The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould | Summary & Study Guide

The Mismeasure of Man by Stephen Jay Gould is a book that is concerned with how to rank people into groups on the basis of intelligence in a manner that is meaningful. Since intelligence is an abstraction about the human brain, Gould feels that it is possible to rank humans on this basis. The author, a paleontologist with a statistical background, analyzes data within a historical context and combines his skill as a scientist with his concern as a historian when looking at the issue of biological determinism. He looks at what they did right and what they did wrong in measuring human intelligence.

This study guide includes the following sections: Plot Summary, Chapter Summaries & Analysis, Characters, Objects/Places, Themes, Style, Quotes, and Topics for Discussion.