Picador acquires The Science of Racism by West

Picador has acquired The Science of Racism by Keon West, a professor of social psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London.

Andrea Henry, editorial director, acquired world rights from Jo Wander at Jo Wander Management, for publication in hardback in spring 2025.

The synopsis reads: “Despite the increasingly loud and polarised opinions on television, in magazines, and on every social media platform, society seems to have no more clarity about racism than we did a generation ago. Polls show that if you ask the average person even the most basic question, e.g., ‘Does racism still exist?’, half the population will say that it does while the other half will say that it doesn’t.

“In The Science of Racism, Keon West cuts through the anecdotes, the rhetoric, and the divisive opinions with clear, factual, rigorous, quantitative science. He uses his expertise to condense the findings of hundreds of peer-reviewed scientific papers to reveal truths about racism that are shocking and tragic, but also (somehow) funny, endearing and enjoyable to read.

“Drawing on research spanning four decades, The Science of Racism explains how we know that, for example, Black people are 30 to 50% less likely to be called in to interview than white people with identical qualifications. It shows how we know the cost, in literal pounds, of selling items online while Black. It shows how we know the effects of racism on our friendships, relationships, healthcare and justice system. Whatever you believe now, whatever you’ve read before, it is a book that will ensure that you never see racism in quite the same way again.”

Henry said: “Professor West is doing for racism what Caroline Criado Perez did for sexism in Invisible Women (Vintage): he takes the evidence-based facts drawn from an extraordinary number of scientific studies and guides us through, in a hugely engaging manner, opening our minds to the incontrovertible facts. It’s an illuminating, provocative, and sometimes painful read which will spark conversation. I’m so pleased that the team at Picador will be Keon’s publisher.”

West, who has been the host of numerous radio and television shows on the topics of prejudice and discrimination, including “I can’t be Racist” on BBC Radio 4, and Channel 4’s “Is Dating Racist?”, said: “The average person has no idea how much solid scientific research there is on racism, prejudice and discrimination. And that’s a real shame, because these things affect all of our lives in measurable, predictable, often terrible ways. This book won’t end the discussion on racism. It’s not meant to do that. Instead, it will give us a platform for a new beginning, for conversations about racism that aren’t mired in opinion, but grounded in fact.”