Book cover of Racial Hygiene: Medicine under the Nazis

Book description

Scholars exploring the history of science under the Nazis have generally concentrated on the Nazi destruction of science or the corruption of intellectual and liberal values. Racial Hygiene focuses on how scientists themselves participated in the construction of Nazi racial policy. Robert Proctor demonstrates that the common picture of a…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked Racial Hygiene as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Science collapses when scientists ignore objectivity and unbiased analysis, and Robert N. Proctor argues this effectively in this book.

I had long assumed (incorrectly) that racial doctrine during the Third Reich came directly from Hitler, but many German scientists actively espoused racial policies with supposed scientific justification. It may be hard to accept that some scientists became sympathizers overnight, no doubt for their own welfare and survival.

Proctor illustrates that pure science can be adapted for evil intent and that a self-centered agenda can result in illegitimate outcomes. 

This World War II book on Nazi racial "science" opened my eyes to the corruption of science to serve the nefarious purposes of Nazi racial policy.

For me, this book was deeply informative in a medical humanities sense. Robert Proctor has provided a service to readers and to the historical record by bringing this story to light with such a clear and careful rendering of the facts.  

From Robert's list on books where history meets mystery.

If you love Racial Hygiene...

Ad

Book cover of Aggressor

Aggressor by FX Holden,

It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.

The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…

Want books like Racial Hygiene?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Racial Hygiene.

Browse books like Racial Hygiene

Book cover of The Nightingale
Book cover of Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program That Brought Nazi Scientists to America
Book cover of Bluff

Share your top 3 reads of 2025!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,275

readers submitted
so far, will you?

Ad

📚 If you like Racial Hygiene, you might also like...

Book cover of The Year Mrs. Cooper Got Out More: A Great Wharf Novel

The Year Mrs. Cooper Got Out More by Meredith Marple,

The coastal tourist town of Great Wharf, Maine, boasts a crime rate so low you might suspect someone’s lying.

Nevertheless, jobless empty nester Mallory Cooper has become increasingly reclusive and fearful. Careful to keep the red wine handy and loath to leave the house, Mallory misses her happier self—and so…

Book cover of That First Heady Burn

That First Heady Burn by George Bixley,

Don’t mess with the hothead—or he might just mess with you. Slater Ibáñez is only interested in two kinds of guys: the ones he wants to punch, and the ones he sleeps with. Things get interesting when they start to overlap. A freelance investigator, Slater trolls the dark side of…

5 book lists we think you will like!