The idea was that, after death, they would dissect each other and (hopefully) show a direct relationship between brain shapes and sizes and the character, abilities and intelligence of individuals. The book argues that this strange scientific pact, and anthropology itself, which the group's members helped to develop, had its genesis in aggressive, evangelical atheism.
The plan was to conduct an autopsy on each other after death with the aim of revealing a direct correlation between brain morphology and the characteristics, talents, and mental acuity of individuals. The book asserts that this unusual scientific partnership, and anthropology as a whole, which the group's members helped shape, has its roots in aggressive, evangelical atheism.