Virtual Event: Kathryn Paige Harden

Harvard Book Store, the Harvard University Division of Science, and the Harvard Library welcome KATHRYN PAIGE HARDEN—professor of psychology at the University of Texas, Austin and director of the Developmental Behavior Genetics Lab—for a discussion of her latest book, The Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality. She will be joined in conversation by BENJAMIN NEALE, co-director of the Program in Medical and Population Genetics at the Broad Institute and Director of Genetics at the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research.

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While payment is not required, we are suggesting a $5 contribution to support this author series, our staff, and the future of Harvard Book Store—a locally owned, independently run Cambridge institution. In addition, by purchasing a copy of The Genetic Lottery on harvard.com, you support indie bookselling and the writing community during this difficult time.

About The Genetic Lottery

In recent years, scientists like Kathryn Paige Harden have shown that DNA makes us different, in our personalities and in our health—and in ways that matter for educational and economic success in our current society.

In The Genetic Lottery, Harden introduces readers to the latest genetic science, dismantling dangerous ideas about racial superiority and challenging us to grapple with what equality really means in a world where people are born different. Weaving together personal stories with scientific evidence, Harden shows why our refusal to recognize the power of DNA perpetuates the myth of meritocracy, and argues that we must acknowledge the role of genetic luck if we are ever to create a fair society.

Reclaiming genetic science from the legacy of eugenics, this groundbreaking book offers a bold new vision of society where everyone thrives, regardless of how one fares in the genetic lottery.

Praise for The Genetic Lottery

“This brilliant book is without a doubt the very best exposition on our genes, how they influence quite literally everything about us, and why this means we should care more, not less, about the societal structures in which we live.” —Angela Duckworth, author of Grit

“To me, the aim of genetic research should be threefold: to find out which differences between people are real, which of those matter, and how to use that knowledge to get the best outcomes for all people. This fascinating book is a step toward that goal.” —David Epstein, author of Range

“Harden expertly explains what we can—and importantly, can’t—take away from genetic research, and does so without shying away from the complexities or controversies. Nobody should be allowed to opine about genetics in public until they’ve read this book.” —Stuart Ritchie, author of Science Fictions