Book Summary:
William Wright takes on the question of nature versus nurture, examining the roles heredity and environment play in determining not only what we look like, but why some of us like coffee rather than tea or prefer cats to dogs. Wright's position is clearly in favor of genetic control of our predispositions, based on compelling evidence from various research such as the famous University of Minnesota studies of identical twins raised separately and from newer work such as that outlined in Dean Hamer's Living with Our Genes. Wright states emphatically, "The nature-nurture war is over." But he carefully avoids much of the outcry that met biologist E.O. Wilson's introduction of the principles of sociobiology by stating up front that genes aren't everything: "None of the data turned up by behavioral geneticists shows genes to be tyrannical commands, but rather nudges, sometimes strong, but more often weak." Wright makes a strong case for genetic determinism, while carefully distancing himself from the socio-political ramifications of saying people are "born that way." He does this by showing how decades of research pointing toward genes as determiners of body and mind has been misinterpreted by groups or individuals intent on achieving their nonscientific goals. --Therese Littleton "Wright does his homework on behavioral genetics with the thoroughness of an academic scholar, but without the narrowness of mind and ambition that plagues the academy. Wright's devastating treatment is a refreshing smack on the point. Not only is his book well-researched and reasoned, but it is written with elegance and verve, and should capture the attention of professionals and public alike. Science reporting as good as this is as rare as it is valuable." --Robin Fox, University Professor of Social Theory, Rutgers
"William Wright's Born That Way is a revelation and a pleasure. Clear, witty, eminently readable, it presents the mysteries of human genetics and behavior in a way that leaves the reader enlightened, conversant and entertained. It's a most rewarding book on this elusive and fascinating topic." -- Robert Stone
"William Wright's remarkable new book makes the genes-versus-environment conundrum not only comprehensible by the non-expert, but highly entertaining and sometimes even dramatic. -- Alison Lurie
"It takes an independent writer and free spirit to tell the story straight, and thank God Wright has done it. Born That Way is ... informative, well written, and entertaining ... William Wright chronicles the strife-filled odyssey from nurturism (the human mind is a blank slate, environment is all) to the modern discipline that has uncovered the powerful influence of both heredity and environment." --Edward O. Wilson
"William Wright's Born That Way is truly impressive. It's as easy to read as it is fascinating and complex. Wright has assimilated so much research and used to present his many thought-provoking conclusions, I stand in awe. Wright is not only an excellent writer, he has a genome for enlightening, gentle humor." -- Ann Beattie |