The Rise and Fall of the Caucasian Race: A Political History of Racial Identity

Name: The Rise and Fall of the Caucasian Race: A Political History of Racial Identity
Price: 19.98 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 3.9 (7 reviews)
Author: Baum, Bruce

by Baum, Bruce

Nonfiction Politics

3.9 (7)

355 pages~5.9 hr readPublished by NYU Press

$19.9830% off peak

Last checked: Apr 20, 2026

Price history: $0.50 – $28.50

While not the biggest discount we've seen for this book, it's still a great deal and we recommend grabbing it before price returns to its normal range.

Price range: $0.50 – $28.50

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Perfect for you if...

You're interested in how scientific racism became embedded in Western thought and want to understand where racial categories actually came from.
You teach history, sociology, or critical race theory and need a rigorous scholarly account of racial classification systems.
You're trying to understand why "Caucasian" is still used on forms and census data despite having no biological basis.

Maybe not for you if...

You want a light, accessible read. This is dense intellectual history that requires patience with theoretical arguments.
You're looking for a prescriptive book about solutions. Baum focuses on historical analysis rather than present-day fixes.
You prefer narrative-driven storytelling. This is scholarly argument with heavy reliance on primary sources and intellectual genealogy.

About this book

The term "Caucasian" emerged in 1795 as a modern invention, originally referring to peoples of the Caucasus Mountains region and later to those classified as "Caucasian." Bruce Baum examines the history of this term and the broader category of the "Caucasian race" within the context of evolving racial theory and concepts of racial identity. Tracing intellectual and scientific understandings of "race" from the Middle Ages to the present day, Baum provides a comprehensive historical overview that precedes the actual use of the term "Caucasian." His analysis separates modern science and politics from a long historical record of racial classification, offering insights into how the "Caucasian race" has been constructed, adopted, replaced, and revived throughout history.

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$0.50 – $28.50

Currently on sale at $19.98 — 30% off peak. Price has dropped 28 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 47 days. Typically stays discounted for 30 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #1,346K in the Kindle store — a niche title. Sales have softened 37% recently.

Rating & Reviews

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Currently 3.9★ from 7 reviews

Review activity has been quiet recently. Rating has dipped slightly from 4.2 to 3.9.

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This book is currently discounted at $19.98. It typically returns to around $28.50.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.