"A masterful contextualization of the life of a major contributor to psychology whose work spanned a dramatic era of growth in experimental psychology."
Journal of the History of Medicine “A thought provoking and systematically laid out argument. . . . Recommended reading to anyone with an interest in the history of the relationship between scientific methods, Western politics and culture.”
Leonardo On-Line “Clearly and meticulously documents Cattell’s segregationist views. . . . Tucker grapples with issues of the relationship between science and political ideology, and the ethical obligations of scientists to the uses of their work. Highly recommended.”
Choice "In analyzing one of the most important controversies in contemporary psychology, Tucker explores a number of important moral issues and shows himself to be a master of ethics as well as history, making judgments only after a meticulous examination of all sides of the issue. This illuminating work is a major contribution to our understanding of one of the major figures in twentieth century psychology."
Barry Mehler, founder and executive director of the Institute for the Study of Academic Racism "With the meticulous research that also characterized his previous work, William H. Tucker has carefully dissected and discredited the claim that the scientific and moral/political projects of psychologist Raymond B. Cattell belonged to separate spheres. Cattell's own words, presented in context by Tucker, show just how important race and eugenics were to Cattell, not just before World War II, but throughout his long career. The lucid, critical account of Cattell's factor analytic work on personality and the detailed context of postwar scientific racism make this an important work for understanding the interplay of science and ideology."
Andrew S. Winston, editor of Defining Difference: Race and Racism in the History of Psychology