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What’s Real about Race? Untangling Science, Genetics, and Society

Sociologist and geneticist Rina Bliss examines what modern science can—and cannot—tell us about race. She traces how racial categories were created, how they became embedded in medicine and research, and why genetic ancestry is often confused with socially defined identity. Drawing on contemporary genetics and social science, Bliss separates biological variation from misleading claims about fixed racial difference. The result is an accessible guide to discussing race with greater precision, recognizing the real health effects of racism, and avoiding both genetic determinism and the mistaken idea that race has no material consequences.

Publisher: Norton & Company Limited, W. W.
Publication date: 2025
Format: Print edition
Pages: 192
ISBN: 9781324021766

Subjects

Race Genetics Sociology of Science

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Interview with the Author

4 available interview links

1. culturalstudies — Rina Bliss on intelligence, genes, and raceChecked

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2. New Books in Sociology — Rina Bliss, "What's Real About Race: Untangling Science, Genetics, and Society" (W.W. Norton, 2025)Checked

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3. New Books in the History of Science — Rina Bliss, "What's Real About Race: Untangling Science, Genetics, and Society" (W.W. Norton, 2025)Checked

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4. New Books in Biology and Evolution — Rina Bliss, "What's Real About Race: Untangling Science, Genetics, and Society" (W.W. Norton, 2025)Checked

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