Resources to Learn About IQ and Intelligence

What are the best resources to actually learn about IQ and intelligence research? I want to go beyond pop psychology articles and understand the real science. Are there books, courses, or websites that explain intelligence research accurately without dumbing it down or pushing an agenda?

Academic textbooks on psychometrics and differential psychology are the gold standard, but they can be dense. Books written by actual researchers for general audiences are probably the sweet spot for learning the science without needing a PhD.

For serious learning, start with books by actual intelligence researchers like “Intelligence: All That Matters” by Stuart Ritchie, “The Neuroscience of Intelligence” by Richard Haier, or “Intelligence: A Very Short Introduction” by Ian Deary. These are accessible but scientifically rigorous. For deeper dives, textbooks like “Human Cognitive Abilities” by John Carroll cover psychometric theory. Online resources include research articles on Google Scholar, though they’re technical. Podcasts featuring intelligence researchers can provide good overviews. Avoid pop psychology books that oversimplify or push political narratives. Focus on authors with actual research credentials in psychometrics, cognitive neuroscience, or behavioral genetics for accurate information.

I recommend Rich Haier’s course “The Intelligent Brain” on The Great Courses. Online Course About the Brain - The IIntelligent Brain | The Great Courses Shop

No prior knowledge assumed, but a very good summary of the research with no pseudoscience.

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This is a good recommendation, thank you!