Brief Description
Seeks to explain the 'Flynn effect' (massive IQ gains over time) and its consequences for gender, race and social equality.
Learn More about the Book
The Flynn effect' is a surprising finding, identified by James R. Flynn, that IQ test scores have significantly increased from one generation to the next over the past century. Flynn now brings us an exciting new book which aims to make sense of this rise in IQ scores and considers what this tells us about our intelligence, our minds and society. Are We Getting Smarter? features fascinating new material on a variety of topics including the effects of intelligence in the developing world; the impact of rising IQ scores on the death penalty, cognitive ability in old age, and the language abilities of youth culture; as well as controversial topics of race and gender. He ends with the message that assessing IQ goes astray if society is ignored. As IQ scores continue to rise into the 21st century, particularly in the developing world, the Flynn effect' marches on!"
About the Author
James R. Flynn is Professor Emeritus at the University of Otago, New Zealand, and a recipient of the University's Gold Medal for Distinguished Career Research. He is renowned for the 'Flynn effect', the documentation of massive IQ gains from one generation to another. Professor Flynn is the author of 12 books including Where Have All the Liberals Gone? (Cambridge University Press, 2008) and What Is Intelligence? (Cambridge University Press, 2007), which caused many to rethink the prevailing theory of intelligence.
Review Quotes
1. ."..Are We Getting Smarter? is full of thought-provoking reflections...--John Naughton, The Guardian
2. ."..[Flynn] remains one of the most original thinkers in IQ testing." --Bruce Bower, ScienceNews
3. ."..in making the case that the Flynn effect is connected to modernity, the book offers a broader indictment of intelligence research and the field of psychology as a whole..." --Meehan Crist and Tim Requarth, Columbia University, The New Republic
4. .".. "If Mr. Flynn's explanation for rising IQ is right, he isn't merely explaining mankind's mental evolution. Reading and critically evaluating Mr. Flynn actually makes us smarter. Or at least more modern...." --Bryan Caplan, Wall Street Journal
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5. ."..the book remains valuable for grasping our changing capacity for learning over time and our room for growth." --Samantha Murphy, Scientific American Mind
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6. ."..The book is stuffed with terrific tables of data that detail and support various trends in different places and with respect to different peoples of the world. Flynn has assumed the role of caretaker of our intellectual direction. With a simple, but elegant style and a literate tone, the author portrays our destiny in eye-opening statistical analysis. Then he delivers conclusions. A well-crafted sense of where we re heading. The book drills deep under your skin, constantly ferreting out new vistas read it!" --D. Wayne Dworsky, San Francisco & Sacramento Book Review
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7. ."..Flynn writes clearly, succinctly, and wryly.... Those interested in research on intelligence should read this book.... Recommended..." D.S. Dunn, Moravian College, Choice
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8. "Flynn has made this field his own ... This book s strengths are the authority of the author, the engaging writing style, the importance of the topics dealt with, and the up-to-date nature of the content."
--Ian J. Deary, University of Edinburgh
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9. "No one but James Flynn could have written this book. It contains his most recent ideas about the causes and implications of the massive rise in IQ test scores that has been termed the "Flynn Effect," and is thus essential reading for anyone wishing to keep up to date with the latest thinking about the nature of IQ."
--Nicholas Mackintosh, University of Cambridge
10. "The scholarship of this book is detailed and exhaustive. The originality of thinking is sprinkled throughout the beginning chapters, and reaches a peak in the final two. With his unique perspective, Flynn literally is "opening new windows.""
--Jonathan Wai, Duke University
11. "Reveals new data on the evolution of the mind and predicts which mental abilities will continue to be enhanced...."
--Indie Sleepers, Publishers Weekly
12. ..".Are We Getting Smarter? is full of thought-provoking reflections...
--John Naughton, The Guardian
13. ..".[Flynn] remains one of the most original thinkers in IQ testing."
--Bruce Bower, ScienceNews
14. ..". "If Mr. Flynn's explanation for rising IQ is right, he isn't merely explaining mankind's mental evolution. Reading and critically evaluating Mr. Flynn actually makes us smarter. Or at least more modern...."
--Bryan Caplan, Wall Street Journal
"
15. ..".the book remains valuable for grasping our changing capacity for learning over time and our room for growth."
--Samantha Murphy, Scientific American Mind
"
16. ..".in making the case that the Flynn effect is connected to modernity, the book offers a broader indictment of intelligence research and the field of psychology as a whole..."
--Meehan Crist and Tim Requarth, Columbia University, The New Republic
17. "Flynn asks poignant questions and works hard to provide clear, thorough, well-researched answers.... This is a very worthy read by a leader in the field..."
--Devon Tomasulo, MFA, PsychCentral.com
18. "It s an uplifting tale, a reminder that human capacity is on the upswing."
--Nicholas Kristof, NYT
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19. ..".The book is stuffed with terrific tables of data that detail and support various trends in different places and with respect to different peoples of the world. Flynn has assumed the role of caretaker of our intellectual direction. With a simple, but elegant style and a literate tone, the author portrays our destiny in eye-opening statistical analysis. Then he delivers conclusions. A well-crafted sense of where we re heading. The book drills deep under your skin, constantly ferreting out new vistas read it!"
--D. Wayne Dworsky, San Francisco & Sacramento Book Review
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20. those accepting intelligence as a multidimensional construct, the different aspects of which interact with social developments (and Flynn makes a compelling case for that), will find the book an eye-opener.
--Science
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21. ..".Flynn writes clearly, succinctly, and wryly.... Those interested in research on intelligence should read this book.... Recommended..."
D.S. Dunn, Moravian College, Choice
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