Being Well-Born: An Introduction to Eugenics

The author offers a popular scientific introduction to heredity and eugenics, explaining genetic mechanisms and the extent to which physical and mental traits are inherited versus shaped by environment. He surveys contemporary misconceptions—especially about prenatal influences—outlines principles for measuring inheritance, and illustrates how heredity interacts with education and upbringing. The text considers practical implications for parents, teachers, and policymakers, discusses limits of social and medical remedies, and argues that responsible mate selection and restrictions on parenthood for those judged to pose hereditary risks are social responsibilities raised by recent genetic findings.