logo

56 pages 1 hour read

Fatal Invention: How Science, Politics, and Big Business Re-create Race in the Twenty-First Century

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2011

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Dorothy Roberts

Fatal Invention

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2011
Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

2010s

Publication Year

2011

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

In Fatal Invention, Dorothy Roberts examines how the belief in a biological basis for race is inaccurate and instead argues that race is a political construct used to uphold systemic racism. She traces the co-construction of race by imperialism and science, exposes how modern genetic research perpetuates these racial biases, and critiques the consequential impact on medicine and surveillance technologies. This book discusses systemic racism, slavery, eugenics, police surveillance, and mass incarceration.

Informative

Challenging

Unnerving

Mysterious

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.4

2,124 ratings

84%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Dorothy Roberts' Fatal Invention is praised for its thorough examination of race, science, and biotechnology, with critics noting its compelling argument and robust research. However, some feel the book can be dense and challenging for general readers. Overall, it is highly regarded for its thought-provoking insights and critical analysis on the implications of racial science.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Fatal Invention?

A reader captivated by sociological and bioethical discussions, particularly those intrigued by the intersections of race, science, and technology, will enjoy Dorothy Roberts’ Fatal Invention. Fans of Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow or Harriet A. Washington's Medical Apartheid will find it especially compelling.

4.4

2,124 ratings

84%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

2010s

Publication Year

2011

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.