecdote, Lindqvist’s book shows how racist arguments emerged—and reemerged—over time. At the book’s core is Lindqvist’s belief that knowledge of past debates about racism can help us defeat it now.
182 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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184 people want to read
About the author
Sven Lindqvist
58 books160 followersDr. Sven Lindqvist was a Swedish author of mostly non-fiction.
He held a PhD in History of literature from Stockholm University (his thesis, in 1966, was on Vilhelm Ekelund) and a 1979 honorary doctorate from Uppsala University. In 1960–1961, he worked as cultural attaché at the Swedish embassy in Beijing, China. From 1956–86 he was married to Cecilia Lindqvist, with whom he had two children. He was married to the economist Agneta Stark since 1986. He lived in the Södermalm area of central Stockholm.
He held a PhD in History of literature from Stockholm University (his thesis, in 1966, was on Vilhelm Ekelund) and a 1979 honorary doctorate from Uppsala University. In 1960–1961, he worked as cultural attaché at the Swedish embassy in Beijing, China. From 1956–86 he was married to Cecilia Lindqvist, with whom he had two children. He was married to the economist Agneta Stark since 1986. He lived in the Södermalm area of central Stockholm.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 10, 2008
Sven is a master. He writes short, easy to read books that get past your defenses and enter your emotional life.
This one is published in 1995. This means that he hasn't yet developed his trademark extraordinary form -- part memoir, part travelogue, part literary criticism, part historical context, and part critical self-reflections that implicate the reader. More so, this one is a series of short notes, or, as the subtitle has it, "portrait of men and women who spoke out against racism."
But this subtitle tells only half the story. Mixed in are also portraits of men and women who developed racism. (Of course). Within the 22 sections of the book (average section is 7 pages of big font), Sven creates a tension between those who created racism and those who opposed it. Sometimes the tension is within one person.
On the face of this may not seem like much of an accomplishment. But I think it is. Here is why: whenever anyone points to the injustices of a previous time there is always a voice that shouts, "but you have to judge those people according to values of their own times." This historical relativising is important. And yet, it often banks on the assumption that everyone in that period believed that, for example, slavery was acceptable.
Sven's book diffuses this move before it can be made. By showing that there were all kinds of people who, in the time period in question, opposed institutions like slavery and scientific racism, he moves the debate from the contemporary to the past. Or more accurately, he allows the debate to travel from the present to the past back to the present without being delayed by the conversation-killing historical border police.
One of my goals to read everything he has written (and has been translated into english), within the year.
This one is published in 1995. This means that he hasn't yet developed his trademark extraordinary form -- part memoir, part travelogue, part literary criticism, part historical context, and part critical self-reflections that implicate the reader. More so, this one is a series of short notes, or, as the subtitle has it, "portrait of men and women who spoke out against racism."
But this subtitle tells only half the story. Mixed in are also portraits of men and women who developed racism. (Of course). Within the 22 sections of the book (average section is 7 pages of big font), Sven creates a tension between those who created racism and those who opposed it. Sometimes the tension is within one person.
On the face of this may not seem like much of an accomplishment. But I think it is. Here is why: whenever anyone points to the injustices of a previous time there is always a voice that shouts, "but you have to judge those people according to values of their own times." This historical relativising is important. And yet, it often banks on the assumption that everyone in that period believed that, for example, slavery was acceptable.
Sven's book diffuses this move before it can be made. By showing that there were all kinds of people who, in the time period in question, opposed institutions like slavery and scientific racism, he moves the debate from the contemporary to the past. Or more accurately, he allows the debate to travel from the present to the past back to the present without being delayed by the conversation-killing historical border police.
One of my goals to read everything he has written (and has been translated into english), within the year.
May 29, 2017
Pleasing stories of prominent dissidents who responded to atrocities of imperialism and slavery by making well-timed comments. Racists said, "Science and God want me to kill everyone," and dissidents said, "I'm afraid, unfortunately, that neither of them want that very much." One chapter is devoted to each incident with a lot of good historical context.
January 5, 2023
I have also over the last few years been reading a Swedish author in Translation Sven Lindqvist, I have now read a number of his books and just finished today The Skull Measurer's Mistake: And Other Portraits of Men and Women Who Spoke Out Against Racism It is an amazing history of those who spoke out against racism. From 1764-1899 is a journey around the world, and the stories of those who spook out again racism. Both are books that will challenge the heart of a person to think differently.
August 12, 2009
If you want a writer to challenge your ideas and unexamined ideas with innovative scholarship, this guy will do it for you. Amazing in terms of a layered and thoughtful argument against all the ignorance of that which you don't know well enough. A nice writing stlye on top of it where you sense a real person behind the work.
October 29, 2020
This book provides a good example of how racism and discrimination is not about being good or bad. Many persons described in this book held racist or otherwise offensive ideas, however, had other moments where they were able to step outside of their prejudices. The goal is to remember people as they were. Not label them evil or good, racist or not.
April 25, 2022
Such an important and interesting book! He writes about events and people that are lost in history, even though they've done so much for us! Strongly recommend everyone to read this, even though you learn horrible things about our history.
February 2, 2011
Fantastic. Read this one. used in all classes. hx on racism. excellent.
March 5, 2025
It would be wrong to describe this book as 'disappointing' in any ordinary sense of the word but if you have read Lindqvist's 'Exterminate All the Brutes' and/or 'Desert Divers' I don't think any reader can fail to be at the very least underwhelmed. Those were works that eviscerated your senses and left me determined never to resists pointing out the fallacious idiocies of simplistic self-congratulatory bull-shit.
So this book does not match up to Lindqvist's greatest works but that doesn't make it bad or less worth reading. It may not be as original but it is as true as his best books. Far too often we are asked to 'understand' racism within the context of its time. I am all for context but to often in historical accounts of slavery, and I am not simply speaking of the absurdities of American school boards who are insisting slaves were 'taught valuable skills' (google it if you don't know I am referring to), what is not mentioned is that there were plenty of people who called out the racists and their idiotic ideas.
It is important to remember the racists and their obscenities but it is even more important to remember those who rejected their simplistic idiocies. Not because it gives us a reason to congratulate ourselves but to remind ourselves that truth and what is right knows no sell by date past or present and being right is its own reward. If you doubt me search for the Hollywood film about Georg Elser.
So this is a good book and if it had been written by anyone else it might have been a great book. You don't need to read 'The Skull Measures Mistake' but you do need to read 'Exterminate All the Brutes' because only a book as great as that could push a work like this into second place.
So this book does not match up to Lindqvist's greatest works but that doesn't make it bad or less worth reading. It may not be as original but it is as true as his best books. Far too often we are asked to 'understand' racism within the context of its time. I am all for context but to often in historical accounts of slavery, and I am not simply speaking of the absurdities of American school boards who are insisting slaves were 'taught valuable skills' (google it if you don't know I am referring to), what is not mentioned is that there were plenty of people who called out the racists and their idiotic ideas.
It is important to remember the racists and their obscenities but it is even more important to remember those who rejected their simplistic idiocies. Not because it gives us a reason to congratulate ourselves but to remind ourselves that truth and what is right knows no sell by date past or present and being right is its own reward. If you doubt me search for the Hollywood film about Georg Elser.
So this is a good book and if it had been written by anyone else it might have been a great book. You don't need to read 'The Skull Measures Mistake' but you do need to read 'Exterminate All the Brutes' because only a book as great as that could push a work like this into second place.
May 18, 2018
Jag är inte jätteimponerad, men det är en tankeväckande bok och kanske är den bäst lämpad som något slags studielitteratur.
December 28, 2020
I love Lindqvist's writing. This is a short readable description of many, mainly white male, anti racists. And contrasts their views with the times they lived in.
November 30, 2016
Det har säkert skrivits åtskilliga hyllmeter om rasismen och fascismen. Den motsatta traditionen är inte lika väldokumenterad förmodar jag. Sven Lindqvist har gjort sitt för att jämna ut förhållandena.
Boken är nog så intressant, men lite anekdotisk och lider av det faktum att de idéer som man får läsa om är så självklara, även om de inte var lika självklara vid de tillfällen som Lindqvist skriver om. Att Benjamin Franklin genom en övertygande argumentation hejdade en lynchmobb från att ge sig på indianer är intressant, men han gjorde trots allt “bara” det som är rätt och riktigt. För min del finner jag större intresse att läsa om tänkesätt som är mig främmande, som till exempel rasism.
Boken innehåller dock en hel del tankegods som kanske behövs lyftas fram i dessa dagar.
Boken är nog så intressant, men lite anekdotisk och lider av det faktum att de idéer som man får läsa om är så självklara, även om de inte var lika självklara vid de tillfällen som Lindqvist skriver om. Att Benjamin Franklin genom en övertygande argumentation hejdade en lynchmobb från att ge sig på indianer är intressant, men han gjorde trots allt “bara” det som är rätt och riktigt. För min del finner jag större intresse att läsa om tänkesätt som är mig främmande, som till exempel rasism.
Boken innehåller dock en hel del tankegods som kanske behövs lyftas fram i dessa dagar.
January 23, 2009
This book has been facinating so far. It starts from the 1740's in America with Benjamin Franklin, and continues to focus on other's speaking out against racism throughout the century and after. I like how each chapter is focused on one particular person who spoke out about racism during that time. I think it is important to see where racism stems from--either fear of another culture, or seeking to dominate another race for personal gain. I think that it is only by studying where these prejudices come from, that we can finally eradicate racism in our communities.
November 8, 2015
Nowhere near as good or as explosively polemical as Exterminate all the brutes. For one thing, all the chapters are too short, so we just get a tiny glimpse into the lives and writings of these men and women. Then there's the fact that the book might to suffer from White Saviour Syndrome a little bit. But Lindqvist seems to know that, and his frankness about his own ignorance is rather disarming.
July 17, 2012
Not my favorite Lindqvist. There were some interesting factoids here and there, but for the most part, none of it was new information. And the writing lacked Lindqvist's usual urgency. I missed his polemic.
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November 14, 2017An interesting and admittedly uncomprehensive look at some of the people who have spoken out against racism, prejudice and bigotry.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews