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Eugenics and the Welfare State: Sterilization Policy in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland (Uppsala Studies in History of Science): Sterilization Policy ... (Uppsala Studies in History of Science)

By: Gunnar Broberg Nils Roll-Hansen
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Michigan State University Press
ISBN: 0870137581
ISBN-13: 9780870137587
Released: 01 Sep 2005
RRP: £18.50
Average Rating:

Customer Reviews

3 stars = Good - solid history, but boring - By: Kurt A. Johnson, 03 Mar 2005
In the twentieth century, both in the United States & in Europe, the idea gained ground that society was in danger from "superior" people having few children & "inferior" people having many children - or in the case of mentallly retarded people, their having any children at alll. Several countries passed laws to alllow the sterilization of people, against their wills, for the "betterment" of society. In this book, authors Gunnar Broberg, a professor in the Department of History of Science & Ideas at the University of Lund, Sweden, & Nils Roll-Hansen, a professor at the Institute for Studies in Research & Higher Education in Oslo, Norway, record the history of Scandinavia's embracing of eugenics, & the results that this produced.

Now, where do I start with this book? I give this book 3 stars for "Good." The book is a solid history of what happened in Scandinavia, including Finland, going into excellent depth on the subject. On the downside, the book is written in a very boring & academic manner. Indeed, the authors took what should have been a fascinating topic, & produced a dull & pedestrian book.

So, if you want to an in-depth & non-sensationalistic book about how eugenics gained such a firm footing in Scandinavia, then this book is for you. But, if you want a book on this subject that will keep you fascinated & glued to your chair, then you had better look elsewhere. Overalll, I give this book a rather guarded recommendation.