Understanding Intelligence

by Ken Richardson

Have you ever wondered why psychologists still can't agree on what intelligence is? Or felt dismayed by debates around individual differences? Criticising the pitfalls of IQ testing, this book explains the true nature of intelligent systems, and their evolution from cells to brains to culture and human minds. Understanding Intelligence debunks many of the myths and misunderstandings surrounding intelligence. It takes a new look at the nature of the environment and the development of 'talent' and achievement. This brings fresh and radical implications for promoting intelligence and creativity, and prompts readers to reconsider their own possibilities and aspirations. Providing a broad context to the subject, the author also unmasks the ideological distortions of intelligence in racism and eugenics, and the suppressed expectations across social classes and genders. This book is a must-read for anyone curious about our own intelligence.

154 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 1990

Reviews

[Ragdoll Metaphysics · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good read only giving it 3 stars because the updated version of this book that I read is largely a redux of his 2017 book (which is good!). Also nice to see that his work, first published as a paper in 2016, published on here and his 2017 work having to do with the Hunter and Schmidt IQ-Job performance meta analysis has been vindicated as they have recently walked back some of their claims and cited his criticisms (though I think without actually citing him) about for eg range restriction.

[Joel Baptista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introductory book to get familiar with the diferent ways to analise the concept of intelligence