About

For a full and detailed biography of Rushton see:

J. Philippe Rushton: A Life History Perspective. By Edward Dutton. Oulu: Thomas Edward Press. 2018In 1989, J. Philippe Rushton threw a grenade into the world of human biology. Rushton argued that the ‘three big races’ – Black, Caucasian, and East Asian – consistently differed in ‘Life History Strategy.’ Blacks had the fastest strategy. Adapted to unstable environments, they live fast and die young. East Asians had the slowest, investing in nurture; living for the future. Caucasians were intermediate. This grenade exploded into everything from a criminal investigation to a campaign to get Rushton fired.

What kind of person could conceive of and publicize such an original yet incendiary theory? Analyzing Rushton’s research and, for the first time, his life and ancestry, Dutton argues that Rushton himself – like many scientific geniuses – was a highly intelligent fast Life History Strategist. But Rushton’s Life History strategy was simply too fast for him to be the Galileo-figure that some scientists have portrayed him as. An archetypal Narcissist, Rushton attempted to manipulate people into supporting his model and cherry picked and dishonestly presented his findings. And among many other fast Life History strategy traits, Dutton explores Rushton’s dropping out of high school, his multiple divorces, his compulsive lying, his affairs, his two illegitimate children including one by a married black woman, and even his use of physical violence.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/J-Philippe-Rushton-History-Perspective/dp/1983273708/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533393469&sr=8-1&keywords=rushton+dutton

‘Dr Edward Dutton has written a brilliant ‘warts and all’ biography of John Philippe Rushton and a critical appraisal of his theory that the ‘three big races’ differ in Life History Strategy. Dr Dutton finds that there is some support for Rushton’s theory but also that it has too many flaws to be considered anything like a work of genius. A fascinating book.’

Prof Richard Lynn

‘Fascinating account of the life and personality of J. Philippe Rushton. Not at all what one would expect in a top-flight research scientist.’

Prof Kevin MacDonald, Twitter.

‘. . . a significant critical study . . . makes a significant contribution to our understanding both of Rushton and the matters he investigated.’

Dr. F. Roger Devlin, Occidental Observer https://www.theoccidentalobserver.net/2018/07/26/investigating-a-great-though-flawed-investigator/

‘Dutton’s book is well worth reading both for the differentiated critique of Rushton’s version of life history theory and for the equally differentiated view he offers on Rushton’s life and his personality. Between hero worship by Rushton’s admirers and demonization by his detractors, Dutton’s sober description of the evidence is what we need, at a time when reason and Enlightenment values are under attack by extremists from both ends of the political spectrum.’

Prof. Gerhard Meisenberg, Mankind Quarterly.

‘It goes without saying that a biography about a controversial figure can hardly be non-controversial itself and, of course, this biography is, as any biography, mostly a subjective evaluation of the person described. From this point of view, I partially understand the harsh criticisms of other reviewers on this book. However, despite the complaints to the book I know about, I could not find the described hostility to Rushton in it. Some of Dutton’s statements about Rushton may also contradict the experiences of others, but during reading, I never felt that the author intentionally wanted to do any harm to Rushton. Thanks to these aspects, in combination with a reasonable and exciting writing style, and the very creative idea to apply a researcher’s behavioural theory on its own biography, my overall impression of “J. Philippe Rushton: A Life History Perspective” by Edward Dutton is very positive and I want to give it 5 of 5 stars.’

David Becker, Technical University of Chemnitz, Germany. (Amazon.de).