The Passing of the Great Race Or the Racial Basis of European History was written by Madison Grant, American lawyer, eugenicist, and conservationist. During Grant's long career as a conservationist he was pivotal in protecting many different species of animals through his environmental and philanthropic organizations. A darker side to Grant's life and work was his belief in scientific racism and this book is an ode to those beliefs.

The primary focus of the text is Grant's obsession with exploring European history through the lens of race instead the more frequent practice of discussing history via social groups based on common nationality and language. For Grant, "race implies heredity, and heredity implies all the moral, social, and intellectual characteristics and traits which are the springs of politics and government." To accept Grant's argument, one must believe there are inherent differences in individuals which stem primarily from the color of their skin, more so than their nation of origin or the culture from which they arise. A truly controversial stance, Grant argues his point to the final page of this lengthy and at times, hard to digest, text.

The Passing of the Great Race Or the Racial Basis of European History offers insight into Madison Grant's life and personal beliefs, which echo the beliefs of many others during his lifetime. While more modern views would consider eugenics to be invalid; this book offers a glimpse of what eugenicist truly believed during their prime. This book may interest historians, sociologists, psychologists or individuals who are keenly intrigued by the life and beliefs of Madison Grant.