The social life of DNA

I would highly recommend reading Dorothy Roberts "Fatal Invention" before this book, as it cuts right to the heart of an issue that Nelson buries halfway through this book and then dances around through the reminder - namely that genetic-based determination of precise geographic and ethnic ancestry is fraudulent. This doesn't mean it isn't a powerful political, social, and commercial tool, which Nelson explores throughout this otherwise excellent work. The scientific imprateur it lends to important discussions of reparations and engagement with the African continent for descendants of enslaved people is undeniably important. However the hesitancy of Nelson to turn her critical eye towards the financial exploitation of people through essentially scientific snake oil mars the analysis, and one gets the sense that it's due to affinity with the entrepreneurs peddling this technosolutionist approach. This is still a great book, but I hope that in analysis of future technical trends (cough AI cough) that debunking will hold a prominent, central place in the analysis. Highly recommend