Human Variation, Races, Types, and Ethnic Groups

by Stephen Molnar

Discarding the concept of race as misleading, this book examines the biological basis for human variation and biological diversity at the population level—appropriate because of the many ways in which humans can adapt to environments, organize activities, and regulate breeding behavior. It reviews the history, behavior, and demographic structure of contemporary populations, and their effects on the distribution of major genetic polymorphisms and distinctions of body form, size, and skin color. Chapter topics include racial variation and the perception of human differences, the biological basis for human variation, traits of simple inheritance, hemoglobin variants and DNA markers, traits of complex inheritance, distribution of human differences, human variability and behavior, and changing dimensions of the human species. For individuals interested in genetic science—and the recent significant achievements in this field.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Science

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1982

Reviews

[Melissa Kidd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard book to read. I almost gave it a two star for that but the topics covered are interesting for me. It just forced you to concentrate very hard to understand what was being said half the time. Also, sa a textbook, it is overflowing with knowledge and information. Too much really to take in, in my opinion. It just dumps the information on you without any ease or transitions. Very dry.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

A politically charged book with racist implications against certain nations the Zionist sponsors of the book are at odds with. The IQ test report for instance was frudulent.

[Rachel Loyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book fights the gene centric world view by explaining the reality of human diversity. Molnar challenges some of the biggest "genetic" factors that separate the human population (race, intelligence, disease). If you want to understand the difference between what society says about Genes and human variation and the reality of human diversity, read this book.
This book is FANTASTIC! I think it should be incorporated into every biology or anthropology program. Its familiar to think that Genes make you who you are, but there is so much more going on.

[Billy]

An in-depth exploration of genetics and the bases of human diversity... i.e. Eugenics ; )