Intellectuals and Race

By: Thomas Sowell

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Intellectuals and Race is a radical book in the original sense - one that goes to the root of the problem. The role of intellectuals in racial strife is explored in an international context that puts the American experience in a wholly new light.

Intellectuals have played a major role in racial issues throughout the centuries. Though their individual views may differ, as a whole their views tend to group, and just over the course of the twentieth century, they have shifted from one end of the spectrum to the other. Surprisingly, these radically different views of race were held by intellectuals whose views on other issues were often very similar.

Intellectuals and Race is not, however, a book about history, even though it has much historical evidence, as well as demographic, geographic, and economic evidence - all of it directed toward testing the underlying assumptions about race that have prevailed at times among intellectuals in general, and especially at their highest levels.

Nor is this simply a theoretical exercise. Sowell’s ultimate concern is the impact of intellectual movements on the larger society, both past and present. These ideas and crusades have ranged widely from racial theories of intelligence to eugenics to “social justice” and multiculturalism.

In addition to in-depth examinations of these and other issues, Intellectuals and Race explores the incentives, the visions, and the rationales that drive intellectuals at the highest levels to conclusions that have often turned out to be counterproductive and even disastrous, not only for particular racial or ethnic groups but for societies as a whole.

©2013 Thomas Sowell (P)2013 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Sowell brings an all-too-rare perspective to whatever he writes about - that of a conservative black intellectual, especially valuable for this book’s topic." ( Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)

Sowell always with intense analysis and arguments

I surely don't agree with everything in this book, but with no doubt it is worth reading or listening... Sowell brings profound and well thought arguments, with data to support even when it is purposely used/cherry picked to support its points... I get it, he speaks to a very faithful public who most of the time don't want to hear a counterpoint, but that was the basic reason why I'm here... to learn something from somebody who is smarter than I am, and that even if I don't need to agree in all aspects I can learn from try to look at situations and society from a different POV. If you lean to Republican POV on Politics and Public Policies, this would be paradise... if you lean to a more Democratic POV, remember the importance of studying counterpoints.... you might always learn something and maybe change some preconceptions.

Profound!

The most honest look at racial issues facing Americans today through an academically sound analysis of the most polarizing topics. This is a must-read for those who truly seek to understand and fight against racial inequality. This book calls out every baseless assumption made by sociologists and economists in the US without inciting any sort of further polarization; instead, Thomas Sowell seems to want to unify people by proving that equality of outcome is not synonymous with equality of opportunity. His detail and articulation of these issues is eye-opening. This book is extremely important, purchase and read immediately!

Very interesting

He explained what I was noticing as far as race relations go which unfortunately are going downhill due to the race-baiters that unfortunately are getting more popular today.

Unbiased

Sowell discusses what others won't. Loaded with historically verifiable events and well thoughtout points. If the points Sowell addresses where genuinely discussed at the national level, we wouldn't repeat our failures in the same grandiose fashion.

A Must Read on Race Relations

This fact based book that is well researched is 1000x more accurate than any idea or opinionated book those profiting over race violence make. I believe if more people read this book and other well researched books on race relations, they'll open their eyes to how a few load AND rich (or soon to be rich) activists are profiting over dividing us.