Charter Schools and Their Enemies

By: Thomas Sowell

Narrated by: Brad Sanders

Winner of the 2021 Hayek Book Prize

A leading conservative intellectual defends charter schools against the teachers' unions, politicians, and liberal educators who threaten to dismantle their success. The black-white educational achievement gap -- so much discussed for so many years -- has already been closed by black students attending New York City's charter schools. This might be expected to be welcome news. But it has been very unwelcome news in traditional public schools whose students are transferring to charter schools. A backlash against charter schools has been led by teachers unions, politicians and others -- not only in New York but across the country. If those attacks succeed, the biggest losers will be minority youngsters for whom a quality education is their biggest chance for a better life.

Critic reviews

"A methodologically rigorous, closely argued, data-driven case for charter schools...Thomas Sowell is a national treasure in a nation that does not entirely deserve him."—National Review

Everyone should read!

A bit statistics heavy in chapter 2, but solid read. This is a well reasearched pro-charter arguement.

Lots of good points

To be honest. I did not listen to this all at once. When I did finish the book I had already decided that private school would be the best option for my son of color (I'm AfAm, son is biracial). Before the book I was pretty pro-charter and remain so.

Towards the end Sowell makes a really good point using Dunbar High School in Washington, DC, which is a short walk from my house. The scores, all around are abysmal. But the building is beautiful and looks like it would belong to any small college. Considering a former mayor and other notables still active in public life attended Dunbar when it was a premier school for AfAm students, Sowell's warnings about what could happen when charter schools are hobbled is made very real by this example.

There are other good points as well.

Educational Read

This book is AMAZING!! It is an absolute MUST READ, for ALL parents!! It will change the way that you think about education and schooling, and provides citations for you to verify its information!

attention parents

If you're a parent considering charter schools, this book is a must read. There's a lot of information that I had absolutely no idea about.

Fact-based book exposes how we're All being played

i got this on audible and finished it in 3-4 workouts at gym. Its stunning. a must read. Love Dr Sowell bc he explains whats been going on, in simple language we can all understand.