What makes a boy go bad?
An incarcerated man posed this question in a letter to behavioral geneticist Kathryn Paige Harden. The man was writing to her from prison, where he was serving a 35-year sentence for a sexual assault committed at the age of 16. As a teenager, he attacked a total stranger in broad daylight. Now many years later, he wanted to understand his own horrific act. His question is ...
Kathryn Paige Harden’s *Original Sin* presents a nuanced exploration of how genetic science intersects with age-old questions of morality, blame, and human agency. The strongest version of her narrative lies in its refusal to offer easy answers, instead embracing the tension between determinism and free will. By weaving together personal reflection, scientific research, and theological history, Harden avoids the pitfalls of reductionism—whether genetic, religious, or philosophical. She acknowled...