Dismantling America

By: Thomas Sowell

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 8 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

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 that have sustained and advanced American society for more than two centuries. This decline has been more than erosion. It has, in many cases, been a deliberate dismantling of American values and institutions by people convinced that their superior wisdom and virtue must override both the traditions of the country and the will of the people.

Whether these essays (originally published as syndicated newspaper columns) are individually about financial bailouts, illegal immigrants, gay marriage, national security, or the Duke University rape case, the underlying concern is about what these very different kinds of things say about the general direction of American society.

This larger and longer-lasting question is whether the particular issues discussed reflect a degeneration or dismantling of the America that we once knew and expected to pass on to our children and grandchildren. There are people determined that this country’s values, history, laws, traditions, and role in the world are fundamentally wrong and must be changed. Such people will not stop dismantling America unless they get stopped—and the next election may be the last time to stop them, before they take the country beyond the point of no return.

©2010 Thomas Sowell (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

“For anyone looking for a straightforward and honest discussion of the origins of our current crisis, informed by a deep understanding of both economics and politics.” ( Washington Times)

Nice Collection of Essays

This book is a rehash of previous articles but not having read Sowell before, I found it to be a good introduction to the author. Numerous issues are covered with specific examples given. Sowell's descriptions and analysis are logical, consistent throughout and easy to follow. I will be purchasing more of his books.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

Clear and concise and interesting

Where does Dismantling America rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Among the best of current events and thought provoking concepts..

What did you like best about this story?

A series of short articles powerfully written.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Turned My World Upside Down!

Would you consider the audio edition of Dismantling America to be better than the print version?

It is for me. It does well for my inability to follow a long storys. These are articles Thomas
Sowell has collected and put in a book format. I can learn by listening to a couple topics and then return later for more.

What other book might you compare Dismantling America to and why?

Other Thomas Sowell Books. They are all amazing and similar in how he writes and teaches.

What does Robertson Dean bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Hes not boring, perfect speed.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Musings of a genius unimpressed with himself.

Any additional comments?

This book explains how America has morphed into what you see today. Its not the country I once knew. If you read any Thomas Sowell book you will never be the same. This unassuming man tells it like it is and calmly explains what is happening right under our noses! Like he says in the book "Its not too late. We still can turn this ship around"

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Views of a man who is an American treasure!

Dismantling America is a large number of Thomas Sowell's syndicated newspaper columns concerning the dismantling of the US and how to undo the damage. Dr. Sowell is a conservative/libertarian black PhD economist in his 80s who also happens to be the the public person that I most admire.

Sowell writes with a clarity that few can match. This marvelous book is among the best I have listened to. His combination of extreme intelligence, knowledge, sense of irony, clarity of thought and expression, and common sense is unique.

This is only my second review of a Sowell book on Audible, but I have reviewed others at Amazon. Despite his age he remains prolific.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

A Black Conservative I Greatly Admire

One of the best books (compilation of op-ed pieces) I've ever read. Sowell's descriptions and analyses show good old common sense and are easy to follow. He is presently a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University. Being an economist, he has great insight into how the economy responds when politicians try to control it.

Sowell predicted that, given a second term, President Obama would dismantle America. Obama sees it as "transforming" America. But his transformation is not good for America and the world. I have to believe that we will find our way back to conservative principles that ensure opportunities and jobs for all, especially for blacks and poor folks.

Also, the reader was excellent!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Another thought provoking books from Sowell.

An excellent book and one that will make you think about what is happening in this country.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great collection of essays

You buy Sowell’s books for his take on economics. That being said, he does dive into some foreign policy in these essays and is too hawkish for my tastes on that topic. Then again, everyone is allowed one standard deviation;) The essays dealing with affirmative action and disparities and fairness are like nails in the coffin of the SJW movement. I’m pleased that Robertson Dean narrates most of Sowell’s works and I wish he did them all! He has a silky smooth delivery and voice that makes it almost sound like it’s coming out of Sowell’s lips.

Impressive intellectual insight

Dr. Sowell's depth of insight into leftist insanity that threats our freedom and that of our posterity is beyond impressive.

Interesting but with some small caveats

The book is well written and the narrator does an excellent job. He even kind of reminds me of Sowell tbh. My issue with the book itself is that Sowell tries to push for critical thinking and not just taking facts at face value but we are never given reference for the statistics he claims. It would be nice for an attachment with references. I do not know if the physical book had these though. Well worth reading though!

Sowell doesn't mince words

I'm not a conservative but find his reasoning so impressive! Intelligent and detailed yet grounded and clear.