The Unfit: A History of a Bad Idea
Carlson, Elof Axel
From WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
AbeBooks Seller Since March 16, 2007
Quantity: 2From WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom
AbeBooks Seller Since March 16, 2007
Quantity: 2About this Item
The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR007818425
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Unfit: A History of a Bad Idea
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
Publication Date: 2001
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Very Good
About this title
Certain individuals were judged "degenerate" as early as biblical times, and the condition was viewed as a punishment for religious transgression. Noted author Elof Axel Carlson traces the idea that degeneracy was biologically determined and shows how the social application of the label changed throughout the last century as the new academic discipline of sociology emerged. Carlson describes the failures and abuses of the social movements in the United States and Europe with their sorry history of racism, anti-Semitism, and violations of basic human rights.
Carlson writes beautifully, but I want to warn readers that this is not a book to be looked at lightly. It probably couldn't have the power it does if it did not include the wealth of illustrations and extensive notes, but it is indeed a serious study of this disturbing science. As Carlson writes in his Introduction, "Readers of this book may feel uncomfortable, as I certainly did, when they realize that there is a lot of mythology associated with the origins of the eugenics movement. It is embarrassing to see many strange bedfellows in the development of the idea of unfit people, and it should give us pause if we believe that the Holocaust could have been predicted from its earliest roots." I shivered when I read that statement. --Charles Decker
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Store Description
WorldofBooks.com fully embraces the AbeBooks terms and conditions and we will do
what we can to resolve any issues.
Orders ship within 2 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.
Payment Methods
accepted by seller