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There aren't many books out there these days by revolutionary communists who are into the genetics of intelligence. But then there aren't many writers like Freddie DeBoer. He's an insistently quirky thinker who has managed to resist the snark, cynicism and moral preening of so many others in his generation - and write from his often-broken heart. And the core of his new book, "The Cult of Smart," is a moral case for those with less natural intelligence than others - the ultimate losers in our democratic meritocracy, a system both the mainstream right and left have defended for decades now, and that, DeBoer argues, gives short shrift to far too many.

"The meritocratic class has mastered the old trick of consolidating wealth and passing privilege along at the expense of other people's children."