This work investigates the biological, historical, and psychological foundations of the concept of race to address the persistence of interracial tensions. Dr. John R. Baker, an established biologist and academic, utilizes a multidisciplinary framework to examine the definitions of ethnicity and the validity of claims regarding racial hierarchy and intelligence. The text seeks to provide a comprehensive analysis of human ancestry and civilization to clarify the scientific and social dimensions of the ethnic problem.

Readers frequently note the academic density and the broad, interdisciplinary scope of the prose. Experts highlight this as a significant, albeit controversial, historical text that attempts to synthesize biological and cultural data regarding human diversity.