＊美国启发的 Black Lives Matter运动已经成为全世界最大型的公民权利运动，全球超过17个国家、700个城市、美国全50州都有参与抗议。种族歧视是一个历史悠久的问题，在2020年竟然点燃了全新的热题，这本书突然非常及时。
 
这不是一本关于种族歧视的历史书，而是一本透过科学来讨论种族歧视背后的思考以及神话。作者在南非成长，成长期间每一天都亲眼看到种族歧视的现实。他也经历了南非的种族隔离政策。这本书收入了所有你需要知道（但不敢问出口）关于种族的事。
 
神话：早期的欧洲人是白种人。
現实：早期的欧洲人有深色皮肤、黑色卷发以及蓝眼睛


神话：五万年到七万年前，一个“认知的革命”带领了欧洲文化的诞生
现实：现代智慧是在许多万年前就进化了，带领了非洲文化的诞生


种族歧视拥有科学的理智基础吗？在这本书中，作者探讨了这个问题，不论是网络上的留言或者学科文章，这是个非常普遍的话题。科学家一直有在研究智慧以及种族的关系，如果这些研究被证明正确，那是不是就证实了不平等以及种族歧视的立场？


作者研究了关于智慧发展的最新发现，更探讨了遗传学、古生物学、考古学以及人类学如何贡献这些理论。他在这本书中摧毁了人们认为种族判断我们的命运的神话，反而发现肤色是让我们独特的观点。
 
关于作者：
Gavin Evans 出生于伦敦，在南非开普敦成长。他在那里参与了反种族隔离政策的运动。他拥有政治学的博士学位以及经济历史学位。他写过许多关于种族以及种族歧视的文章。他在伦敦Birkbeck College的文化与媒体部门担任演讲师，经常出现在BBC World Service电视节目上担任贡献者。
 
好评： 
 
 ‘Punchy and perceptive, Evans’ passionate and wide-ranging debunking of hereditarian views of race…deserves a wide readership.’——Saul Dubow, Smuts Professor of Commonwealth History, University of Cambridge
 
‘a thorough overview and detailed critique of contemporary "race science," and a poignant description and assessment of scientific racism… an easy-to-read overview of the latest academic research in genetics, evolutionary anthropology, archaeology, and paleontology that explains disparities in human intelligence… but not in terms of the construct “race.” As a seasoned science journalist, Evans explains complex concepts and theories with clarity and precision, and he brings moments of levity to this challenging subject matter.’, ——Choice

‘A world in thrall to far-right politics and ethnic nationalism demands vigilance. We must guard science against abuse and reinforce the essential unity of the human species. I am grateful that in Evans we have someone conscientious, brave and willing to do that.’, ——Nature

‘With the probability that existing political and social tensions will be exacerbated by climate change, rising migration and conflicts over resources, these kinds of books are sorely needed.’, ——Literary Review

‘Excellent! In Skin Deep, Gavin Evans lucidly and comprehensively demolishes the rationale and evidence of the so-called “race science” employed by some of our most privileged and respected scholars.’ -- Stephen Oppenheimer, author of Out of Eden: The Peopling of the World and The Origins of the British

‘Well-researched and richly rewarding, Skin Deep methodically dismantles the quackery and junk science that seeks to justify economic inequality by appeals to racial difference. Given the insidious rise of pseudoscientific racism, Skin Deep is timely and urgent, its patient scholarship a fine antidote to the quackocracy’s shrill rhetoric. In this spirit it will appeal to readers who enjoyed Ben Goldacre’s Bad Science and I Think You’ll Find It’s A Bit More Complicated Than That.’ -- Robert Newman, comedian and author

‘This book contains a wealth of information, old and new, about race and its underlying genetics. Everyone interested in the distinction between knowledge and prejudice in this sensitive and challenging subject should read it.’ -- Jonathan Bard, Emeritus Professor, University of Edinburgh, and author of Principles of Evolution

‘Give it up for Gavin Evans’s thorough and timely teardown of racial myths… This triumphant volume debunks such popular fallacies as race-based IQ differences, jumping genes, and predictable variations in brain size and development across different – and arbitrary – racial categories… The best defense against misinformation is knowledge, and Skin Deep is an invaluable tool to add to your arsenal.’, ——Foreword reviews

‘[An] extensively researched and clearly articulated work of popular scholarship.’, ——Publishers Weekly