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The End of Bias: A Beginning
The End of Bias is a transformative, groundbreaking exploration into how we can eradicate unintentional bias and discrimination, the great challenge of our age.
Implicit bias: persistent, unintentional prejudiced behavior that clashes with our consciously held beliefs. We know that it exists, to corrosive and even lethal effect. We see it in medicine, we see it in finance, and as we know from the police killings of so many Black Americans, bias can be deadly. But are we able to step beyond recognition of our prejudice to actually change it?
With fifteen years' immersion in the topic, Jessica Nordell digs deep into the cognitive science, social psychology, and developmental research that underpin current efforts to eradicate unintentional bias and discrimination. She examines diversity training, deployed across the land as a corrective but with inconsistent results. She explores what works and why: the diagnostic checklist used by doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital that eliminated disparate treatment of men and women in disease prevention; the preschool in Sweden where teachers found ingenious ways to uproot gender stereotyping: the police unit in Oregon where the practice of mindfulness and specialized training has coincided with a startling drop in the use of force.
The End of Bias: A Beginning brings good news: Biased behavior can change; the approaches outlined here can transform ourselves and our world.
Implicit bias: persistent, unintentional prejudiced behavior that clashes with our consciously held beliefs. We know that it exists, to corrosive and even lethal effect. We see it in medicine, we see it in finance, and as we know from the police killings of so many Black Americans, bias can be deadly. But are we able to step beyond recognition of our prejudice to actually change it?
With fifteen years' immersion in the topic, Jessica Nordell digs deep into the cognitive science, social psychology, and developmental research that underpin current efforts to eradicate unintentional bias and discrimination. She examines diversity training, deployed across the land as a corrective but with inconsistent results. She explores what works and why: the diagnostic checklist used by doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital that eliminated disparate treatment of men and women in disease prevention; the preschool in Sweden where teachers found ingenious ways to uproot gender stereotyping: the police unit in Oregon where the practice of mindfulness and specialized training has coincided with a startling drop in the use of force.
The End of Bias: A Beginning brings good news: Biased behavior can change; the approaches outlined here can transform ourselves and our world.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 21, 2021
339 people are currently reading
8702 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Nordell
4 books39 followersJessica Nordell is a writer and science journalist, and author of The End of Bias: A Beginning (Metropolitan Books/Holt), which was shortlisted for the Royal Society Science Book Prize. The End of Bias is a solutions journalism odyssey through the science and psychology of unexamined bias and discrimination, and how it has been successfully tackled-- from healthcare and education to policing, the workplace, and more. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Slate, the New Republic, and the Washington Post. The End of Bias was named a Best Book of the Year by World Economic Forum, Greater Good, AARP and Inc. She received her B.A. in physics from Harvard and M.F.A. in poetry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her 11th great grandmother was the last woman to be tried for witchcraft in the state of Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
December 31, 2022
What a book to end the year on! This book is skillfully written, powerful, and important. It is meticulously researched with sixty pages of citations. Author Jessica Nordell walks us through how bias works, how it can be changed, and how to make it last. While she has a scientific mind and supports her thinking with all manner of experts, research, and studies; she also manages to make it all personal. She’s willing to reveal the uncovering her own bias and her insights as she traveled this remarkable journey of discovery. Her humility and sensitivity shine through as well - just look at the subtitle – ‘A Beginning.’ She explains complex concepts with straightforward language and strong examples.
Possibly the best thing about reading this book at the end of a difficult year, with a new year fast approaching, is that it is prescriptive and hopeful. She identifies clear strategies that can improve negative bias behavior. It’s useful personally, but also identifies techniques for achievable solutions that can be widely applied. You see bias is a wicked problem. The human brain is full of bias, it helps us make sense of the world. But it can be unconscious (or at least unintentional/unexamined) and clearly detrimental in the form of sexism, racism, agism, and all manner of harmful stereotypes. Nordell also explains why bias is unfortunately difficult to change. But it is possible.
I believe we should all be students of bias and the human mind. There is great value in understanding the difference between our habitual mind and our deliberate mind. Nordell finds that change is not easy, on a personal level or on a societal level. But she gives us a beginning, and that’s just what I needed as I look towards a new year!
Five stars for this insightful and valuable work. I can’t recommend it enough. Get it, read it, and start your own journey of ending harmful bias!
Possibly the best thing about reading this book at the end of a difficult year, with a new year fast approaching, is that it is prescriptive and hopeful. She identifies clear strategies that can improve negative bias behavior. It’s useful personally, but also identifies techniques for achievable solutions that can be widely applied. You see bias is a wicked problem. The human brain is full of bias, it helps us make sense of the world. But it can be unconscious (or at least unintentional/unexamined) and clearly detrimental in the form of sexism, racism, agism, and all manner of harmful stereotypes. Nordell also explains why bias is unfortunately difficult to change. But it is possible.
I believe we should all be students of bias and the human mind. There is great value in understanding the difference between our habitual mind and our deliberate mind. Nordell finds that change is not easy, on a personal level or on a societal level. But she gives us a beginning, and that’s just what I needed as I look towards a new year!
Five stars for this insightful and valuable work. I can’t recommend it enough. Get it, read it, and start your own journey of ending harmful bias!
November 20, 2021
An important book about bias - how we all have it and what we can do about it.
September 23, 2021
The End of Bias is a fascinating, comprehensive look at the way in which unconscious bias impacts our thought processes and pervades every aspect of human life in relation to several variables including race, religion, disability and gender identity, to name a few. But it is also a transformative, groundbreaking exploration into how we can eradicate unintentional bias and discrimination, the great challenge of our age. The anecdotal, statistical and empirical evidence throughout these pages is staggering, and I found myself gobsmacked in some instances by what I learned. For example, as a freelance journalist just starting out, Jessica Nordell had sent editors a lot of pitches but had a hard time getting them accepted. She then began pitching under a gender-neutral name, "J.D. Nordell" — and immediately had more success despite it being the only variable that changed. The experience set her on a path of researching and writing about unconscious bias for more than a decade and eventually publishing this book. But we also see bias in education where black students are penalised more for the same infractions. We see it in the workplace where women and women of colour, in particular, are often passed over for desirable assignments.
We see it in policing where black men are more likely to be on the receiving end of force, even when completely compliant with an officer's orders and even when no arrests are made. Implicit or unconscious bias (or it can also be termed unexamined and/or unintended bias) is persistent, unintentional prejudiced behaviour that clashes with our consciously held beliefs, and that is the primary focus of this book. We know that it exists to corrosive and even lethal effect. We see it in medicine, we see it in finance, as well as the workplace, education and beyond, and as we know from the police killings of so many Black Americans, bias can be deadly. But are we able to step beyond recognition of our prejudice to actually change it? Nordell posits that we are but that we still have far to go in our pursuit of uprooting our prejudices. With nuance, compassion and fifteen years' immersion in the topic, Nordell digs deep into the cognitive science, social psychology and developmental research that underpin current efforts to eradicate unintentional bias and discrimination and weaves gripping stories with up to the minute scientific research to reveal exactly how minds, hearts and behaviours change.
She scrutinises diversity training, deployed across the land as a corrective but with inconsistent results. She explores what works and why: the diagnostic checklist used by doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital that eliminated disparate treatment of men and women in disease prevention; the preschool in Sweden where teachers found ingenious ways to uproot gender stereotyping: the police unit in Oregon where the practice of mindfulness and specialised training has coincided with a startling drop in the use of force. The End of Bias: A Beginning brings good news: Biased behaviour can change; the approaches outlined here can help transform ourselves and our world. Captivating, fascinating and direct, this is a timely and impeccably researched book that sets itself apart from the rest by not only exploring implicit bias but explaining how we can attempt to use the best evidence-based approaches to conquer it, too. It is filled with facts, statistics, anecdotes and empirical research illustrating just how ubiquitous the problem really is. For anyone interested in a topic that affects every single one of us regardless of who we are, this is a must-read, and I simply cannot recommend it highly enough.
We see it in policing where black men are more likely to be on the receiving end of force, even when completely compliant with an officer's orders and even when no arrests are made. Implicit or unconscious bias (or it can also be termed unexamined and/or unintended bias) is persistent, unintentional prejudiced behaviour that clashes with our consciously held beliefs, and that is the primary focus of this book. We know that it exists to corrosive and even lethal effect. We see it in medicine, we see it in finance, as well as the workplace, education and beyond, and as we know from the police killings of so many Black Americans, bias can be deadly. But are we able to step beyond recognition of our prejudice to actually change it? Nordell posits that we are but that we still have far to go in our pursuit of uprooting our prejudices. With nuance, compassion and fifteen years' immersion in the topic, Nordell digs deep into the cognitive science, social psychology and developmental research that underpin current efforts to eradicate unintentional bias and discrimination and weaves gripping stories with up to the minute scientific research to reveal exactly how minds, hearts and behaviours change.
She scrutinises diversity training, deployed across the land as a corrective but with inconsistent results. She explores what works and why: the diagnostic checklist used by doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital that eliminated disparate treatment of men and women in disease prevention; the preschool in Sweden where teachers found ingenious ways to uproot gender stereotyping: the police unit in Oregon where the practice of mindfulness and specialised training has coincided with a startling drop in the use of force. The End of Bias: A Beginning brings good news: Biased behaviour can change; the approaches outlined here can help transform ourselves and our world. Captivating, fascinating and direct, this is a timely and impeccably researched book that sets itself apart from the rest by not only exploring implicit bias but explaining how we can attempt to use the best evidence-based approaches to conquer it, too. It is filled with facts, statistics, anecdotes and empirical research illustrating just how ubiquitous the problem really is. For anyone interested in a topic that affects every single one of us regardless of who we are, this is a must-read, and I simply cannot recommend it highly enough.
October 6, 2021
I am quite interested in bias studies. I read Jennifer Eberhardt's great book Biased last year (which Nordell references several times) and was really happy to have discovered an in-depth look at something that has seemed obvious to me all my life but that many people seemingly just don't grasp- we are all extremely biased., and for the most part, we don't even realize it. Nordell's book explored the topic in a somewhat different lense than Eberhardt, which was great, although they do both dedicate quite a lot of time to police bias (rightfully so).
But The End of Bias combines neuroscience, sociology, psychology, gender studies, explorations on race, mindfulness, history, politics, tech, and pop culture to examine the many different avenues that bias can and does affect every single one of us. Nobody's above the law here: you cannot woke yourself into waking up one day without biases. The best we can do is be aware of how our biases affect us and how we are being affected by bias, and try our best to mitigate it. This is probably the only place where I delve from the author- the book is named The End of Bias, but I don't actually think we CAN end bias. We can hopefully end the way that bias creates large societal blind spots that harm others, but some degree of bias will always remain. Nevertheless, I think it should be our goal to try to reduce and examine our own biases as much as we can. This book is a brilliant starting point for people wanting to learn more about the subject. It examines bias against basically everyone but focuses primarily on POC, women, LGBTQ, and children.
I was surprised at the amount of science in this. Studies are referenced quite often, which is always a good sign. There was also a very nuanced chapter about police, which I greatly appreciate. In our current public discourse, police seem to be reduced to "police bad" or "police good" and both of these are ridiculous. Nordell does not give police a free pass in any sense, but she mentions plenty of programs and police officers who are dedicated to changing the way the police operate and see the world. She also shows how officers are primed to expect danger, which can be mitigated in a number of ways. There was a section about a study where cops engaged in mindfulness training that had really interesting results that I hope gets expanded upon.
I would recommend this book to anybody; indeed, I likely will add this to the list of books I recommend regularly. It also gets bonus points for taking time out of its busy schedule to shit all over Twitter, which I didn't think added much to the author's argument, but hey, I am a sucker for hating on Twitter.
But The End of Bias combines neuroscience, sociology, psychology, gender studies, explorations on race, mindfulness, history, politics, tech, and pop culture to examine the many different avenues that bias can and does affect every single one of us. Nobody's above the law here: you cannot woke yourself into waking up one day without biases. The best we can do is be aware of how our biases affect us and how we are being affected by bias, and try our best to mitigate it. This is probably the only place where I delve from the author- the book is named The End of Bias, but I don't actually think we CAN end bias. We can hopefully end the way that bias creates large societal blind spots that harm others, but some degree of bias will always remain. Nevertheless, I think it should be our goal to try to reduce and examine our own biases as much as we can. This book is a brilliant starting point for people wanting to learn more about the subject. It examines bias against basically everyone but focuses primarily on POC, women, LGBTQ, and children.
I was surprised at the amount of science in this. Studies are referenced quite often, which is always a good sign. There was also a very nuanced chapter about police, which I greatly appreciate. In our current public discourse, police seem to be reduced to "police bad" or "police good" and both of these are ridiculous. Nordell does not give police a free pass in any sense, but she mentions plenty of programs and police officers who are dedicated to changing the way the police operate and see the world. She also shows how officers are primed to expect danger, which can be mitigated in a number of ways. There was a section about a study where cops engaged in mindfulness training that had really interesting results that I hope gets expanded upon.
I would recommend this book to anybody; indeed, I likely will add this to the list of books I recommend regularly. It also gets bonus points for taking time out of its busy schedule to shit all over Twitter, which I didn't think added much to the author's argument, but hey, I am a sucker for hating on Twitter.
November 9, 2021
'the end of bias' was better than expected in some regards, it wasn’t just a rehashing of books like ‘the new jim crow’ or ‘pushout,’ rather a look at how biases are attempted to be weeded out within the confines of an oppressive system—reform, not revolution. ideas like abolition are mentioned, but never as a solution outright, instead, discussion of mindfulness/meditation programs and community policing “on steroids.” results were mixed, some kids felt safer, less - reported - officer violence, but distrust would emerge as soon as another act of police terror was reported. in an attempt to humanize cops, nordell reports on police “feeling scared” of black and brown people, and other harmful biases, that they are “too stressed” and “depressed”—the cops who benefited most from said training prior, questioned their roles as police, when they were often performing a social worker approach, not violent class traitor. instead of sympathy, it came off as pathetic and “woe is me”— law enforcement doesn’t have the mental/psychological fortitude to perform their duties “safely.” (nor will they ever, that’s the entire point to the job, hence the only worthwhile path is abolition.) we are also shown examples of bias in the workplace, nothing new in that respect—names and genders taken off resumes etc. show racist and sexist bias, ditto schools. representation matters, but companies just want “the face” and not “the thoughts.” again, capitalism, and its necessary, purposeful racism and caste system isn’t critiqued, rather the benefits of “diverse industry” and people of color at companies drawing in customers who look like them so a white capitalist can further hoard resources. it reminded me of 'nice racism' by robin diangelo, which i did not review favorably (very pro-capitalist/regressive). nordell finishes with a trial preschool in one of those cold, Scandinavian countries that intentionally don’t gender anything, and those positive effects. time will tell if they're still racist. if i seem too critical of nordell, it’s because she’s incredibly smart, a good researcher/writer breaking things down, and seems to genuinely care about her work, and not just in a self serving way- she would be great at exploring radical solutions. but as the subtitle implies, this - is - just the “beginning” (though a lot longer via revolutionaries), there’s room to shift, hopefully breaking that beginner’s cycle. or i can just stop reading white, neoliberal reform porn.
January 22, 2023
¡Que maravilla de libro!
Como todos los libros que hablan sobre nuestras limitaciones y defectos como humanos, "El fin del sesgo" te deja una sensación contradictoria, entre perturbadora, al descubrir la frecuencia y las formas en las que te has equivocado y te sigues equivocando al relacionarte con los demás, y a la vez iluminadora, porque sientes que su lectura te ha permitido conocerte mejor y que al hacerlo es posible que puedas convertirte en una persona mejor.
Me ha sucedido con este libro lo mismo que me ha pasado y me sigue pasando al leer libros de feminismos. Cada página, cada experiencia nueva que conozco, describe para mí un universo completamente nuevo pero al mismo tiempo uno muy familiar; leer de estos temas es como descubrir una especie de upside down social (como el de la serie Stranger things, con monstruos incluídos, algunos de los cuáles pueden ser muy parecidos a quién eres o has sido), un mundo paralelo en el que vivimos pero que pasa desapercibido por la manera en como estamos programados culturalmente, con nuestros prejuicios y privilegios.
Si bien muchas personas reaccionamos a estos universos nuevos con rechazo o aprehensión, lo que me pasa a mí al adentrarme en estos mundos paralelos es que se desata la curiosidad más pura. Solo puedo comparar, guardadas las debidas proporciones, mi interés y la felicidad que me produce explorar y conocer de estos temas, como los que producía en la infancia leer y aprender sobre el universo allá afuera.
Esta sensación de felicidad, sin embargo se ve matizada por una sensación de frustración. Quisiera recordar todo, anotar cada frase acertada, buscar cada referencia que menciona el texto, implementar en mi propia vida algunos de los experimentos sociales o psicológicos descritos.
En fin. Como sucede también cuando somos más inmaduros, me quisiera comer este nuevo mundo y hablar de él con propiedad, pero la memoria no me deja. Solo me queda el consuelo de saber que no es necesario tampoco. Como la misma Jessica Nordell lo señala al hablar precisamente de los prejuicios, tan solo exponerse al conocimiento de estas cosas - sin recordarlas en todo detalle - puede cambiarte de formas sutiles. Tal vez no des un giro de 180 grado, pero los cambios pueden ser significativos a largo plazo. Eso también espero que me pase con estas lecturas que aunque no recordaré en unas semanas espero hayan dejado una huella suficiente en mi para comportarme diferente.
¿De qué trata "El fin del sesgo"?.
Ciertamente no es un libro profético que predice la llegada de un mundo en el que los sesgos no determinen la manera como nos comportamos o interactuamos con otros, formas que hacen miserable la vidas de muchas personas y que incluso conducen a la muerte de otras en número mayor del que estamos dispuestos aceptar.
Tampoco es un texto con fórmulas mágicas para eliminar los sesgos o los estereotipos de tu vida.
Si algo he aprendido leyendo el libro - aunque puedo equivocarme, prueben ustedes - es que los sesgos son un defecto cognitivo que tal vez hace parte de la manera misma en la que nuestro cerebro percibe el mundo y navega a través suyo. Esto no significa, sin embargo, que no podamos evitar que esas formas de procesar la información afecte a otras personas o determinen la cultura. De esto justamente trata "El fin del sesgo".
El libro narra, de alguna manera, el viaje personal de descubrimiento de la periodista científica Jessica Nordell de los sesgos y estereotipos, su posible origen de acuerdo con la evidencia científica y las teorías en boga de la neurociencias y la psicología, sus efectos personales y sociales, pero también las estrategias que en distintos escenarios en el mundo, con especial énfasis en los Estados Unidos (de donde es originaria la autora), para reducir el efecto que esos mismos segos tienen en empresas, gobiernos, escuelas y entornos culturales diversos.
El libro está muy bien escrito, es muy claro, agradable y entretenido de leer.
Tiene este estilo muy propio de los autores de los Estados Unidos - que creo es más bien debido a los editores - en el que buena parte del contenido de la mayoría de los capítulos consiste en describir experiencias de personas reales o la relación de la autora con esas personas. A mí, particularmente, no me gusta mucho ese estilo, pero en el caso de este libro y por su contenido y mensaje específico entiendo que es inevitable.
La segunda parte del libro, que se enfoca muchísimo en las experiencias y estrategias usadas por la policía de los Estados Unidos para lidiar con los sesgos raciales, me pareció un poco aburrida y difícil de leer.
Es cierto que la problemática de la violencia policial, y en general de las fuerzas del Estado en el país del norte, son una de las fuentes de ejemplos más notorios sobre la forma en la que los sesgos y los estereotipos pueden hacer miserable la vida de las personas; sin embargo, las situaciones y estrategias descritas me parecen demasiado locales, demasiado propias de los Estaudinense.
Aún así, a la larga terminé apreciando algunos de los mensajes implícitos en los 3 capítulos que forman está parte del libro.
Si me lo preguntaran, y son personas que no están afectadas por la manía de leer cada página del libro - pertenezco a esa categoría de bichos lectores -, les diría que evitaran leer esos capítulos (capítulos 3, 5 y 6) y se saltaran a los muy interesantes y educativos capítulos de la tercera parte.
El capítulo que más he disfrutado - es difícil de verdad hacer una elección con este libro -, especialmente porque tiene que ver con mi trabajo (soy profesor e investigador universitario en uno de los institutos más desiguales de mi universidad, el instituto de física) es el capítulo 8 titulado "Acabar con la homogeneidad". Considero que ese capítulo debería ser leído por todas las personas que hoy trabajamos en la academia, y también por quiénes se están formando para insertarse en ese mundo. A mí personalmente me han tocado significativamente los datos, las experiencias y los experimentos descritos.
No sé que más contarles. Tal vez no hace falta más. Hay que leer este libro. Y leerlo pronto para no seguir cometiendo errores.
Como todos los libros que hablan sobre nuestras limitaciones y defectos como humanos, "El fin del sesgo" te deja una sensación contradictoria, entre perturbadora, al descubrir la frecuencia y las formas en las que te has equivocado y te sigues equivocando al relacionarte con los demás, y a la vez iluminadora, porque sientes que su lectura te ha permitido conocerte mejor y que al hacerlo es posible que puedas convertirte en una persona mejor.
Me ha sucedido con este libro lo mismo que me ha pasado y me sigue pasando al leer libros de feminismos. Cada página, cada experiencia nueva que conozco, describe para mí un universo completamente nuevo pero al mismo tiempo uno muy familiar; leer de estos temas es como descubrir una especie de upside down social (como el de la serie Stranger things, con monstruos incluídos, algunos de los cuáles pueden ser muy parecidos a quién eres o has sido), un mundo paralelo en el que vivimos pero que pasa desapercibido por la manera en como estamos programados culturalmente, con nuestros prejuicios y privilegios.
Si bien muchas personas reaccionamos a estos universos nuevos con rechazo o aprehensión, lo que me pasa a mí al adentrarme en estos mundos paralelos es que se desata la curiosidad más pura. Solo puedo comparar, guardadas las debidas proporciones, mi interés y la felicidad que me produce explorar y conocer de estos temas, como los que producía en la infancia leer y aprender sobre el universo allá afuera.
Esta sensación de felicidad, sin embargo se ve matizada por una sensación de frustración. Quisiera recordar todo, anotar cada frase acertada, buscar cada referencia que menciona el texto, implementar en mi propia vida algunos de los experimentos sociales o psicológicos descritos.
En fin. Como sucede también cuando somos más inmaduros, me quisiera comer este nuevo mundo y hablar de él con propiedad, pero la memoria no me deja. Solo me queda el consuelo de saber que no es necesario tampoco. Como la misma Jessica Nordell lo señala al hablar precisamente de los prejuicios, tan solo exponerse al conocimiento de estas cosas - sin recordarlas en todo detalle - puede cambiarte de formas sutiles. Tal vez no des un giro de 180 grado, pero los cambios pueden ser significativos a largo plazo. Eso también espero que me pase con estas lecturas que aunque no recordaré en unas semanas espero hayan dejado una huella suficiente en mi para comportarme diferente.
¿De qué trata "El fin del sesgo"?.
Ciertamente no es un libro profético que predice la llegada de un mundo en el que los sesgos no determinen la manera como nos comportamos o interactuamos con otros, formas que hacen miserable la vidas de muchas personas y que incluso conducen a la muerte de otras en número mayor del que estamos dispuestos aceptar.
Tampoco es un texto con fórmulas mágicas para eliminar los sesgos o los estereotipos de tu vida.
Si algo he aprendido leyendo el libro - aunque puedo equivocarme, prueben ustedes - es que los sesgos son un defecto cognitivo que tal vez hace parte de la manera misma en la que nuestro cerebro percibe el mundo y navega a través suyo. Esto no significa, sin embargo, que no podamos evitar que esas formas de procesar la información afecte a otras personas o determinen la cultura. De esto justamente trata "El fin del sesgo".
El libro narra, de alguna manera, el viaje personal de descubrimiento de la periodista científica Jessica Nordell de los sesgos y estereotipos, su posible origen de acuerdo con la evidencia científica y las teorías en boga de la neurociencias y la psicología, sus efectos personales y sociales, pero también las estrategias que en distintos escenarios en el mundo, con especial énfasis en los Estados Unidos (de donde es originaria la autora), para reducir el efecto que esos mismos segos tienen en empresas, gobiernos, escuelas y entornos culturales diversos.
El libro está muy bien escrito, es muy claro, agradable y entretenido de leer.
Tiene este estilo muy propio de los autores de los Estados Unidos - que creo es más bien debido a los editores - en el que buena parte del contenido de la mayoría de los capítulos consiste en describir experiencias de personas reales o la relación de la autora con esas personas. A mí, particularmente, no me gusta mucho ese estilo, pero en el caso de este libro y por su contenido y mensaje específico entiendo que es inevitable.
La segunda parte del libro, que se enfoca muchísimo en las experiencias y estrategias usadas por la policía de los Estados Unidos para lidiar con los sesgos raciales, me pareció un poco aburrida y difícil de leer.
Es cierto que la problemática de la violencia policial, y en general de las fuerzas del Estado en el país del norte, son una de las fuentes de ejemplos más notorios sobre la forma en la que los sesgos y los estereotipos pueden hacer miserable la vida de las personas; sin embargo, las situaciones y estrategias descritas me parecen demasiado locales, demasiado propias de los Estaudinense.
Aún así, a la larga terminé apreciando algunos de los mensajes implícitos en los 3 capítulos que forman está parte del libro.
Si me lo preguntaran, y son personas que no están afectadas por la manía de leer cada página del libro - pertenezco a esa categoría de bichos lectores -, les diría que evitaran leer esos capítulos (capítulos 3, 5 y 6) y se saltaran a los muy interesantes y educativos capítulos de la tercera parte.
El capítulo que más he disfrutado - es difícil de verdad hacer una elección con este libro -, especialmente porque tiene que ver con mi trabajo (soy profesor e investigador universitario en uno de los institutos más desiguales de mi universidad, el instituto de física) es el capítulo 8 titulado "Acabar con la homogeneidad". Considero que ese capítulo debería ser leído por todas las personas que hoy trabajamos en la academia, y también por quiénes se están formando para insertarse en ese mundo. A mí personalmente me han tocado significativamente los datos, las experiencias y los experimentos descritos.
No sé que más contarles. Tal vez no hace falta más. Hay que leer este libro. Y leerlo pronto para no seguir cometiendo errores.
June 14, 2023
Where do I begin as a reviewer – as a person who cares about our world – who knows that as readers – taking the time to read my review – I sense you care, too?
The author goes through great efforts to help readers understand unconscious bias (or explicit bias). Which could be defined as prejudice or unsupported judgments in favor of or against one thing, person or group as compared to another, in a way that is usually considered unfair.
It helps to start with that definition so readers can see how she strives to focus on ending bias and what an uphill battle it is.
This is a book that is deeply compassionate.
It is a rigorous exploration of all the ways bias can limit our engagement with the world.
It shows how our personal bias multiplies as a society to create barriers and unjust hierarchies.
It is also a guide to liberating ourselves from bias.
And, intuitively, we know it is not something that will happen overnight. This will be a lifelong journey that will take humility, curiosity and love.
The question is, who is willing to take this path?
The author goes through great efforts to help readers understand unconscious bias (or explicit bias). Which could be defined as prejudice or unsupported judgments in favor of or against one thing, person or group as compared to another, in a way that is usually considered unfair.
It helps to start with that definition so readers can see how she strives to focus on ending bias and what an uphill battle it is.
This is a book that is deeply compassionate.
It is a rigorous exploration of all the ways bias can limit our engagement with the world.
It shows how our personal bias multiplies as a society to create barriers and unjust hierarchies.
It is also a guide to liberating ourselves from bias.
And, intuitively, we know it is not something that will happen overnight. This will be a lifelong journey that will take humility, curiosity and love.
The question is, who is willing to take this path?
March 2, 2022
I was impressed that it started out by acknowledging priming psychological studies had weak evidence or failed to replicate, but then it went on to talk extensively about stereotype threat, which has also repeatedly failed replication and been challenged by meta-studies. Then the middle third of the book was just interviews with cops about how The LAPD Is Different Now. I was ready to give it a negative rating, but the last third, on education and workplace bias, was fascinating. It relied on anecdotes and specific results of interventions in university departments and preschools, but those results were powerful and more plausible than lab results that rely on psychology undergrads to be naive to the trick where they have a black assistant pretend to drop a bunch of papers after the subject answers a bunch of survey questions about whether they’re racist.
May 26, 2017
A description of Patricia Devine's work on implicit bias, and her wish to reshape her work into a replicable workshop that makes attendees more aware of unintended bias. (She also wants to remove "implicit" from the description because it carries too many varying definitions.)
Research on the workshop has shown that attending once creates lasting influences on the behavior of attendees, and even on attendee's loved ones (who do not attend).
Sadly, the workshop is voluntary and has a lack of white males sign up. So to be most effective, this would need to be a mandatory part of everyone's education.
Research on the workshop has shown that attending once creates lasting influences on the behavior of attendees, and even on attendee's loved ones (who do not attend).
Sadly, the workshop is voluntary and has a lack of white males sign up. So to be most effective, this would need to be a mandatory part of everyone's education.
November 14, 2021
Some non-fiction books I've read about racism/science have been so densely packed with findings and statistics that trying to get through a chapter was almost a chore. On the other hand, some fictional or anecdotal books about racism that I've read leave me with cliché insight that could honestly be summed up into a paragraph or two.
This book, however, masterfully balances the two. The findings in this book are novel and comprehensive, but it is written in an anecdotal, narrative-based, straightforward form that is very digestible and the progression of this book encouraged me to read on.
Besides the fact that this book forced me to identify bias in places I hadn't seen it before, my favorite part about this book was that it also offered concrete and innovative solutions to counteract the bias we are learning to recognize. Some books on prejudice simply never offer any solutions or proposals for the future, but I really appreciate that this book did (it's split into three parts: how bias works, changing minds, and making it last).
This book presented how pervasive prejudice remains to be in a way that is productive and forward-minded. Genuinely, I'm eager to see how I double-check myself and my inherent prejudices as I operate in the future. I think the benefits of this book for me will be tangible.
Also: I think this book is kind of expensive and I got it for free so if anyone wants to borrow lmk
This book, however, masterfully balances the two. The findings in this book are novel and comprehensive, but it is written in an anecdotal, narrative-based, straightforward form that is very digestible and the progression of this book encouraged me to read on.
Besides the fact that this book forced me to identify bias in places I hadn't seen it before, my favorite part about this book was that it also offered concrete and innovative solutions to counteract the bias we are learning to recognize. Some books on prejudice simply never offer any solutions or proposals for the future, but I really appreciate that this book did (it's split into three parts: how bias works, changing minds, and making it last).
This book presented how pervasive prejudice remains to be in a way that is productive and forward-minded. Genuinely, I'm eager to see how I double-check myself and my inherent prejudices as I operate in the future. I think the benefits of this book for me will be tangible.
Also: I think this book is kind of expensive and I got it for free so if anyone wants to borrow lmk
September 12, 2021
I'm almost afraid to say why I've only given this 3 stars, but it was far too focused on American studies/ incidents for my liking. I know. The irony is not lost on me. It almost sounds like I want to live somewhere that is biased. The thing is I do. Britain is biased. Everywhere is. But there's hardly any mention of it as a global thing. It's uncomfortably but refreshingly honest and has made me look at myself and how biased I am. I naively found no magic wands, hints maybe, but no cures apart from personal humility, humanity and do as you would be done by with a side order of learn about the people of the world we share.
August 30, 2021
This was a thought provoking book and I read it in instalments so that I could think about what the author wrote and the case studies.
I suppose I never really thought about bias before as I am lucky to work in a government agency which is very inclusive but it did get me thinking.
I would recommend reading this book
I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.
I suppose I never really thought about bias before as I am lucky to work in a government agency which is very inclusive but it did get me thinking.
I would recommend reading this book
I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.
July 8, 2022
LOL, oh dear I have to say first up that I picked this book up from the library with a much different cover (e.g. not the one with glass, ceiling, police brutality etc) just a plain colour cover. Point is I kinda assumed the book would be about cognitive bias in general no sexism and racism specifically.
(yes I unironically judge books by their cover)
Anyway not unhappy though - Jessica "J" Nordell presents a very powerful and insightful review of these concerns and several potential interventions to reduce the harm caused.
What I particularly liked is while Nordell didn't shy away from hard-hitting or extreme cases of bias and prejudice, there was a very thorough exploration of unconscious and unintentional bias that I wish that people who were not overtly bigoted but seem to think that disadvantaged groups 'have it better' thanks to interventions.
What I found myself drawn into was the cold statistical modeling that showed that even small biases in promotion result in sweeping prejudice at higher levels of management. That and literally no men ever get their personalities criticized in performance reviews while 70-80% of women do.
Pretty much everything about this book was well presented, a good balance of specific stories, interviews, studies, and arguments. Looking forward to future books from Nordell.
(yes I unironically judge books by their cover)
Anyway not unhappy though - Jessica "J" Nordell presents a very powerful and insightful review of these concerns and several potential interventions to reduce the harm caused.
What I particularly liked is while Nordell didn't shy away from hard-hitting or extreme cases of bias and prejudice, there was a very thorough exploration of unconscious and unintentional bias that I wish that people who were not overtly bigoted but seem to think that disadvantaged groups 'have it better' thanks to interventions.
What I found myself drawn into was the cold statistical modeling that showed that even small biases in promotion result in sweeping prejudice at higher levels of management. That and literally no men ever get their personalities criticized in performance reviews while 70-80% of women do.
Pretty much everything about this book was well presented, a good balance of specific stories, interviews, studies, and arguments. Looking forward to future books from Nordell.
September 11, 2022
I really enjoyed this and think that it could be a book that could be referenced in any kind of setting. It does a deep dive on bias in a range of settings and the effects it has on both individuals and groups. The book address different types of bias and scientific studies people have used to combat it. Even if someone doesn’t agree with every area of this book, I think it can still be taken as a reliable reference
“Too little understanding of another group leads to fear and hatred. Too much emphasis on what makes the group “other” can lead to prejudice.”
“Too little understanding of another group leads to fear and hatred. Too much emphasis on what makes the group “other” can lead to prejudice.”
November 1, 2024
Astonishingly well-written. This was thoroughly researched and laid out a very logical case for the recognition of bias embedded in American culture, but it was also full of heart. The combination of intellect and emotion was truly excellent and was extremely compelling. Jessica Nordell you kind of killed it love u
March 29, 2022
Nordell says that she believes that people like seeing stereotypes confirmed because they are predictable, and we like seeing our predictions come true. I must be the exception. I find the predictable uninteresting. I also think that it's tragic for people to behave stereotypically. It seems to me that they must be prisoners of those stereotypes. People aren't stereotypes. They are individuals. Stereotypical behavior is inauthentic.
The conclusion states that reducing individuals' bias won't do anything to end social inequalities. Yes, that's systemic and continues among populations where individual bias is frowned upon. I think that social inequalities requires political action. Actually, dismantling systemic social inequalities would involve numerous political actions. Social inequality is the sum of decisions made over the course of history, and would take time to undo. It would probably also involve conflict with the forces that benefit from social inequality who are powerful individuals and institutions. That's quite a bit of work to do, and it's not for the timid. Yet mentioning the work that needs to be done is a beginning.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
The conclusion states that reducing individuals' bias won't do anything to end social inequalities. Yes, that's systemic and continues among populations where individual bias is frowned upon. I think that social inequalities requires political action. Actually, dismantling systemic social inequalities would involve numerous political actions. Social inequality is the sum of decisions made over the course of history, and would take time to undo. It would probably also involve conflict with the forces that benefit from social inequality who are powerful individuals and institutions. That's quite a bit of work to do, and it's not for the timid. Yet mentioning the work that needs to be done is a beginning.
For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
December 14, 2021
The author did an excellent job presenting modern day stereotypes and what we can do as a society to decrease these biases. As she documents, when biases are turn on their head everyone benefits. The only thing I wish is that the author would have addressed are the biases against single people. There are many stereotypes about single people that never seem to be challenged;they are just accepted as facts!
April 17, 2022
I finally finished this… 5 months in the making (sorry ms eastham). An incredibly important book to read both for those who are directly affected by others’ implicit bias and for those who exercise their own on the people around them. It’s important to look at each situation of prejudice with the lens that you aren’t always going to be in the right and being defensive about the situation won’t make light of your actions. I feel like this is a book everyone should read at least once
October 29, 2022
This is a delightful read - why we are not aware we have bias, what kind of bias there are in life, and what actions we can take to reduce or eliminate bias.
The End of Bias by Jessica Nordell is well researched and written, and more than simply outlining all bias and calling for actions, the book aims to propose ways to end the bias from now. Everyone should read this book, and we all should start to rethink our views of bias in our life.
5/5
The End of Bias by Jessica Nordell is well researched and written, and more than simply outlining all bias and calling for actions, the book aims to propose ways to end the bias from now. Everyone should read this book, and we all should start to rethink our views of bias in our life.
5/5
September 6, 2024
Although I have read a fair amount of books and scientific articles about racism and prejudice, this book has inspired and surprised me. It explores the core principles that need to be reckoned with in any intervention aiming to diminish bias. It does this through a vivid description of examples such as developments in the police force and a school class. Recommended reading!
November 2, 2021
This book does a great job of explaining how everyone has inherent biases and how we as an individual and a community can grow together and work to overcome biases.
July 3, 2023
What a fantastic read! I learned so much and reflected a ton - everything was so well-researched and compellingly argued.
June 7, 2022
Finally intersectionality is coming back on the scene!
August 6, 2021
This is a truly amazing book. Ms Nordell has achieved a great service getting these ideas down in a readable, entertaining, yet challenging way. I spent half the book saying “that’s what I think”, a quarter saying “wow I didn't know that” and a quarter is written down in my notebook. I also need to follow up on the comprehensive notes and references section, which clearly reflects the research which went into this book.
“Reducing individual bias won’t end disparities and societal inequities: these are the legacy of historical exclusion, unequal access, extractive economic policies, and other invidious structures built on corrupt foundations. Only large systemic changes - from the reinvention of public safety and prisons to broad economic repair - can address such gross and longstanding injustices.”
This is not a polemic, it is a fascinating look at how we form our prejudices without knowing we are doing it. Why do we reuse our towels in a hotel more when we are told other guests do it, than when we are are told it helps the environment? There is no point having a quota and employing more of the people you have historically shut out, if those people quickly leave because the atmosphere in your company is toxic and they are are not valued.
“…another recent study found that people who believed that gender discrimination was no longer a problem in their field rated a male employee as more competent than an identical female employee and recommended an 8 per cent higher salary.”
An excellent quote which sums up the way the author went about her study is “By constricting the makeup of who asks the questions, it shapes what questions are asked, compressing the scope of human knowledge.”
There is a story of a school which was looking at how they could help their young children overcome any innate or learned prejudice about boys and girls being different. Boys are strong and don’t cry, girls are pretty and wear pink etc. But when they looked back at tapes of the classroom interactions, they found it was the teachers who reinforced the bias as much as the kids. When they changed their methods completely to address the issues, a number of parents complained!
An excellent, stimulating book and I will follow up on some of the references. I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review
“Reducing individual bias won’t end disparities and societal inequities: these are the legacy of historical exclusion, unequal access, extractive economic policies, and other invidious structures built on corrupt foundations. Only large systemic changes - from the reinvention of public safety and prisons to broad economic repair - can address such gross and longstanding injustices.”
This is not a polemic, it is a fascinating look at how we form our prejudices without knowing we are doing it. Why do we reuse our towels in a hotel more when we are told other guests do it, than when we are are told it helps the environment? There is no point having a quota and employing more of the people you have historically shut out, if those people quickly leave because the atmosphere in your company is toxic and they are are not valued.
“…another recent study found that people who believed that gender discrimination was no longer a problem in their field rated a male employee as more competent than an identical female employee and recommended an 8 per cent higher salary.”
An excellent quote which sums up the way the author went about her study is “By constricting the makeup of who asks the questions, it shapes what questions are asked, compressing the scope of human knowledge.”
There is a story of a school which was looking at how they could help their young children overcome any innate or learned prejudice about boys and girls being different. Boys are strong and don’t cry, girls are pretty and wear pink etc. But when they looked back at tapes of the classroom interactions, they found it was the teachers who reinforced the bias as much as the kids. When they changed their methods completely to address the issues, a number of parents complained!
An excellent, stimulating book and I will follow up on some of the references. I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review
July 26, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.
And, honestly...I loved it. In the conclusion, the author notes that she upon starting this book, she thought it would be a scientific approach: gathering sources, testing a conclusion. You can definitely see that, in the variety of references there are (which I really liked - I'll definitely be buying a physical copy upon publication, so that I can have the list for future.) However, in contrast (sorry to all the science academics who've written very funny papers - no shade on you, I promise!), it's written engagingly too, more like an essay or a longread magazine article, and makes sure to focus on the human aspect. I felt like the data and figures were well-balanced with this essential real-life, human aspect, together covering a side of the discourse that we don't see written about in mainstream culture as much as we should (or at least, that I haven't seen as much!)
It gave me hope, and also gave me pointers for where there's always more work to do.
And, honestly...I loved it. In the conclusion, the author notes that she upon starting this book, she thought it would be a scientific approach: gathering sources, testing a conclusion. You can definitely see that, in the variety of references there are (which I really liked - I'll definitely be buying a physical copy upon publication, so that I can have the list for future.) However, in contrast (sorry to all the science academics who've written very funny papers - no shade on you, I promise!), it's written engagingly too, more like an essay or a longread magazine article, and makes sure to focus on the human aspect. I felt like the data and figures were well-balanced with this essential real-life, human aspect, together covering a side of the discourse that we don't see written about in mainstream culture as much as we should (or at least, that I haven't seen as much!)
It gave me hope, and also gave me pointers for where there's always more work to do.
March 11, 2022
Frankly, this book is a must read. The author is self referential in the best way; many times it feels awkward and clumsy to right books about bias because the author tries to be an objective observer without interjecting their own experiences or bias'. Nordell does the most accurate job I have seen of demonstrating bias they have received and bias they have exerted on others, and continues to exert on other. There is no such thing as having no bias, but that doesn't mean you get to throw in the towel and move on with your life. Nordell demonstrates that there are actionable, provable, and straightforward things people are doing and that you can do to reduce your initial bias when interacting with fellow humans.
Becoming a better global citizen requires addressing your own faults and then doing the hard work to better yourself, that work should start with this book.
Becoming a better global citizen requires addressing your own faults and then doing the hard work to better yourself, that work should start with this book.
February 21, 2022
A very important book, about, well, obviously, biases. A fascinating take on how unconscious bias impacts our thought process, therefore naturally setting an unconscious standard for how we perceive the world we inhabit.
Especially when it comes to dismantling racism, sexism, homophobia & any other isms humans created.
My biggest take away, was on of Nordell’s “cures” was the of empathy. A rather non surprising answer, no? What remains to be shocking of the lack of empathy that humanity can possess.
If you are looking for a good case study to read to educate yourself further. I couldn’t recommend this more.
Especially when it comes to dismantling racism, sexism, homophobia & any other isms humans created.
My biggest take away, was on of Nordell’s “cures” was the of empathy. A rather non surprising answer, no? What remains to be shocking of the lack of empathy that humanity can possess.
If you are looking for a good case study to read to educate yourself further. I couldn’t recommend this more.
April 5, 2023
雖然說不出這本書裡的概念在哪裡看過，但一直覺得內容相當熟悉。甚至我懷疑自己以前就看過這本了XD即使如此，這本書依舊非常好看，很清楚地呈現關於偏見的各種心理以及因應之道。
通常這類的書所講述的種族題材我很難有共鳴，性別的部分也不一定有感，有時候就是當一個社會科學的知識，看看就過了。但自從之前去看了《九槍》這部紀錄片，就發現這塊土地上一點都沒有比較少的偏見，只是自己也視而不見而已。（所以我看完書的心得是推薦要看這部紀錄片？）
真正讓我給這本書大大五顆星的是，自己在讀這本書的時候意外地能夠進行自我覺察，發現自己身上所存在偏見的習慣，以及身邊很多行為與偏見的關聯性。很喜歡這本書說的，越是說自己沒有看見差異的人越可能存有偏見，以及要突破偏見的習慣其實就是要先從正視開始。
通常這類的書所講述的種族題材我很難有共鳴，性別的部分也不一定有感，有時候就是當一個社會科學的知識，看看就過了。但自從之前去看了《九槍》這部紀錄片，就發現這塊土地上一點都沒有比較少的偏見，只是自己也視而不見而已。（所以我看完書的心得是推薦要看這部紀錄片？）
真正讓我給這本書大大五顆星的是，自己在讀這本書的時候意外地能夠進行自我覺察，發現自己身上所存在偏見的習慣，以及身邊很多行為與偏見的關聯性。很喜歡這本書說的，越是說自己沒有看見差異的人越可能存有偏見，以及要突破偏見的習慣其實就是要先從正視開始。
March 5, 2023
Putting an end to preconceived notions about our fellow human beings.
That is the optimistic starting point for this well-written book. The author does believe that many stereotypical perceptions we get with us during growing up are virtually impossible to get rid of. It requires systematic and in-depth work both at individual and societal level to combat discrimination and unfair differential treatment.
Versatile solutions to complex problems
The book's strength lies in the fact that it treats several forms of prejudice with particular emphasis on gender and ethnicity. The author examines how prejudice leads to unacceptable and risky discrimination in the police and in healthcare before going through the measures to counteract them. She strongly believes in training in mindfulness and meditation to reduce aggression among police officers. She promotes checklists as an aid among hospital staff to ensure equal treatment of patients with the same diagnosis - regardless of gender, age and ethnicity.
The main chapters emphasize American conditions, but at the end of the book Jardell deals with examples of countering discrimination in other countries such as sex discrimination at a law firm in France, ethnic conflicts in Kosovo and Rwanda, and a kindergarten in Sweden.
The academic basis for the book seems convincingly solid, at the same time that the author has a journalistic narrative style characterized by a high degree of personal commitment. In other words: A highly readable book about a burning current topic.
That is the optimistic starting point for this well-written book. The author does believe that many stereotypical perceptions we get with us during growing up are virtually impossible to get rid of. It requires systematic and in-depth work both at individual and societal level to combat discrimination and unfair differential treatment.
Versatile solutions to complex problems
The book's strength lies in the fact that it treats several forms of prejudice with particular emphasis on gender and ethnicity. The author examines how prejudice leads to unacceptable and risky discrimination in the police and in healthcare before going through the measures to counteract them. She strongly believes in training in mindfulness and meditation to reduce aggression among police officers. She promotes checklists as an aid among hospital staff to ensure equal treatment of patients with the same diagnosis - regardless of gender, age and ethnicity.
The main chapters emphasize American conditions, but at the end of the book Jardell deals with examples of countering discrimination in other countries such as sex discrimination at a law firm in France, ethnic conflicts in Kosovo and Rwanda, and a kindergarten in Sweden.
The academic basis for the book seems convincingly solid, at the same time that the author has a journalistic narrative style characterized by a high degree of personal commitment. In other words: A highly readable book about a burning current topic.
February 15, 2022
People are routinely prejudiced — even those who say they don’t want to be, even against their own social identities. Why? Our minds seek to create sense out of chaos, and with these patterns come unconscious bias. Jessica Nordell’s effort is a solid one offering tactical strategies for hope at individual, institutional, and cultural levels for mitigating unconscious bias.
By meditating and being present, we can rely less on stereotypes — we are most vulnerable when making snap judgements. Further, by noticing and interrogating our snap judgements we can increase our ability to be in choice rather than rely upon the biases we’ve been raised with. Institutions can shape decision making parameters to discourage bias, and actively promote acceptance of differences. And changing culture really starts with focusing on kids.
There’s a lot to chew in The End of Bias. For me the announcement of the gift came on page 31, as Nordell sums up an important finding in social scientist Patricia Devine’s work, “Having biased associations didn’t mean you were a bad person. It meant you existed in a culture.” For the reader, this graceful permission to be messed up is a strong enticement into the variety of practices Nordell suggests. Brava!
By meditating and being present, we can rely less on stereotypes — we are most vulnerable when making snap judgements. Further, by noticing and interrogating our snap judgements we can increase our ability to be in choice rather than rely upon the biases we’ve been raised with. Institutions can shape decision making parameters to discourage bias, and actively promote acceptance of differences. And changing culture really starts with focusing on kids.
There’s a lot to chew in The End of Bias. For me the announcement of the gift came on page 31, as Nordell sums up an important finding in social scientist Patricia Devine’s work, “Having biased associations didn’t mean you were a bad person. It meant you existed in a culture.” For the reader, this graceful permission to be messed up is a strong enticement into the variety of practices Nordell suggests. Brava!
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