A Personal Odyssey

By: Thomas Sowell

Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach

Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is the gritty, powerful story of Thomas Sowell's life-long education in the school of hard knocks, a journey that took him from Harlem to the Marines, the Ivy League, and a career as a controversial writer, teacher, and economist in government and private industry. It is also the story of the dramatically changing times in which this personal odyssey took place.

The vignettes of the people and places that made impressions on Sowell at various stages of his life range from the poor and powerless to the mighty and the wealthy, from a home for homeless boys to the White House. More than an account of Sowell's life, this is also the story of the people who gave him their help, their support, and their loyalty, as well as those who demonized him and knifed him in the back. It is a study not just of one life, but also of life itself, with all its exhilaration, pain, constant striving, and deserved success.

©2000 Thomas Sowell (P)2001 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Offered a job simply because he was a black man, he turned it down and said why. Despite this righteousness, he has retained a sense of humor....Sowell admits to having had plenty of enemies, but enough friends to save him. This memoir should multiply the latter. Jeff Riggenbach...renders the narrative vividly." (AudioFile)

Prolific

Having read quite a few of Sowell's writtings, APO gives a great deal of insight into how this literary powerhouse began his fateful path toward academia and authorship, with having written some of the most intellectually provocative works of our time. Sowell's writtings are truly an inspiration for the contemporary intellectual community. A Must Have In Your Literary Arsenal.

A soul growing through societal manipulation

Loved the insights of seeing the world as it was & how it's devolved to what we have today. True growth & understanding comes in looking outside & beyond the status quo.

Uncompromising and honest.

Great glimpse into the life of one of the great minds of our time. If more would read Sowell we would be much better off.

Eye-Opening

I appreciated listening to this, especially as a new “student” of Thomas Sowell. I’ve listened to someone else’s biography of him and one of his other books, so thought getting his story in his words was due before moving on.

He is a bit pompous, but I guess he’s earned that. I’m glad I never had to face Mr. Sowell as an adversary. I certainly am no match for his mind.

As far as his life, I offer no criticism there. And since his book is his life opened for us to know, really, how does one criticize?

My critique is on the narration. It must’ve been digitized from the previous release on cassette. There is one reference to “tape side” along the way. A bit of an oversight.

The narrator himself has an odd way about him and I’m not sure if it’s actually him or the production. There are odd gaps, like he stopped reading and returned later, but let the tape run too long on one side of reading or the other. And to my ear, he mispronounced several words, which takes the reader outside of the narration.

However, none of this is to say it’s not worth listening to. It is definitely worth your time at least once through and especially if you know nothing about him or his times. Your eyes will be opened.

Dr. Thomas Sowell

One line (paraphrase) from the book that sums up Dr. Sowell's life was that he entered through the front door, rather than the back, as through affirmative action.

Interesting account of Thomas Sowell.

Interesting and useful in understanding a little bit more about Thomas Sowell. Was a little surprised about his relationship with his mother and in general the story allows one to question a little bit of his decisions... Maybe he's a little bit more impulsive than expected.

Fascinating to find out the backstory

I have always held Thomas Sowell in high regard. Listening to his personal story and finding out how this man's character has been good and steady throughout all these years, is beautiful. He is a great man, but there isn't a bit of ego in Sowell's history, but plenty of self-respect, integrity and principle.

The book is outstanding! The narrator is NOT.

I was hooked to this book when I started it. Sowell offers us a glimpse of the events that shaped his life and his status as a black conservative intellectual. He truly stands heads and shoulders above so many so called intellectuals, primarily because of practical experience he gained through out his life. This is truly an inspiring story.

My chief complaint is the narrator of this story. He reads it with all the emotion of a bad news anchor - that is to say no emotion whatsoever. His voice lacks any of the introspective qualities of the book itself, that it almost robs the listener of the sense that this is personal odyssey. Instead, it sounds as though the author is writing with no emotion whatsoever, even when describing deeply personal moments. I would strongly recommend passing on this audiobook and insteading purchasing the text from Amazon.

Truth can be found in this world

Mr. Sowell’s story is informative, honest, and compelling. Despite his poor beginning and lengthy endeavors to educate himself, his strong moral resolve and loving family members helped him to become a light into a confused and wicked plan to bring socialism to America. Listen to this book, hear what is said, enjoy the story, learn history, and ask yourself what can I take away from this book to inform my ideals.

Thomas Sowell: A National Treasure

A tremendous autobiography from a man we knew little of privately. I found it very enlightening that he laid out the fall of academia he had to endure due to his stance on politics of the time. Journalists that abandoned facts in pursuit of aligning their story with their politics has been an issue for decades. it's just so much more apparent with Big Tech holding the reins.

Good narration too.