City Lights: Professor and Author Kathryn Paige Harden at Politics and Prose – Washington City Paper

Kathryn Paige Harden at Politics and Prose

Genetic Lottery: Why DNA Matters for Social Equality might sound like a book written by a 20th-century eugenicist, but its author, Kathryn Paige Harden, is far from that. A professor of clinical psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, director of the Developmental Behavior Genetics Lab, and co-director of the Texas Twin Project, Harden has spent years researching how DNA differences play a large role in educational and economic success to propose a new society where everyone thrives, regardless of how one fares in the genetic lottery. In her book, Harden chronicles the complicated history of genetics, sharing both her and other scientists findings, as well as personal experiences and analogies that help demonstrate how genetic inheritance can sometimes be sheer luck. Throughout Genetic Lottery, Harden challenges notions of racial superiority and eugenics to reclaim the field of genetics, arguing that we must acknowledge the importance (and power) of DNA to create a fairer world. On Jan. 24, at yet another Politics and Prose virtual event, Harden will be joined by Angela Duckworth, founder and the CEO of Character Lab, to discuss Genetic Lottery and how it can be applied to making real-life social change. The virtual talk starts at 6 p.m. on Jan. 24. Registration required. politics-prose.com. Free.

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City Lights: Professor and Author Kathryn Paige Harden at Politics and Prose - Washington City Paper