The Thomas Sowell Reader

4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars | 962 ratings

Price: 19.46

Last update: 02-02-2025


About this item

These selections from the many writings of Thomas Sowell over a period of half a century cover social, economic, cultural, legal, educational, and political issues. The sources range from Dr. Sowell’s letters, books, newspaper columns, and articles in both scholarly journals and popular magazines. The topics range from latetalking children to tax cuts for the rich, baseball, race, war, the role of judges, medical care, and the rhetoric of politicians. These topics are dealt with by drawing sometimes on history, sometimes on economics, and sometimes on a sense of humor.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Ioanna Tsakireli
    5.0 out of 5 stars What an amazing man...
    Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2024
    Thomas Sowell is such an amazing man. The world would be a better place if governments really listened to people like him. He is not just a voice of common sense in a crazy world, but he has really done his homework and he knows the statistics inside and out.

    The chapter that touched me more was the one where he tells his story as a student of how he came to realize that you should think many steps ahead of the policy you are supporting. There are many bright minds in the world but very few recognise, especially in public, that what they first though was wrong. Thomas Sowell is one of those few men that have the courage to face reality instead of cowering away, and that is exactly what makes you a better person so you can move ahead and improve yourself.

    His story is also very touching: a poor orphan boy from Harlem getting an educations and climbing to the top of the intellectual world. You cannot help but to admire this man.
  • D. Taylor
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2024
    I found it randomly in the library of Anderson University, and shortly after bought my own copy. Each chapter is a short article on some hot topic from a conservative viewpoint.
    I love the format, and I love the author, it’s nice to know that common sense’s not dead!

    I read this with my teens the short article format is perfect for it, and we discuss it, great way to introduce and discuss and laid the foundation for the young people, or anyone really!
  • G. Kenneth Moore
    5.0 out of 5 stars Speaking the truth in love
    Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2024
    Mr. Sowell speaks the truth, yes. But more than that, he speaks with kindness,

    Opinions are just that, opinions. But he deals with facts.

    He allows his research to lead him wherever it will. he supports every conclusion with facts that you can lay out on the table and see it for yourself.

    One of the things that he does is to take a catch-phrase like "income distribution" and analyze using real facts from real studies, history, and/or simple logic.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting author
    Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2024
    It's a great read, Thomas Sowell has great perspectives.
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars EVERYONE should read this book! Critical thinking in entertaining short essays. 1000 STARS!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
    BRILLIANT!

    If you want your loved ones to get a positive, life-changing dose of timeless, practical critical thinking in short, entertaining and thought-provoking essays on wide ranging topics applicable to events relevant anytime (even to right now), PLEASE pick up, read, gift, include in your curriculum, etc., “The Thomas Sowell Reader.”
  • Dr. Frederick Wm. Rupp, M.D.
    5.0 out of 5 stars All Sowell books are fantastic!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2024
    A/A
  • Raymond
    5.0 out of 5 stars The GOAT
    Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2024
    Thomas Sowell is America's greatest living intellectual
  • Todd Erickson
    5.0 out of 5 stars A 'Must' read for Republicans or Democrats
    Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2012
    This is a life's work masterpiece. As the author says himself in the preface his purpose it not to change your mind but to eliminate misunderstandings. Since all facts are friendly, Thomas tries hard to show that there are more than one side to every national issue. His relentless pursuit of empirical evidence to substantiate the continued spending of taxpayer (our) money, is refreshing. The author has gone to great lengths in nearly every subject matter to NOT give you his personal opinion, although it may seem obvious by the preponderance of his evidence. He is skeptical of vague definitions and implores constituents to demand accountability, not only in government but to life in general.

    As other reviews have indicated, the book is written in short essays which make it very easy to digest and easy to skip around to topics of interest without loss of continuity. There are so many observations and world lessons in the book that you will want to keep it in reach for future reference.

    Whether you love it or hate it, I think that all of the information presented NEEDS to be considered in light of all of the recent world events. If you keep your mind open, you will recommend this book to someone when you are finished. Well done!

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