THE IQ SCIENCE READING LIST
by Brian White, Scientist (via Quora)
(Tip: “libgen dot is” is your friend for science books)
Probably the best starting point:
Haier, R. J. (2017). The Neuroscience of Intelligence, Cambridge University Press.
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If you want something more basic:
Intelligence: All that matters, S.J. Ritchie, John Murray Learning, London (2015).
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If you want easy reading, lots of information, and one of the best sources of how IQ impacts life outcomes:
Herrnstein, R. J., & Murray, C. (1994). The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life. New York: Free Press. Note: The only shortcoming of this book is its age. We have powerful new technologies that were developed later. Those confirm the contents of The Bell Curve, and show that the book understates many factors.
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If you want to read the most cited text in all of intelligence research:
Jensen, A. R. (1998). The g factor: The science of mental ability. Westport, CT: Praeger. Note: This book is more advanced than those listed above and also was written before the development of such things as brain imaging technologies (they were just beginning); genome wide association studies; and polygenic scores.
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If you want to understand how tests are designed and analyzed for bias, accuracy, etc. the best book remains valuable:
Jensen, A.R. (1980). Bias in mental testing. New York: Free Press. This book is technical, long, and detailed.
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For a good understanding of chronometrics:
Arthur R. Jensen (2006), Clocking the Mind: Mental Chronometry and Individual Differences.
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To learn how national IQs are computed and compared and for a massive amount of national level data:
Richard Lynn & David Becker (2019) The Intelligence of Nations; Ulster Institute for Social Research.
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Worth reading to understand the big picture (at least from the British perspective) and to get a general overview of essential facts:
At Our Wits’ End: Why We’re Becoming Less Intelligent and What It Means for the Future, by E. A. Dutton & M. A. Woodley of Menie. Exeter, UK: Imprint Academic.
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For an understanding of how mean IQ impacts breeding groups and nations:
The Global Bell Curve by Richard Lynn.
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Many of these books are out of print, but can be found at used book dealers in mint condition (most folks can’t get past the first few pages). Some of the books can be found in PDF format on the internet.