The Science of Racism

Everything You Need to Know but Probably Don't—Yet

By: Keon West

Narrated by: Keon West

In this frank, funny, and meticulous book, a leading social scientist lays out the striking facts we know about racism, how we have uncovered them, and how we can start to fix them

Studies and surveys show, time and again, that about 50 percent of people believe that racism is no longer an issue today. The other half would disagree—vehemently. And much of the writing on the subject of race and racism is equally divisive, in large part because so much of it is based on opinion and personal experience. It’s not grounded in empiricism. It’s not science.

In The Science of Racism, social psychologist Keon West corrects that idea, moving this urgent conversation beyond anecdote and polemic in search of conclusive answers and solutions. Starting with a fascinating look at experiments around race in hiring, Dr. West brilliantly and methodically walks listeners through our comprehensive understanding of this controversial topic. He looks at how racism impacts every stage and all facets of life, from birth to death, in education, work and business, friendships and relationships, police and the justice system, and healthcare. He also looks at the challenges around studying these questions and the ways we can uncover the truth, and then where we go from here: why unconscious bias training can actually make things worse, and what systems and techniques can lead us to a more equitable future.

“Illuminating, surprising, unnerving, moving ... and, sadly, utterly necessary for this time in history.”—Sathnam Sanghera, international bestselling author of Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain

©2025 Keon West (P)2025 Recorded Books

thorough and eye-opening

I originally picked up this book after hearing Dr. West being interviewed on the Majority Report podcast. I work in a field, like most other people, that is deeply impacted by both implicit and explicit racism, as well as structural racism. while I went into this book thinking I already understood a lot and could guess most of his findings, I was of course wrong. there are some really shocking revelations that Dr. West explains, and all of these revelations are explained via the scientific method.

Unfortunately, the people in my life who I would most love to read this book never would. But, it can help people like me and others who would like to combat racism When we try to explain why certain things, like color blindness and unconscious bias training, just don't work.

Thought provoking and important

As an American this book reinforces what i have seen in my country with my own eyes and what i have experienced in my life and what i have felt in my heart. It’s painful. As a white woman i only began to suspect that i harbored racist tendencies very recently. I didn’t feel racist but thought i must be because i would feel so awkward around black people sometimes. I couldn’t figure out if it was them or me and if i was giving off some weird vibe. There were only about 4 black students in the two closest high schools in the 80s when i graduated. My dad flipped out when my mullatto cousin came to visit. We had a big fight but i never dared bring my half black friend over for a visit because i never wanted to go through that again. We lived in California btw. Southern California. So it left me feeling really bad and like everyone else must be more normal. But i never let myself have black friends again. It has bothered me and I remember certain would be friends decades later. I was so afraid of inadvertently exposing them to someone around me who would turn out to be a secret horrible racist like my dad. Now i understand better. I hope we can all understand better and have chances to heal. I really hope my country gets it together. We are going in the wrong direction getting rid of affirmative action etc.