The Mismeasure of Man (book)

*The Mismeasure of Man*, by Stephen Jay Gould, critically examines the history of measuring intelligence through scientific methods. Gould argues that early intelligence tests were often biased, misused to justify racism and social inequality, and falsely claimed to be objective measures of innate ability. The book highlights how scientific racism and flawed methodologies distorted our understanding of human intelligence, emphasizing the importance of questioning scientific assumptions and recognizing social influences. Overall, it advocates for a more nuanced, ethical approach to studying human abilities, emphasizing that intelligence cannot be fully captured by a single, biased measurement.