Books to Learn About IQ and Intelligence

If you want to learn about intelligence and IQ, you have come to the right place. The topic has been investigated by scientists for over a century, and there’s a lot to learn! In fact, there is so much that it can be bewildering to know where to start. Here are our recommendations.

Introductory books

Intelligence: A Very Short Introduction by Ian Deary

Ian Deary is a living legend in the world of intelligence research. Because of his contributions to science, the British government made him an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. Most of that work is related to the study of intelligence and aging. Deary’s book, Intelligence: A Very Short Introduction lives up to its title. It is a pocket-sized book that can be read in one evening. Readers get a quick overview of intelligence that is hard to beat. (Make sure to purchase the 2nd edition, which is the current version.)

Intelligence: All That Matters by Stuart Ritchie

A former student of Deary’s, Stuart Ritchie is now a professional science communicator -- and it shows in his book. Intelligence: All That Matters is very accessible and also very short. Ritchie is an excellent guide through the world of intelligence, explaining what scientists know (and don’t know!) about this fascinating field.

Intermediate Books

In the Know: Debunking 35 Myths About Human Intelligence by Russell T. Warne

Written by Russell T. Warne (the Chief Scientist for the RIOT), In the Know: Debunking 35 Myths About Human Intelligence takes readers a step further than Deary’s and Ritchie’s books. After a brief introduction to provide background, Warne takes his reader on a tour of knowledge about intelligence and IQ by demolishing 35 common--but incorrect--beliefs about intelligence. Each belief gets its own chapter that can be read easily in one sitting. No prior knowledge is needed to understand the book, and it is written with the non-expert in mind.

Advanced Books

The Neuroscience of Intelligence by Richard J. Haier

Richard J. Haier is another giant of the field of intelligence, thanks to his groundbreaking work that bridges the science of the brain with the science of intelligence. His book The Neuroscience of Intelligence (2nd edition) is probably the most accessible neuroscience book written in recent years. The book is full of reports and understandable interpretations of groundbreaking neuroscience research that helps readers understand how smart brains differ from others.

The Science of Human Intelligence by Richard J. Haier, Roberto Colom, and Earl Hunt

The Science of Human Intelligence is a textbook for psychology students and the most exhaustive and up-to-date treatment of the science of intelligence. The team of authors cover topics not mentioned in any other book listed so far, including cognitive psychology, including the prospects for raising intelligence. This book contains a far more detailed discussion of most topics than the books mentioned above, and it is an essential source for anyone wanting a single reference for the research on almost any topic related to intelligence.

IQ and Human Intelligence by N. J. Mackintosh

Though published in 2011, IQ and Human Intelligence (2nd edition) holds up well today. Readers can learn a lot from the late N. J. Mackintosh’s perspectives about how cognitive abilities are organized, how an intelligent mind functions, and the importance of intelligence for society.

The g Factor: The Science of Mental Ability by Arthur Jensen

This is the oldest book on the list and the most technical. The author, Arthur R. Jensen, was the leading expert on intelligence from the 1970s until his death in 2012. This 1998 book is a classic that is frequently cited by experts today. The g factor requires graduate-level training in statistics or psychology to fully appreciate, but it makes the list because of its unsurpassed discussion about the nature of g, the relationship between intelligence and processing speed, and many technical issues.