The Science of IQ
Mentioned once across 1 show · first heard Feb 2026 on Hidden Brain.
The general take
Scott Barry Kaufman credits "The Science of IQ" with winning him over on the subject of intelligence research. He describes reading the textbook as a transformative experience that shifted him away from skepticism and made him genuinely enthusiastic about the science behind IQ and intelligence.
About
“This book is a gem, witty, entertaining, insightful, and deeply informative—a must-read for anyone interested in birds or brains.” JENNIFER ACKERMAN, New York Times bestselling author of The Genius of Birds , What an Owl Knows , and The Bird Way “A vivid book on avian intelligence.”— Booklist , STARRED Review Discover the secret intelligence of birds, revealed by one of the world’s leading researchers in avian innovation. Surveying a wide variety of birds, including crows, finches, tits, and parrots, Louis Lefebvre, a world-renowned expert in animal behavior, describes the remarkable innovations and problem-solving abilities of species often dismissed as “featherbrains.”
Who said what
Scott Barry Kaufman👍 Recommends
…scott discussing the impact of reading a textbook on intelligence research
“He wrote a textbook, The Science of IQ, which I remember reading and it almost instantly made me a, I won't say convert, I don't know if that word quite applies, but it almost instantly seduced me into loving the science of IQ and intelligence and I forgot that I was supposed to be on this vendetta.”
Hidden Brain — Why You're Smarter Than You Thinkat 35:02
Listener reviews
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