Books
Affirmative Action Reconsidered
– "Affirmative Action Reconsidered," The Public Interest, Winter 1976, p. 47.Excerpt: Images and labels have taken the place of facts in the controversies surrounding “affirmative action.” Words like “quota,” “qualified,” and “under-utilization” are… More
Poor Aim In War on Bias
– "Poor Aim In War on Bias," The New York Times, August 11, 1981.Excerpt: One of the tragedies about affirmative action is that there is very little empirical evidence of any benefits to blacks or women out of affirmative action. Further there is reason… More
The Economic Lot of Minorities
– “The Economic Lot of Minorities,” interview with William F. Buckley Jr., Firing Line, SECA, 12 November 1981.Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality?
– Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality? William Morrow, New York, 1984.“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive!” wrote Sir Walter Scott. Thomas Sowell recalls this eloquent couplet as he retraces the tortuous path of civil… More
Education: Assumptions Versus History
– Education: Assumptions Versus History. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 1986.In the papers collected in Education: Assumptions Versus History, Thomas Sowell takes a hard look at the state of education in our schools and universities… In a well-reasoned and… More
Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays
– Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays. William Morrow, New York, 1987.[Sowell] draws this collection of essays from his Scripps-Howard syndicated column and his contributions to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Sowell… More
‘Affirmative Action’: A Worldwide Disaster
– “'Affirmative Action': A Worldwide Disaster," Commentary, December 1989.Excerpt: The starting point for rethinking and reform must be a recognition that “affirmative action” has been a failure in the United States and a disaster in other countries that have… More
Preferential Policies: An International Perspective
– Preferential Policies: An International Perspective, William Morrow, New York, 1990.In this cogent, crucial, and vitally important book, economist Thomas Sowell examines on a global scale the preferential policies of governments as diverse as those of India, South Africa,… More
Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays
– Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 1993.Sowell challenges all the assumptions of contemporary liberalism on issues ranging from the economy to race to education in this collection of controversial essays, and captures his… More
Race and Culture: A World View
– Race and Culture: A World View, Basic Books, New York, 1995.Thomas Sowell here gives an international perspective to themes from earlier works like Ethnic America and Markets and Minorities. Arguing that major economic and social differences between… More
The Day Cornell Died
– "The Day Cornell Died," The Weekly Standard, May 3, 1999, pp. 31-33.Excerpt: No one who was at Cornell University in the spring of 1969 is ever likely to forget the guns-on-campus crisis that shocked the academic community and the nation. Bands of militant… More
A Personal Odyssey
– A Personal Odyssey, The Free Press, New York, 2002.This is the gritty story of one man’s lifelong education in the school of hard knocks, as his journey took him from Harlem to the Marines, the Ivy League, and a career as a… More
Controversial Essays
– Controversial Essays, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 2002.One of conservatism’s most articulate voices dissects today’s most important economic, racial, political, educational, legal, and social issues, sharing his entertaining and… More
Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study
– Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2004.In this important book, an eminent authority presents a new perspective on affirmative action, investigating its actual consequences in the United States and in other countries where it has… More
Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays
– Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 2006.Thomas Sowell takes aim at a range of legal, social, racial, educational, and economic issues in this latest collection of his controversial, never boring, always thought-provoking essays.… More
A Man of Letters
– A Man of Letters. Encounter Books, New York, 2007.A Man of Letters traces the life, career, and commentaries on controversial issues of Thomas Sowell over a period of more than four decades through his letters to and from family, friends,… More
Dismantling America: And Other Controversial Essays
– Dismantling America: And Other Controversial Essays. Basic Books, New York, 2010.These wide-ranging essays — on many individual political, economic, cultural and legal issues — have as a recurring, underlying theme the decline of the values and institutions… More
The Thomas Sowell Reader
– The Thomas Sowell Reader. Basic Books, New York, 2011.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… More
Intellectuals and Race
– Intellectuals and Race. Basic Books, New York, 2013. The role of intellectuals in racial strife is explored in an international context that puts the American experience in a wholly new light… Intellectuals and Race is not a book… More
Essays
Affirmative Action Reconsidered
– "Affirmative Action Reconsidered," The Public Interest, Winter 1976, p. 47.Excerpt: Images and labels have taken the place of facts in the controversies surrounding “affirmative action.” Words like “quota,” “qualified,” and “under-utilization” are… More
Poor Aim In War on Bias
– "Poor Aim In War on Bias," The New York Times, August 11, 1981.Excerpt: One of the tragedies about affirmative action is that there is very little empirical evidence of any benefits to blacks or women out of affirmative action. Further there is reason… More
The Economic Lot of Minorities
– “The Economic Lot of Minorities,” interview with William F. Buckley Jr., Firing Line, SECA, 12 November 1981.Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality?
– Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality? William Morrow, New York, 1984.“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive!” wrote Sir Walter Scott. Thomas Sowell recalls this eloquent couplet as he retraces the tortuous path of civil… More
Education: Assumptions Versus History
– Education: Assumptions Versus History. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 1986.In the papers collected in Education: Assumptions Versus History, Thomas Sowell takes a hard look at the state of education in our schools and universities… In a well-reasoned and… More
Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays
– Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays. William Morrow, New York, 1987.[Sowell] draws this collection of essays from his Scripps-Howard syndicated column and his contributions to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Sowell… More
‘Affirmative Action’: A Worldwide Disaster
– “'Affirmative Action': A Worldwide Disaster," Commentary, December 1989.Excerpt: The starting point for rethinking and reform must be a recognition that “affirmative action” has been a failure in the United States and a disaster in other countries that have… More
Preferential Policies: An International Perspective
– Preferential Policies: An International Perspective, William Morrow, New York, 1990.In this cogent, crucial, and vitally important book, economist Thomas Sowell examines on a global scale the preferential policies of governments as diverse as those of India, South Africa,… More
Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays
– Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 1993.Sowell challenges all the assumptions of contemporary liberalism on issues ranging from the economy to race to education in this collection of controversial essays, and captures his… More
Race and Culture: A World View
– Race and Culture: A World View, Basic Books, New York, 1995.Thomas Sowell here gives an international perspective to themes from earlier works like Ethnic America and Markets and Minorities. Arguing that major economic and social differences between… More
The Day Cornell Died
– "The Day Cornell Died," The Weekly Standard, May 3, 1999, pp. 31-33.Excerpt: No one who was at Cornell University in the spring of 1969 is ever likely to forget the guns-on-campus crisis that shocked the academic community and the nation. Bands of militant… More
A Personal Odyssey
– A Personal Odyssey, The Free Press, New York, 2002.This is the gritty story of one man’s lifelong education in the school of hard knocks, as his journey took him from Harlem to the Marines, the Ivy League, and a career as a… More
Controversial Essays
– Controversial Essays, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 2002.One of conservatism’s most articulate voices dissects today’s most important economic, racial, political, educational, legal, and social issues, sharing his entertaining and… More
Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study
– Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2004.In this important book, an eminent authority presents a new perspective on affirmative action, investigating its actual consequences in the United States and in other countries where it has… More
Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays
– Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 2006.Thomas Sowell takes aim at a range of legal, social, racial, educational, and economic issues in this latest collection of his controversial, never boring, always thought-provoking essays.… More
A Man of Letters
– A Man of Letters. Encounter Books, New York, 2007.A Man of Letters traces the life, career, and commentaries on controversial issues of Thomas Sowell over a period of more than four decades through his letters to and from family, friends,… More
Dismantling America: And Other Controversial Essays
– Dismantling America: And Other Controversial Essays. Basic Books, New York, 2010.These wide-ranging essays — on many individual political, economic, cultural and legal issues — have as a recurring, underlying theme the decline of the values and institutions… More
The Thomas Sowell Reader
– The Thomas Sowell Reader. Basic Books, New York, 2011.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… More
Intellectuals and Race
– Intellectuals and Race. Basic Books, New York, 2013. The role of intellectuals in racial strife is explored in an international context that puts the American experience in a wholly new light… Intellectuals and Race is not a book… More
Commentary
Affirmative Action Reconsidered
– "Affirmative Action Reconsidered," The Public Interest, Winter 1976, p. 47.Excerpt: Images and labels have taken the place of facts in the controversies surrounding “affirmative action.” Words like “quota,” “qualified,” and “under-utilization” are… More
Poor Aim In War on Bias
– "Poor Aim In War on Bias," The New York Times, August 11, 1981.Excerpt: One of the tragedies about affirmative action is that there is very little empirical evidence of any benefits to blacks or women out of affirmative action. Further there is reason… More
The Economic Lot of Minorities
– “The Economic Lot of Minorities,” interview with William F. Buckley Jr., Firing Line, SECA, 12 November 1981.Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality?
– Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality? William Morrow, New York, 1984.“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive!” wrote Sir Walter Scott. Thomas Sowell recalls this eloquent couplet as he retraces the tortuous path of civil… More
Education: Assumptions Versus History
– Education: Assumptions Versus History. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 1986.In the papers collected in Education: Assumptions Versus History, Thomas Sowell takes a hard look at the state of education in our schools and universities… In a well-reasoned and… More
Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays
– Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays. William Morrow, New York, 1987.[Sowell] draws this collection of essays from his Scripps-Howard syndicated column and his contributions to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Sowell… More
‘Affirmative Action’: A Worldwide Disaster
– “'Affirmative Action': A Worldwide Disaster," Commentary, December 1989.Excerpt: The starting point for rethinking and reform must be a recognition that “affirmative action” has been a failure in the United States and a disaster in other countries that have… More
Preferential Policies: An International Perspective
– Preferential Policies: An International Perspective, William Morrow, New York, 1990.In this cogent, crucial, and vitally important book, economist Thomas Sowell examines on a global scale the preferential policies of governments as diverse as those of India, South Africa,… More
Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays
– Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 1993.Sowell challenges all the assumptions of contemporary liberalism on issues ranging from the economy to race to education in this collection of controversial essays, and captures his… More
Race and Culture: A World View
– Race and Culture: A World View, Basic Books, New York, 1995.Thomas Sowell here gives an international perspective to themes from earlier works like Ethnic America and Markets and Minorities. Arguing that major economic and social differences between… More
The Day Cornell Died
– "The Day Cornell Died," The Weekly Standard, May 3, 1999, pp. 31-33.Excerpt: No one who was at Cornell University in the spring of 1969 is ever likely to forget the guns-on-campus crisis that shocked the academic community and the nation. Bands of militant… More
A Personal Odyssey
– A Personal Odyssey, The Free Press, New York, 2002.This is the gritty story of one man’s lifelong education in the school of hard knocks, as his journey took him from Harlem to the Marines, the Ivy League, and a career as a… More
Controversial Essays
– Controversial Essays, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 2002.One of conservatism’s most articulate voices dissects today’s most important economic, racial, political, educational, legal, and social issues, sharing his entertaining and… More
Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study
– Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2004.In this important book, an eminent authority presents a new perspective on affirmative action, investigating its actual consequences in the United States and in other countries where it has… More
Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays
– Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 2006.Thomas Sowell takes aim at a range of legal, social, racial, educational, and economic issues in this latest collection of his controversial, never boring, always thought-provoking essays.… More
A Man of Letters
– A Man of Letters. Encounter Books, New York, 2007.A Man of Letters traces the life, career, and commentaries on controversial issues of Thomas Sowell over a period of more than four decades through his letters to and from family, friends,… More
Dismantling America: And Other Controversial Essays
– Dismantling America: And Other Controversial Essays. Basic Books, New York, 2010.These wide-ranging essays — on many individual political, economic, cultural and legal issues — have as a recurring, underlying theme the decline of the values and institutions… More
The Thomas Sowell Reader
– The Thomas Sowell Reader. Basic Books, New York, 2011.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… More
Intellectuals and Race
– Intellectuals and Race. Basic Books, New York, 2013. The role of intellectuals in racial strife is explored in an international context that puts the American experience in a wholly new light… Intellectuals and Race is not a book… More
Multimedia
Affirmative Action Reconsidered
– "Affirmative Action Reconsidered," The Public Interest, Winter 1976, p. 47.Excerpt: Images and labels have taken the place of facts in the controversies surrounding “affirmative action.” Words like “quota,” “qualified,” and “under-utilization” are… More
Poor Aim In War on Bias
– "Poor Aim In War on Bias," The New York Times, August 11, 1981.Excerpt: One of the tragedies about affirmative action is that there is very little empirical evidence of any benefits to blacks or women out of affirmative action. Further there is reason… More
The Economic Lot of Minorities
– “The Economic Lot of Minorities,” interview with William F. Buckley Jr., Firing Line, SECA, 12 November 1981.Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality?
– Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality? William Morrow, New York, 1984.“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive!” wrote Sir Walter Scott. Thomas Sowell recalls this eloquent couplet as he retraces the tortuous path of civil… More
Education: Assumptions Versus History
– Education: Assumptions Versus History. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 1986.In the papers collected in Education: Assumptions Versus History, Thomas Sowell takes a hard look at the state of education in our schools and universities… In a well-reasoned and… More
Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays
– Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays. William Morrow, New York, 1987.[Sowell] draws this collection of essays from his Scripps-Howard syndicated column and his contributions to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Sowell… More
‘Affirmative Action’: A Worldwide Disaster
– “'Affirmative Action': A Worldwide Disaster," Commentary, December 1989.Excerpt: The starting point for rethinking and reform must be a recognition that “affirmative action” has been a failure in the United States and a disaster in other countries that have… More
Preferential Policies: An International Perspective
– Preferential Policies: An International Perspective, William Morrow, New York, 1990.In this cogent, crucial, and vitally important book, economist Thomas Sowell examines on a global scale the preferential policies of governments as diverse as those of India, South Africa,… More
Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays
– Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 1993.Sowell challenges all the assumptions of contemporary liberalism on issues ranging from the economy to race to education in this collection of controversial essays, and captures his… More
Race and Culture: A World View
– Race and Culture: A World View, Basic Books, New York, 1995.Thomas Sowell here gives an international perspective to themes from earlier works like Ethnic America and Markets and Minorities. Arguing that major economic and social differences between… More
The Day Cornell Died
– "The Day Cornell Died," The Weekly Standard, May 3, 1999, pp. 31-33.Excerpt: No one who was at Cornell University in the spring of 1969 is ever likely to forget the guns-on-campus crisis that shocked the academic community and the nation. Bands of militant… More
A Personal Odyssey
– A Personal Odyssey, The Free Press, New York, 2002.This is the gritty story of one man’s lifelong education in the school of hard knocks, as his journey took him from Harlem to the Marines, the Ivy League, and a career as a… More
Controversial Essays
– Controversial Essays, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 2002.One of conservatism’s most articulate voices dissects today’s most important economic, racial, political, educational, legal, and social issues, sharing his entertaining and… More
Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study
– Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2004.In this important book, an eminent authority presents a new perspective on affirmative action, investigating its actual consequences in the United States and in other countries where it has… More
Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays
– Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 2006.Thomas Sowell takes aim at a range of legal, social, racial, educational, and economic issues in this latest collection of his controversial, never boring, always thought-provoking essays.… More
A Man of Letters
– A Man of Letters. Encounter Books, New York, 2007.A Man of Letters traces the life, career, and commentaries on controversial issues of Thomas Sowell over a period of more than four decades through his letters to and from family, friends,… More
Dismantling America: And Other Controversial Essays
– Dismantling America: And Other Controversial Essays. Basic Books, New York, 2010.These wide-ranging essays — on many individual political, economic, cultural and legal issues — have as a recurring, underlying theme the decline of the values and institutions… More
The Thomas Sowell Reader
– The Thomas Sowell Reader. Basic Books, New York, 2011.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… More
Intellectuals and Race
– Intellectuals and Race. Basic Books, New York, 2013. The role of intellectuals in racial strife is explored in an international context that puts the American experience in a wholly new light… Intellectuals and Race is not a book… More
Teaching
Affirmative Action Reconsidered
– "Affirmative Action Reconsidered," The Public Interest, Winter 1976, p. 47.Excerpt: Images and labels have taken the place of facts in the controversies surrounding “affirmative action.” Words like “quota,” “qualified,” and “under-utilization” are… More
Poor Aim In War on Bias
– "Poor Aim In War on Bias," The New York Times, August 11, 1981.Excerpt: One of the tragedies about affirmative action is that there is very little empirical evidence of any benefits to blacks or women out of affirmative action. Further there is reason… More
The Economic Lot of Minorities
– “The Economic Lot of Minorities,” interview with William F. Buckley Jr., Firing Line, SECA, 12 November 1981.Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality?
– Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality? William Morrow, New York, 1984.“Oh, what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive!” wrote Sir Walter Scott. Thomas Sowell recalls this eloquent couplet as he retraces the tortuous path of civil… More
Education: Assumptions Versus History
– Education: Assumptions Versus History. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 1986.In the papers collected in Education: Assumptions Versus History, Thomas Sowell takes a hard look at the state of education in our schools and universities… In a well-reasoned and… More
Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays
– Compassion Versus Guilt and Other Essays. William Morrow, New York, 1987.[Sowell] draws this collection of essays from his Scripps-Howard syndicated column and his contributions to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Sowell… More
‘Affirmative Action’: A Worldwide Disaster
– “'Affirmative Action': A Worldwide Disaster," Commentary, December 1989.Excerpt: The starting point for rethinking and reform must be a recognition that “affirmative action” has been a failure in the United States and a disaster in other countries that have… More
Preferential Policies: An International Perspective
– Preferential Policies: An International Perspective, William Morrow, New York, 1990.In this cogent, crucial, and vitally important book, economist Thomas Sowell examines on a global scale the preferential policies of governments as diverse as those of India, South Africa,… More
Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays
– Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 1993.Sowell challenges all the assumptions of contemporary liberalism on issues ranging from the economy to race to education in this collection of controversial essays, and captures his… More
Race and Culture: A World View
– Race and Culture: A World View, Basic Books, New York, 1995.Thomas Sowell here gives an international perspective to themes from earlier works like Ethnic America and Markets and Minorities. Arguing that major economic and social differences between… More
The Day Cornell Died
– "The Day Cornell Died," The Weekly Standard, May 3, 1999, pp. 31-33.Excerpt: No one who was at Cornell University in the spring of 1969 is ever likely to forget the guns-on-campus crisis that shocked the academic community and the nation. Bands of militant… More
A Personal Odyssey
– A Personal Odyssey, The Free Press, New York, 2002.This is the gritty story of one man’s lifelong education in the school of hard knocks, as his journey took him from Harlem to the Marines, the Ivy League, and a career as a… More
Controversial Essays
– Controversial Essays, Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 2002.One of conservatism’s most articulate voices dissects today’s most important economic, racial, political, educational, legal, and social issues, sharing his entertaining and… More
Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study
– Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT, 2004.In this important book, an eminent authority presents a new perspective on affirmative action, investigating its actual consequences in the United States and in other countries where it has… More
Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays
– Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays. Hoover Institution Press, Stanford, CA, 2006.Thomas Sowell takes aim at a range of legal, social, racial, educational, and economic issues in this latest collection of his controversial, never boring, always thought-provoking essays.… More
A Man of Letters
– A Man of Letters. Encounter Books, New York, 2007.A Man of Letters traces the life, career, and commentaries on controversial issues of Thomas Sowell over a period of more than four decades through his letters to and from family, friends,… More
Dismantling America: And Other Controversial Essays
– Dismantling America: And Other Controversial Essays. Basic Books, New York, 2010.These wide-ranging essays — on many individual political, economic, cultural and legal issues — have as a recurring, underlying theme the decline of the values and institutions… More
The Thomas Sowell Reader
– The Thomas Sowell Reader. Basic Books, New York, 2011.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… More
Intellectuals and Race
– Intellectuals and Race. Basic Books, New York, 2013. The role of intellectuals in racial strife is explored in an international context that puts the American experience in a wholly new light… Intellectuals and Race is not a book… More