Fredrik DeBoer Livres

"In order to move toward a more egalitarian society, the American education system must be reformed to account for genetic differences between individual academic abilities. All groups, all races, and all genders are created equal. Not all individuals are. The Cult of Smart is a provocative and groundbreaking discussion of human potential, a topic which, in recent times, has been corrupted by the pernicious and cynical pseudoscience of 'race realism.' Fredrik deBoer--an expert on testing and assessment who has spent as much time in a classroom as he [h]as in the library--takes on intelligence and inequality from the unorthodox perspective of progressive politics. He makes the case that intelligence exists, matters, and is diverse, and that this diversity of potential should be embraced by all who hope for a more egalitarian society. Our education system, our expectations for students, and our fundamental values as a liberal society are based on the idea that every seed can ultimately produce equal fruit. This premise is pretty, but it denies science and reality and misplaces our values: we shouldn't cultivate our children in the first place. We should help them grow. To be fairer, more equal, and more progressive, we must embrace subjects that our politics have unnecessarily made uncomfortable. This book may sting at first, but its ultimate message is one of profound humanity and optimism: we aren't all equal in every way. It isn't incumbent on us to treat one another equally because we earn it; we must treat each other equally because it is the right thing to do. Let's tend to the soil"-- Provided by publisher

The book explores the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, highlighting the disparity between calls for genuine societal change and the superficial responses from corporations, such as diversity pledges and performative gestures. It critiques the lack of substantial progress in addressing systemic issues, revealing how corporate actions often fall short of meaningful reform. Through this lens, it examines the complexities of activism and the challenges of achieving true equality in a landscape dominated by tokenism.