http://bactra.org/reviews/flynn-beyon... ( )

Every time I teach about Carol Dweck's work on self-theories of intelligence, I ultimately get some kind of push back along the lines of "but some people really are smarter than others." That's despite the fact that I routinely (and generally repeatedly) disclaim the idea that Dr. Dweck's work suggests that there is no such thing as IQ. There is. But just what it is, and how and in what circumstances it matters, is a much more complicated question than most of us ever consider. James Flynn however, has considered it in great detail. He's the researcher who first noted that IQ scores in the united states have been going up about .3 points per year for most of this last century. In this book, he covers exactly what aspects of IQ have been increasing and suggests a rationale for why. This is a thoughtful but accessible work that's well worth a read, or two or three, for anyone interested in either of my particular areas of interest -- education or law. ( )