Let's Talk About Race: A Review of Biased by Jennifer Eberhardt, PhD

Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As we see the resurgence of hate groups and extreme political rhetoric, discussing racism, implicit bias and how they affect us is more important than ever. In this book, Dr. Eberhardt explores a number of place, from the benign to the serious, where implicit bias affects how people respond to other people and to different scenarios.

What is fascinating about this book is how bias affects everyone and in rather predictable ways. Dr. Eberhardt uses stories, such as the undercover black police officer chasing after his own reflection, and the latest social research, some of which she has conducted herself, to show how bias affects people and society. Much of it is incredibly insightful and thought-provoking, but some of it is not. It's hit or miss.

The biggest issue though is that, after sharing all these stories and research, Dr. Eberhardt's concluding chapters don't really offer much in terms of how to address and overcome bias. Mostly, she seems to say that by pointing out bias and discussing it, things can get better. While I don't disagree with her, it doesn't feel like enough when facing the serious issues of bias that we face today. Furthermore, the way she presents her recommendations are easy to miss. They are tucked in and spread around part 3 of this book and not presented in a particularly systematized way. I would've preferred a more direct chapter on ways to address and overcome bias as, after all these stories about how bias is almost inescapable, it would be cathartic to have a section devoted to addressing and overcoming bias directly.

As bias, particularly along racial lines, better known and less socially acceptable, books like this are more important than ever. While it doesn't provide a good amount of advice on how to deal with bias, I would recommend this book for anyone who wishes to spark conversation about implicit bias, especially their own.

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