Greatness isn’t so black and white after all

David Epstein starts by acknowledging the potential minefield he’s avoided.

The Sports Illustrated writer’s superb book, The Sports Gene, delves into the science behind athletic success, but references to the role of genetics in that success tend to get people lighting the fuse on accusations of racism.

Epstein was well aware of the potential for trouble: “Yes, and not only because it’s impossible not to be aware of it, but because there were cases of scientists who told me they didn’t want to talk about data because of that.