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How Do I Choose the Best IQ Book?
When choosing an IQ book, it is important to first define the type of book on the subject of intelligence quotient (IQ) that you wish to purchase. Next, you should consider the expertise of the author or authors of the book. Finally, it is a good idea to read reviews of books you are considering buying by scholars and other noted authorities in the area of intelligence testing.
If you are looking for an IQ book that addresses the issue of standardized testing and the concept of whether intelligence can be quantified, you may wish to begin your search by identifying well-respected scholars in this subject area. It is typically easy to do this online, and you may also wish to look through academic databases to find academic reviews and articles that might give you the names of authorities. Once you have some names, you can begin your search for any books that these people have written on the subject of IQ tests. As you find these books, consider looking up reviews written on them to see if the conclusions of these books have been accepted by the scholarly community.
On the other hand, you may be looking for a book that contains a test that can give you an idea of what your IQ might be. Although this type of IQ book does exist, you should be aware that many authorities are skeptical of this type of self-testing. Psychometrically valid IQ tests such as the Stanford-Binet and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale are designed to be administered by a qualified mental health practitioner. A do-it-yourself test is unlikely to give you accurate results, though it may provide you with some information about your intellectual strengths and weaknesses.
Some publishers have released books that purport to assist you in improving your intelligence. Although such a book is not an IQ book per se, the publisher may advertise the book as something that you can work with in order to improve your cognitive abilities and perhaps your IQ score. It is not at all clear that doing logic puzzles will necessarily improve your IQ, but many people find this sort of activity to be very enjoyable, and it may assist you in developing your intellectual and problem-solving skills. As with the other types of IQ books, you may wish to consider whether the author of the book is somebody with significant experience in the study of human intelligence.
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![Some publishers have released books that purport to assist you in improving your intelligence.]()
By: Chris TefmeSome publishers have released books that purport to assist you in improving your intelligence. -
![IQ tests may be used to determine placement in a gifted class.]()
By: Lisa F. YoungIQ tests may be used to determine placement in a gifted class.
Discussion Comments
@KoiwiGal - There's another really good book that touches on this kind of thing called "Outliers". It talks about how being intelligent is only one side of the coin and that the pressures and advantages of society are just as important, if not more important, to success. I think it's a pretty vital read for anyone who is putting too much faith in their ability to answer IQ test questions.
@browncoat - I think they do to some extent. If someone can get a really high IQ score on one of those tests, it is measuring something. It's not like it's possible to get a high score if you aren't over a certain level of intelligence.
It's just that the test isn't perfect and it only measures one kind of intelligence. It doesn't measure artistic ability, for example, which is something that people might include in their definition of intelligence.
I like Gardner's theory of intelligences, actually, that there are more than one and that different parts of the brain govern different types of intelligence. So someone with a lot of musical ability might not be good at stringing words together, for example. He also holds that you can increase your intelligence in every area, if you work at it, and the fact that people are willing to work at what they are passionate about is more important that ingrained intelligence.
I used to think this was quite a big deal when I was a kid. I remember looking for IQ tests online, trying to figure out whether my IQ was high or not. I got wildly different answers depending on which test I used.
But, really, it doesn't mean anything in the first place. There have been plenty of studies showing that you can increase your IQ over time and that the tests are culturally biased anyway. It's basically a test of how well you can take IQ tests and has no real world relevance.
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