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Every book Richard Haier recommended on podcasts
Richard Haier appears on the Lex Fridman Podcast, where discussions center deeply around psychometrics, human intelligence, IQ testing, and group differences. As evident from his podcast appearances, Haier is an academic researcher who approaches these contentious topics through empirical data, psychometric testing history, and scientific literature. During the interview, Haier discussed several influential and controversial books within the field of intelligence research. He introduced Richard J. Herrnstein and Charles Murray's 1994 book The Bell Curve to examine the normal distribution of intelligence and the societal controversies surrounding it. Haier also extensively discussed subsequent works by Charles Murray, including Human Diversity—highlighting data that challenges the notion that race is solely a social construct—as well as Facing Reality. Additionally, Haier referenced Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings when discussing the broader generalization of skills in martial contexts. On the critical side, Haier critiqued Stephen Jay Gould's The Mismeasure of Man, pointing listeners toward scientific reviews that challenge Gould's arguments. Through these references, Haier situates his research within the historical and ongoing academic debates surrounding human cognitive differences.
Books recommended by Richard Haier
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Bible
The Bible is a foundational collection of sacred religious texts spanning Jewish and Christian traditions that has served as a central source of cultural narrative, historical record, and moral wisdom for millennia.
Discussed“Murray went on to write some additional books, two in the last couple of years; one about human diversity where he goes through the data refuting the idea that race is only a social construct with no biological meaning.”
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Facing Reality
Discussed“a book called facing reality where he talks about this again”
Where to get it
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Human Diversity
Discussed“a book is called human diversity he talks about race and he talks about gender”
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The Bell Curve
The Bell Curve by Richard J.
Discussed“there's a book called the bell curve written in 1994 written by psychologist richard hernstein and political scientist charles murray”
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The Book of Five Rings
The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi is a classic treatise on samurai strategy, martial arts philosophy, and the application of foundational principles across all disciplines.
Discussed“he's an ancient warrior famous for the book of five rings in the martial arts world”
Where to get it
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The Mismeasure of Man
The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould is a classic critique of biological determinism, scientific racism, and the historical misuse of intelligence testing to rank human groups hierarchically.
Critiqued“and google the scientific reviews of his book the mismeasure of man and they will take these statements apart”
Where to get it
Books Richard Haier wrote
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| #302 – Richard Haier: IQ Tests, Human Intelligence, and Group Differences | Lex Fridman Podcast | 2022-07-14 | 6 |
Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
“It's kind of a long story that I go into a little more detail in the book 'Neuroscience of Intelligence', but to say he was vilified is an understatement.”