The End of Bias: A Beginning

December 1, 2020

Science and culture journalist Nordell delves into cognitive science, social psychology, and developmental research to explain how we can change implicit bias, that is, unintentional prejudiced behavior that contradicts our consciously held beliefs. With a 100,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 9, 2021
Journalist Nordell debuts with a virtuoso survey of scientific research on the causes of prejudice and programs that have “successfully reduced everyday bias and discrimination.” She delves into psychological concepts such as the “prejudice paradox” (people sincerely deny holding racist beliefs, yet still act in “racially discriminatory ways”) and “priming” (planting a thought in someone’s mind that changes their perception of the world); details the case of transgender neurobiologist Ben Barres, who became an activist for gender equality in science after he transitioned from a woman to a man in 1997; documents an LAPD community outreach program that reduced arrest rates and cut violent crime by teaching officers about the culture of public housing developments in Watts and east L.A. and shifting their focus from “making arrests to building relationships”; and explains how a French law firm improved performance by removing the barriers to advancement women with children had faced. Throughout, Nordell holds her own biases up to scrutiny, lucidly describes the methodology and findings of the copious psychological and sociological studies she cites, and draws vivid character sketches of her profile subjects. The result is a refreshingly optimistic and immersive look at how society can solve one of its thorniest problems.

August 15, 2021
Is it possible to end biases, personal and institutional? Science journalist Nordell believes so, but it will require plenty of work. Nordell, a longtime student of prejudice and its origins, observes that there is a gulf "between the values of fairness and the reality of real-world discrimination," a gulf defined by the term implicit or unconscious bias. It is costly: Undervaluing women, ethnic minorities, or other marginalized groups deprives society of potentially valuable contributions on the parts of those who are discriminated against. While recognizing that many barriers are deliberate, Nordell argues that most people don't set out to make the sharp distinctions that engender them; the biases truly are unintended and, while learned, largely unexamined. The author's case studies include a transgender research scientist who, having transitioned to a male, found that his abilities were far more valued than when he was female; an Asian American man who lacked math skills but was promoted into jobs that assumed he was a stereotypical numbers whiz; and an imaginary Black teenager who, presented to White audiences as having "behaved in an antisocial way," was assumed to be a future felon and therefore more deserving of punishment than a White peer accused of the same thing. Nordell's examples are revealing but lead to the same general set of conclusions, so there's a certain sameness to the narrative that becomes more pronounced as it progresses. More useful are some of the recommended remedies, including "mindfulness meditation"--which, when adopted by one Oregon police department, led to a rapid decline in the use of force and citizen complaints--and counseling approaches that minimize shame while building awareness of bias and the motivation to imagine others' perspectives. "Colorblind" approaches, she writes, can backfire. These efforts pay off, she writes. Trust builds, relationships deepen; in a business context, "racially diverse teams where all employees were able to feel psychologically safe enough to learn from one another outperformed homogenous teams." A practical primer for those seeking to reduce the hegemony of bias in everyday life.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2021
In her first book, journalist, poet, and radio producer Nordell explores the opportunities to address and dismantle societal biases, particularly those based on gender and race. Drawing from historical archives, interviews, psychological studies, and literature, Nordell clearly illuminates the psychology behind biases and the stories and lives of those negatively affected by such biases. She shares compelling examples of systemic changes made to eradicate bias from individual experiences and organizations, such as a preschool in Sweden where gender is irrelevant. Nordell also explains the impact of scientific racism in our community and interactions. The book can serve as a guide to reflect and consult on this critical issue both in the workplace and in communities at large. Readers interested in cognitive psychology, social behaviors, and workplace interactions will find Nordell's book both fascinating and helpful in understanding biases--unconscious, intentional, or unexamined--and learning how to overcome and dismantle all forms of them.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.