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Picador The Science of Racism Everything you need to know but probably dont - yet.
Picador The Science of Racism Everything you need to know but probably dont - yet ABISBOOK Picador.
- GenresScienceNonfiction
352 pages, Hardcover
Published January 23, 2025
16 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Keon West
10 books18 followersProfessor of Social Psychology at The University of London, and an expert on identity, prejudice, and representation.
Born in Trinidad, grew up in Jamaica, and studied in the USA and France before going to the UK as a Rhodes scholar in 2006 to do a doctorate at Oxford University.
Born in Trinidad, grew up in Jamaica, and studied in the USA and France before going to the UK as a Rhodes scholar in 2006 to do a doctorate at Oxford University.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 10, 2025
The Science of Racism is an important book and should be part of any school curriculum, but it was also somewhat of a difficult read, in more ways than one.
Obviously, as it states in the title, the author predominantly concentrates on the science and is reliant on experiments and formulas and avoids anecdotal evidence as much as he can, because you can have as many negative or positive anecdotes and experiences as you want, but none can equal the cold hard facts of empirical scientific realities. Nevertheless, there are still a few anecdotes contained within the book and they're as uncomfortable and heart breaking as you'd imagine any retelling of a racist story would be, especially the one about the lad in New Zealand whom reportedly had deliberately jumped on a week's old baby while at the beach and had screamed at the babies mother to 'get back to her own country'. Obviously terrifying and obviously shocking, but alas, not very scientific in intent and although the author kept quoting a formula for this, 'The plural of anecdote is not data', I'm not one hundred percent sure I understand the quote's full meaning, obviously I understand that anecdotes don't and can't equal scientific fact, but the quote itself, not so much!
The deep detail of the scientific experiments is sometimes hard to follow, because of their repetitive nature, it does become quite laboured and just seemed to ostensibly be the same thing over and over, and over again, but hey! That's science for you I guess, and repeating the same thing, again and again, is invariably, the whole damn point!
I enjoyed how the author exposed the entire British immigration system as systemically racist from top to bottom and how it has been so, from its very inception by the Harold Macmillan led government in the 1960's.
Where a 'skills' based system was seemingly the only workable method of controlling immigration without ostensibly discriminating on the basis of colour. 'Ostensibly' being the important word here. Of course the law would be discriminating on the basis of colour. As immigrants from 'White' countries would be the only ones with the required 'skills' and 'documentation’. A system that has become manifestly worse and infinitely more racist, after fourteen years of regressive Conservative governments and Brexit. Yet unfortunately, there is no sign that the incumbent Labour government, under the right wing Blairite, Sir Keir Starmer is ever likely to reverse any of the racist laws and policies enacted by past powers, indeed if anything, the current Labour government seem to be pandering ever more to the right, to try and 'out right' the likes of Nigel Farage and his bunch of fellow racists in the Reform Party (formerly UKIP)! Scary indeed!
However, it's also always a pleasure when someone exposes the total fraud and highly egregious white supremacist, Winston Churchill.
With Keon West going over the fact that in 1955, Churchill had toyed with using the slogan, 'Keep Britain White' while running for the Tories in the race for No.10. In response to the steady influx of people of colour to these shores predominantly from India, Africa and the West Indies, whom were invited to Britain to help rebuild the country after the Second World War. Exposing Winston Churchill as the total and utter w*nker and extremely vile racist that he most definitely was!
The relevance of race to power and privilege means there is no such thing as Black-on-White racism, or 'reverse racism' as it's sometimes referred to.
Trying to explain to someone that they're being, and/or are a racist, can be like trying to teach a dog to talk, but trying to explain to that same person, that Black-on-White prejudice isn't racism, is like trying to teach a dog to talk Norwegian!
As Civil Rights activist Stokely Carmichael once said, "If a white man wants to lynch me, that's his problem. If he's got the power to lynch me, that's my problem!" Racism is not a question of attitude, it's a question of of power. Racism should be defined as 'prejudice plus power' or better still, 'a system of advantages based on race'. If you don't have the power, if you don't have the advantages, you don't have racism.
'Reverse racism' is possible, but first you'd have to build yourself a time machine, go back about four hundred years, convince the leaders of Africa, the Middle East and South America to invade and colonize Europe, steal European lands and resources , set up a slave trade in which White people were expected to work on plantations in Asia, ruin Europe over the centuries so that White people would be desperate to migrate to the wealthier countries that Black and Brown people live in, but also set up systems that privilege Black and Brown people at every possible social, political and economic opportunity, then deprive the majority of White people of any hope of self-determination, all the while forcing White people to conform to Black and Brown beauty standards so that they end up hating the colour of their own skin, eyes and hair.
If after hundreds and hundreds of years of that, a Black person were to say, "Hey, what's the deal with White people? Why can't they dance?" That would be 'reverse racism', amen!
Race is a social construct, not a biological reality, which is an excellent take home point, but due to the heavy science, the book can be a bit tricky and at times, due to some racist anecdotes, a somewhat uncomfortable read, but the explanations are wholly worthwhile with conclusions that are bang on and very, very important.
Unfortunately however, with the advent of a second Trump administration, the questions and their answers posed in the book by Professor West are diametrically the opposite of what is currently and depressingly being implemented. Very, very scary indeed!
Obviously, as it states in the title, the author predominantly concentrates on the science and is reliant on experiments and formulas and avoids anecdotal evidence as much as he can, because you can have as many negative or positive anecdotes and experiences as you want, but none can equal the cold hard facts of empirical scientific realities. Nevertheless, there are still a few anecdotes contained within the book and they're as uncomfortable and heart breaking as you'd imagine any retelling of a racist story would be, especially the one about the lad in New Zealand whom reportedly had deliberately jumped on a week's old baby while at the beach and had screamed at the babies mother to 'get back to her own country'. Obviously terrifying and obviously shocking, but alas, not very scientific in intent and although the author kept quoting a formula for this, 'The plural of anecdote is not data', I'm not one hundred percent sure I understand the quote's full meaning, obviously I understand that anecdotes don't and can't equal scientific fact, but the quote itself, not so much!
The deep detail of the scientific experiments is sometimes hard to follow, because of their repetitive nature, it does become quite laboured and just seemed to ostensibly be the same thing over and over, and over again, but hey! That's science for you I guess, and repeating the same thing, again and again, is invariably, the whole damn point!
I enjoyed how the author exposed the entire British immigration system as systemically racist from top to bottom and how it has been so, from its very inception by the Harold Macmillan led government in the 1960's.
Where a 'skills' based system was seemingly the only workable method of controlling immigration without ostensibly discriminating on the basis of colour. 'Ostensibly' being the important word here. Of course the law would be discriminating on the basis of colour. As immigrants from 'White' countries would be the only ones with the required 'skills' and 'documentation’. A system that has become manifestly worse and infinitely more racist, after fourteen years of regressive Conservative governments and Brexit. Yet unfortunately, there is no sign that the incumbent Labour government, under the right wing Blairite, Sir Keir Starmer is ever likely to reverse any of the racist laws and policies enacted by past powers, indeed if anything, the current Labour government seem to be pandering ever more to the right, to try and 'out right' the likes of Nigel Farage and his bunch of fellow racists in the Reform Party (formerly UKIP)! Scary indeed!
However, it's also always a pleasure when someone exposes the total fraud and highly egregious white supremacist, Winston Churchill.
With Keon West going over the fact that in 1955, Churchill had toyed with using the slogan, 'Keep Britain White' while running for the Tories in the race for No.10. In response to the steady influx of people of colour to these shores predominantly from India, Africa and the West Indies, whom were invited to Britain to help rebuild the country after the Second World War. Exposing Winston Churchill as the total and utter w*nker and extremely vile racist that he most definitely was!
The relevance of race to power and privilege means there is no such thing as Black-on-White racism, or 'reverse racism' as it's sometimes referred to.
Trying to explain to someone that they're being, and/or are a racist, can be like trying to teach a dog to talk, but trying to explain to that same person, that Black-on-White prejudice isn't racism, is like trying to teach a dog to talk Norwegian!
As Civil Rights activist Stokely Carmichael once said, "If a white man wants to lynch me, that's his problem. If he's got the power to lynch me, that's my problem!" Racism is not a question of attitude, it's a question of of power. Racism should be defined as 'prejudice plus power' or better still, 'a system of advantages based on race'. If you don't have the power, if you don't have the advantages, you don't have racism.
'Reverse racism' is possible, but first you'd have to build yourself a time machine, go back about four hundred years, convince the leaders of Africa, the Middle East and South America to invade and colonize Europe, steal European lands and resources , set up a slave trade in which White people were expected to work on plantations in Asia, ruin Europe over the centuries so that White people would be desperate to migrate to the wealthier countries that Black and Brown people live in, but also set up systems that privilege Black and Brown people at every possible social, political and economic opportunity, then deprive the majority of White people of any hope of self-determination, all the while forcing White people to conform to Black and Brown beauty standards so that they end up hating the colour of their own skin, eyes and hair.
If after hundreds and hundreds of years of that, a Black person were to say, "Hey, what's the deal with White people? Why can't they dance?" That would be 'reverse racism', amen!
Race is a social construct, not a biological reality, which is an excellent take home point, but due to the heavy science, the book can be a bit tricky and at times, due to some racist anecdotes, a somewhat uncomfortable read, but the explanations are wholly worthwhile with conclusions that are bang on and very, very important.
Unfortunately however, with the advent of a second Trump administration, the questions and their answers posed in the book by Professor West are diametrically the opposite of what is currently and depressingly being implemented. Very, very scary indeed!
June 15, 2025
Everyone should read this book
April 5, 2025
Are you sitting comfortably?
Well, you won’t if you read this.
I loved the systematic way that West has presented the evidence in this book, largely anticipating in subsequent sections my questions, frustrations or discomfort.
It is thought provoking and challenging in equal measure; I hope it provokes action too.
I would have liked more on racism outside the UK/US contexts - but it might be there isn’t the same wealth of research and evidence.
I was really struck by the defining importance of power in identifying racism, at an individual, community, organisational and national level. And I need to sit with that. I can see that it’s fundamental, but I don’t think it gives ‘low power’ individuals a free hit for prejudice, stereotyping or implicit, explicit or aversive racism. It seems to be that in some areas power is fundamental, and in others it’s an aggravator or multiplier. I think a bigger section - or the next book - on power (which the book closes on) would be helpful.
So there are a couple of areas of many, where I would have liked greater exploration to feed my curiosity.
Will be sharing this others!
Well, you won’t if you read this.
I loved the systematic way that West has presented the evidence in this book, largely anticipating in subsequent sections my questions, frustrations or discomfort.
It is thought provoking and challenging in equal measure; I hope it provokes action too.
I would have liked more on racism outside the UK/US contexts - but it might be there isn’t the same wealth of research and evidence.
I was really struck by the defining importance of power in identifying racism, at an individual, community, organisational and national level. And I need to sit with that. I can see that it’s fundamental, but I don’t think it gives ‘low power’ individuals a free hit for prejudice, stereotyping or implicit, explicit or aversive racism. It seems to be that in some areas power is fundamental, and in others it’s an aggravator or multiplier. I think a bigger section - or the next book - on power (which the book closes on) would be helpful.
So there are a couple of areas of many, where I would have liked greater exploration to feed my curiosity.
Will be sharing this others!
February 14, 2025
Brilliantly illuminating evidence for racism
—
Full of sick burns —“If your hypotheses can’t make any predictions at all, then you’re not even doing science and you should just leave.”—this is not the book you think it is. It’s an entertaining yet shocking and serious history and presentation on the evidence of racism at every level, with studies from all over the world.
I can’t tell you how good this book is: well-written on the scientific evidence (not opinions or anecdotes, just cold hard facts), but also shocking in its dissection of real-life cases of racism and what exactly are the factors behind them. Examples include: when in an individual’s life implicit racism can be measured; how racism affects basic social structures such as health, education, policing; how politics enshrines racism behind other judgements; and others too numerous and too saddening to mention.
Five shocked stars.
—
Full of sick burns —“If your hypotheses can’t make any predictions at all, then you’re not even doing science and you should just leave.”—this is not the book you think it is. It’s an entertaining yet shocking and serious history and presentation on the evidence of racism at every level, with studies from all over the world.
I can’t tell you how good this book is: well-written on the scientific evidence (not opinions or anecdotes, just cold hard facts), but also shocking in its dissection of real-life cases of racism and what exactly are the factors behind them. Examples include: when in an individual’s life implicit racism can be measured; how racism affects basic social structures such as health, education, policing; how politics enshrines racism behind other judgements; and others too numerous and too saddening to mention.
Five shocked stars.
March 3, 2025
Honestly probably the best book I’ve read about discrimination in any form so far. The writing style is accessible, the information delivered in a direct and self-aware way, and the narration, done by the author himself, is incredibly clear and easy to follow (plus he has a really soothing voice). I’m aware that most people who pick up this book are already deconstructing their own biases and don’t need all those facts to believe that racism is still alive and well, but I do hope that we can all take the information as ammunition for the next argument with a stranger/parent/estranged relative at the grandma’s birthday party to eventually make some difference and change a few minds. Or at least shut someone up.
If you even vaguely consider reading this book, do it. You won’t regret it.
If you even vaguely consider reading this book, do it. You won’t regret it.
November 22, 2025
Brilliant book that everyone should read. Keon West states the science & research clearly & most helpfully even gently points out where anti-racists such as myself go wrong & provides clear concise examples of how to rectify this. The bibliography is a treasure trouve, he's done the research & listings so we can go off & read them & hopefully apply the lessons & use the arguments. Not a heavy read at all though the lack of progress on all fronts from education, recruitment & healthcare is dis-spiriting (I thought the UK had come further than is actually provably the case) but the vital lessons are to recognise where we as individuals & society have gone wrong & apply pressure to make genuine changes & not lip service. Excellent. Highly recommended.
March 29, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Unfortunately I had an issue with the file for this book as it stopped working before I could complete my read, but from the first couple of chapters I can say this seems to be a solid entry into the canon on the exploration of race, taking the novel perspective of looking at this from a completely scientific viewpoint. The parts I read were meticulously researched, although I did find the author's assertions of objectivity to be slightly undermined by frequent interjections in the text. I'm definitely planning on buying this for my library so I can read it in full.
Unfortunately I had an issue with the file for this book as it stopped working before I could complete my read, but from the first couple of chapters I can say this seems to be a solid entry into the canon on the exploration of race, taking the novel perspective of looking at this from a completely scientific viewpoint. The parts I read were meticulously researched, although I did find the author's assertions of objectivity to be slightly undermined by frequent interjections in the text. I'm definitely planning on buying this for my library so I can read it in full.
June 9, 2025
I love this book! It is so needed. Be brave and read it. Nothing can be changed until it is faced. This book gives empirical evidence that racism against people of color is very real and damaging, and has been for centuries. It clearly explains why being color-blind does not work and causes more racism. Think you're not racist? Take the Implicit Association Test and see the harsh truth. Racism is the water we swim in.
We combat it by recognizing it, facing it, and start purposefully interacting with those different from us. Read this book.
We combat it by recognizing it, facing it, and start purposefully interacting with those different from us. Read this book.
May 15, 2025
Very good and very necessary. This book is well written and pulls off the feat of making an enjoyable read out of a difficult subject.
The anecdotes of racist incidents are upsetting but not as upsetting as the research showing the prevalence of racist behaviour in our society.
The book serves as a real reminder of the depth of white privilege.
The anecdotes of racist incidents are upsetting but not as upsetting as the research showing the prevalence of racist behaviour in our society.
The book serves as a real reminder of the depth of white privilege.
April 9, 2025
Great read: super informative and data driven. Some parts quite heavy, particularly the section on children studies. Makes you think and read the world from a different perspective. Would definitely recommend!
September 8, 2025
The book, through descriptions of many scientific studies, throughly establishes the presence of individual and systemic racism, and provides simple advice you can follow to uncover your own biases and improve yourself.
April 18, 2025
Scientific research presented in a way that is engaging and specific yet not an overwhelming about of data so it is easy to engage with.
July 8, 2025
Honestly I had low expectations but my god did this surprise me. It systematically breaks down systems of racism and the layers. It’s such a good read.
July 26, 2025
a must read. seriously
November 1, 2025
Brilliant well written account of how science has been used to show us that racism exists and the ways it can be most effectively countered.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews