Applied Eugenics

"Applied Eugenics" by Paul Popenoe examines the controversial science of eugenics in the early 20th century, combining the study of biology and society. The book argues for shaping society to promote the birth of people considered "superior" while limiting reproduction of those labeled "inferior," using laws, social norms, and economics. It introduces the core ideas of eugenics, stressing the role of heredity over environment in defining who we are. The book challenges the idea that upbringing can change a person's basic inherited qualities, and introduces the societal impacts of eugenics as a scientific and ethical framework as one of its most important topics.