March 1, 2015
In an emotionally charged period during which racial tensions run high and notions about diversity are increasingly complex and divisive, renowned geneticist Fairbanks examines the nature of racial difference from a scientific perspective. Analyzing research performed by hundreds of scientists, himself included, across multiple disciplines, Fairbanks summarizes current thinking on DNA lineage, ancestral heritage, geographic fluctuations, and social influences to support conclusions that humanity is more similar than not, that few genetic variations contribute to perceived racial differences, and that racial classifications are based more on social constructs than physical evidence. Tracing human DNA back more than 100,000 years, Fairbanks pinpoints Africa as the wellspring from which future ancestries grew and defines the term race through precise dissections of genetic traits and piercing discussions of migration patterns, cultural practices, and historical upheavals. Though technical analyses of genetic science may preclude a wider audience, Fairbanks' keen conclusions regarding the nature of race will appeal to readers curious about the deepest aspects of human relationships.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)