He views society and culture as something with relatively minor effects on human behavior, writing that people's destinies are essentially half-made at birth.

[2] He criticizes the modern American conservative movement for accepting what he sees as inherently liberal views about total racial and gender equality.

[2] Grant Morgan wrote for the online magazine Canada's Journal of Ideas that Derbyshire "makes a surprisingly energetic and amusing case" and "does so in a style that is accessible and sharp-witted, though at times unfocused".

"[3] Theodore Dalrymple, a British author and columnist, referred to the book as, "A funny and brilliant call to pessimism, Man's last, best hope for a tolerable life."

Judge Robert Bork commented that Derbyshire's "argument is wide-ranging, erudite, and invigorating, but, paradoxically, delivered with cheerful panache.