Book · 2006 · Medical
The Genius Factory
The Curious History of the Nobel Prize Sperm Bank
Why people recommend it
The Genius Factory by David Plotz is a non-fiction investigative book that uncovers the bizarre history of a repository established to propagate the DNA of exceptionally gifted individuals. On The Ezra Klein Show, Helen Lewis recommended the book during the final segment of the episode. Lewis described the narrative as the true story of a wealthy eccentric who decided that the ideal solution to America's various societal challenges was to persuade numerous Nobel Prize winners to donate their genetic material. She detailed the premise for listeners, explaining how the millionaire sought to engineer a generation of superior offspring. Through her recommendation, Lewis highlighted a disturbing and unusual chapter of twentieth-century history involving eugenics, ambition, and reproductive experimentation, capturing the bizarre reality behind a grandiose social engineering experiment.
Who recommended it
- Helen Lewis Recommended
Helen Lewis — 1 mention
“So, I have brought The Genius Factory by David Plots, which is the story of one mad eugenicist millionaire who decides that the way to solve all of America's problem is to get lots of Nobel Prize winners to donate their sperm...”