This is a book about ideas.

Specifically, this is a book about the evolution of a certain set of ideas, and how these ideas have come to dominate every important discussion about race, gender, and identity today.

Have you heard someone refer to language as literal violence, or say that science is sexist? Or declare that being obese is healthy, or that there is no such thing as biological sex? Or that valuing hard work, individualism, and even punctuality is evidence of white supremacy? Or that only certain peopledepending on their race, gender, or identityshould be allowed to wear certain clothes or hairstyles, cook certain foods, write certain characters, or play certain roles? If so, then youve encountered these ideas.

As this reader-friendly adaptation of the internationally acclaimed bestsellerCynical Theoriesexplains, however, the truth is that many of these ideas are recent inventions, are not grounded in scientific fact, and do not account for the sheer complexity of social reality and human experience. In fact, these beliefs often deny and even undermine the very principles on which liberal democratic societies are builtthe very ideas that have allowed for unprecedented human progress, lifted standards of living across the world, and given us the opportunity and right to consider and debate these ideas in the first place!

Ultimately, this is a book about what it truly means to have a just and equal societyand how best to get there.

Cynical Theoriesis aWall Street Journal,USA Today, andPublishers Weeklybestseller. Named a 2020 Book of the Year byThe Times,Sunday Times, andFinancial Times, it is being translated into more than fifteen languages.