Thomas Sowell is anything but neutral in this book but he has a lot of interesting views and wise observations, especially the last chapter of random tidbits. I don't agree with him 100%* (do I agree with anyone that much?). But I respect him because he thinks and isn't afraid to be blunt. I wish he had a legit social media account. His opinions on the current crisis would be really interesting to read.



*global warming, for one. ( )

I stuck it out, and finished it, but couldn't wait for it to end. Sowell is the foremost Obama critic, and ties every evil of today or the past to Obama, the left, or liberals. The only problem is that it seems to have been one of the many books published around the time of the last presidential election, apparently with the hope of influencing voters to voate against Obama. Now that the election is over, the point of the book is somewhat diminished. Updates can be heard on the Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity shows however if you're interested. ( )

Much better to read Thomas Sowell's long form work. This would be good as a self-quiz; can I predict what Thomas Sowell will say about this topic? But each little essay is too short to be satisfying and I am entirely unfamiliar with some of the topics discussed.

This isn't the go-to Sowell book if you've never read his stuff before. If that's the case, start with Vision of the Anointed. Another good starting point is Compassion versus Guilt. This is a collection of columns that all run to the 750-word mark and tread some familiar ground. It's a book to pick up once in a while, not read straight-through. But every once in a while, the reader gets a good dose of Sowell:

"If you want to explain why some people have astronomical incomes, it cannot simply be because of their own desires--whether 'greedy' or not--but because of what people are willing to pay them."

"If we have Constitutional rights only when judges like the end results, we make as well not have a Constitution."

"Some people seem to think we live in more 'liberated' times, when all that has happened is that one set of taboos has been replaced by another and more intolerantly enforced set of taboos."

"If people had been as mealy-mouthed in centuries past as they are today, Ivan the Terrible would have been called Ivan the Inappropriate."

"If the choice between policy A and policy B is regarded as badge of personal merit, either morally or intellectually, then it is a devastating risk to one's sense of self to make empirical evidence the ultimate test."

"There is a big difference between being ponderous and being serious."

That last one is perfect. ( )

Another anthology of Thomas Sowell's syndicated column's hits the spot, incites thought, and skewers the feel-good left of good intentions. Categorized into a few different themes, over 100 essays span topics from education, gay marriage, the Supreme Court and societal ills.

Comprised of columns normally spread out over time, there are times where some references are repeated to make a point. These repetitious remarks by no means detract from this book in any meaningful way, they simply become noticeable.

Professor Sowell's whole distaste for left revolves around "fairness." Yes, fair protections under the law are equal protections, but one notion he stresses is that to achieve fair and equitable outcomes, the left pushes for laws and regulations which are unfair, as to give advantage to the unfairly treated. The book, if needed, could be nicely understood by reading the quartet of essays entitled The Fallacy of "Fairness". For instance in the second of the four-part installment, he explains the Berkley (CA) school system pondered the idea of "eliminating four jobs... and use the money saved for programs to help low achievers." Now in this day-and-age when global test and competency scores pit American children against foreign students, math and science always show poorly for our children. Which discipline were these four teachers represent whom would lose their jobs? Science. So by depleting resource for a subject already faltering in global statistics, the school system wants to take more risk and make their results worse? All in the name of fairness!

Obviously I share Mr. Sowell's political philosophy, but even if you find yourself opposed to the right, this book will be at the very least thought provoking. ( )