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The Thomas Sowell Reader Hardcover – October 4, 2011

by Thomas Sowell (Author)
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 902 ratings
#1 Best Seller in Libertarianism
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A one-volume introduction to over three decades of the wide-ranging writings of one of America's most respected and cited authors

These selections from the many writings of Thomas Sowell over a period of a half 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 late-talking 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 sometimes drawing on history, sometimes drawing on economics, and sometimes drawing on a sense of humor.

The Thomas Sowell Reader includes essays on:* Social Issues* Economics* Political Issues* Legal Issues* Race and Ethnicity* Educational Issues* Biographical Sketches* Random Thoughts

"My hope is that this large selection of my writings will reduce the likelihood that readers will misunderstand what I have said on many controversial issues over the years. Whether the reader will agree with all my conclusions is another question entirely. But disagreements can be productive, while misunderstandings seldom are." -- Thomas Sowell
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    464 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    October 4, 2011
  5. Grade level
    11 and up
  6. Reading age
    13 years and up
  7. Dimensions
    6.5 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    0465022502
  9. ISBN-13
    978-0465022502
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"It's a scandal that economist Thomas Sowell has not been awarded the Nobel Prize. No one alive has turned out so many insightful, richly researched books."―Steve Forbes

"America's best writer on economics, particularly when that discipline intersects with politics."―World

"Thomas Sowell is, in my opinion, the most interesting philosopher at work in America."―Paul Johnson, author of Modern Times

About the Author

Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is the author of dozens of books including Charter Schools and Their Enemies, winner of the 2021 Hayek Book Prize. He is the recipient of numerous other awards, including the National Humanities Medal, presented by the President of the United States in 2003.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; 1st edition (October 4, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 464 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0465022502
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465022502
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 13 years and up
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 11 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.54 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.5 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 902 ratings

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Thomas Sowell

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Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
902 global ratings
Sowell is a Polymath
5 Stars
Sowell is a Polymath
Thomas Sowell is a Polymath. He's a genius at that! Since his wisdom spans a wide number of subjects, this is a way to tap a little bit from many of those subjects. This is a way to get in touch with his mind, his broad thinking, and learn a bit from him. Maybe it can be a springboard to jump in-depth into one single subject like Economics.
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Top reviews from the United States

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
Verified Purchase
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.”
3 people found this helpful
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Random Sovereign
5.0 out of 5 stars A must have!!
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2023
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I'm very pleased that I purchased this book by Thomas Sowell for my high school senior. I am also reading it. I am a huge fan of Mr Sowell's intellect. This book is a great addition to my home library. Full of insightful common sense and practical advice for every adult in today's overly "sensitive" world.
4 people found this helpful
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TX Rancher
5.0 out of 5 stars Just Thomas Sowell
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2023
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The book is good and thank heavens it was a hardback or it would have been ruined. The package was jammed into my mailbox (pkg too big for it), instead of being put on my porch like others have been. I almost couldn't get it out of the mailbox because of the jamming - it took quite a few pulls and maneuvering to do it. Obviously, I'm not happy with the delivery.
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Salami
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome!!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2023
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Great Quality!!!
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Jm
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2023
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Remarkable work. Thomas Sowell is the most interesting writer of the past 50 years. His work is like no one else. Greatest thinker in the USA.
5 people found this helpful
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George D Hardison
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2023
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Americas most intelligent expert on economics!
One person found this helpful
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PortlandTwoWheels
5.0 out of 5 stars Thomas Sowell Reader. Amazing, as usual but....
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2011
Verified Purchase
A great book for a liberal to read...
Living in a town full of mainly liberals, this book and it's brilliant author, are relatively unknown. This man, once a former marxist in his earlier years, had become one of the brightest intellectuals in America. How can he be ignored in such a town, full of "intellectuals?"
Since I am exposed to liberal views, liberal ideas and liberal rhetoric EVERYDAY, I will tell you this book a wiff of fresh air. His views are fairly biased but coming from what a lot of liberals discuss about economics, he is spot on with them. All of his facts can be verified from the back of the book...
Well, his views which a great deal are crammed tightly into this book. If you have read his Basic Economics textbook, this will be nice supplement!
There is a bias to the book. It's Thomas Sowell! Although he can be biased, he makes a note of the opposing argument which is nice.
Keep in mind that Dr. Sowell chooses to let his intellectual cannon shoot down anybody.....left or right. Even in his Housing Boom and Bust he tore after a great deal of Republicans (but mostly democrats). As a moderate conservative, he argues his points nicely and gives you a great perspective of a myriad of issues we still face today in America.

For the love of (insert your favorite Deity here), tell your friends and family about this man and his books!

Unfortunately, many Democratic and Republicans follow Keynesian style economic policies and it's wrecking our economy.

I hope this man and his brilliant work and scholarship will bring a new chapter into American society.

Oh, and he's a Marine!
80 people found this helpful
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Barbara W
5.0 out of 5 stars Thomas Sowell is an amazing man
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023
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Excellent. Inspiring
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Vic R.
5.0 out of 5 stars Not What Everyone wants to Hear
Reviewed in Canada on December 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
Is it conservative thought? Many times yes
Is it common sense? Many times yes
Is it what many people are afraid to hear? Yes to that too.
At a time when many feel the world is broken
Thomas Sowell in his writings and thoughts helps
to repair the damage.
New isn't always better.
Thinking its right isn't always the case
Its time to stop shouting and listen to one of the best Thomas Sowell
6 people found this helpful
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Dr Michael J Cross
5.0 out of 5 stars Enormously interesting and mind-opening...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2024
Verified Purchase
Thomas Sowell speaks of subjects where an consensus has been accepted and gives reasons to overturn the consensus. This is enormously valuable in an age where many people claim to have arrived at a position of consensus, but careful examination of the facts turns everything upside down.

My view of the internet is that never in the history of mankind has so much information been so freely available, with perhaps a majority of it being wrong. Even the definitions provided by standard dictionaries need to be thought about rathered than accepted, and urban dictionaries usually contain a varying mixture of ignorance and lies. Wikipedia entries on the properties of batteries can generally be relied on, but there is so much else that does not stand up to close attention.

Hence Thomas Sowell writes in an excellent tradition of 'check everything' and don't assume that even the conclusions you thought you had held for 50 years are correct. I enjoy his material so much. Thank you Sir!
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MH
5.0 out of 5 stars Vielschichtig und anregend
Reviewed in Germany on August 28, 2023
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Der Sowell-Reader gibt einen guten Überblick über das Denken dieses außergewöhnlichen konservativen Denkers, der dem US-liberalen, politisch korrekten Mainstream mit großartigen Argumenten auf verschiedenen Feldern (Ökonomie, Sozialpolitik etc.) die Stirn bietet. Lesen!
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David Borensztajn
5.0 out of 5 stars Genial.
Reviewed in Brazil on February 14, 2021
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Um livro que pode ser uma introdução ao pensamento de Thomas Sowell pois apresenta vários escritos divididos por assuntos, como, por exemplo, a educação. O que é uma falha da obra, no entanto, é não haver a menção da data em que os ensaios foram escritos. Ótima leitura digna de reflexão a cada página.
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L. C. Dalton
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Outstanding
Reviewed in Australia on September 17, 2020
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One of the great intellectuals of our time. Cogent, lucid, consistent and perspicacious this volume is an antidote to leftist disinformation.
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