A Measure of Intelligence is listed as a memoir, but it is not. It is instead a nonfiction book on the history of the IQ test and its implications, with her own experience used as a central case study. That all being said, I really enjoyed it. I knew the basics of this book, that the IQ test is based on eugenics and racism, and that people who were deemed insufficiently smart were institutionalized. However, Stetler does an amazing job of showing how the IQ test impacts more than just those on left side of the bell curve. Using her daughter with Down syndrome as a central case study, she also examines how IQ tests impact those who are deemed more intelligent, and how the way our current system is set up fails us all. While Stetler does not have solutions, she does note that we are in a current system structured around a test that does not accurately measure... anything, really. This is a deep dive of a book, but it is not written in an overly academic manner (which is a positive, particularly because Stetler is an academic). If you're interested in the topic, I'd highly recommend.

Thank you to Diversion Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is part memoir and part investigation into the history and uses and abuses of the IQ test. When her daughter was born with Downs Syndrome, she was told that in order to access school support resources, she would need to subject her daughter to regular IQ tests. Her central position is that intelligence is more a product of history rather than an outcome of nature. She urges all of us to restructure how we value intelligence. I could relate to her struggles and guilt as a mother whose child could not latch on to breast feed. The hours of pumping and stress that we needed to give our babies formula too was traumatizing because of all the statistics out there about baby's IQ. She covers the history of the development of intelligence tests and the misuse. Not only does it cover how IED - Individualized education plans - are impacted by these IQ tests, but also how policies in US make it difficult to find support for adults with intellectual developmental disabilities. Only 18% are fully employed and because of 14 (C) certificates, employers are allowed to pay people with IDD, below the minimum age. The one area she did not cover which surprised me, was the work of people like Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligences. Reading his work helped me expand my own thinking on what is intelligence - it should not only be focused on IQ measurement. The book provides a lot of food for thought and raises a lot of questions but no answers or recommendations. The bibliography is extensive! I would have appreciated some tips for parents with children or adults with IDD to help shine a light on a potential path forward.

Thank you to Netgalley and Diversion Books for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

I have always wondered why we dictated needs / intelligence on the IQ tests so this was a great read to learn the truth and challenges behind the reasoning.