Knowledge and Decisions

De: Thomas Sowell

Narrado por: Robertson Dean

This reissue of Thomas Sowell’s classic study of decision making, which includes a preface by the author, updates his seminal work in the context of The Vision of the Anointed. Sowell, one of America’s most celebrated public intellectuals, describes in concrete detail how knowledge is shared and disseminated throughout modern society. He warns that society suffers from an ever-widening gap between firsthand knowledge and decision making—a gap that threatens not only our economic and political efficiency but our very freedom. This is because actual knowledge is being replaced by assumptions based on an abstract and elitist social vision of what ought to be.

Knowledge and Decisions, a winner of the 1980 Law and Economics Center Prize, was heralded as a landmark work and selected for this prize “because of its cogent contribution to our understanding of the differences between the market process and the process of government.” In announcing the award, the center acclaimed that the “contribution to our understanding of the process of regulation alone would make the book important, but in reemphasizing the diversity and efficiency that the market makes possible, [this] work goes deeper and becomes even more significant.”

Thomas Sowell is currently a scholar in residence at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He has been published in both academic journals and such popular media as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Fortune and writes a syndicated column for newspapers across the country.

©1980 Basic Books, Inc. Preface 1996 by Thomas Sowell (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“This is a brilliant book. Sowell illuminates how every society operates. In the process he also shows how the performance of our own society can be improved.” (Milton Friedman)

“In a wholly original manner [Sowell] succeeds in translating abstract and theoretical argument into a highly concrete and realistic discussion of the central problems of contemporary economic policy.” (F. A. Hayek)

Awesome

One of the best books I've ever read. If you're a liberty loving individual, this book puts a lot of our government structure into perspective and really breaks down all thats wrong with it. Absolutely loved it.

How the Political Class Evolved in America

This is a classic that, sadly, is timeless. It would have been nice to look back on this book’s writings as no longer relevant but this is not the case. This book is still essential reading as the ideas observations and conclusions are as true today as they were when written.

Love Thomas Sowell. Very informative !

Packed full of good information! A little on the monotone side. Still great work though.

Great Insight!

Sowell is a great intellectual mind! Full of Deep Knowledge. I am excited to read the next book!

A must-read master piece

If you could sum up Knowledge and Decisions in three words, what would they be?

Best best and best

What was one of the most memorable moments of Knowledge and Decisions?

Every moment

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

A good narrative

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

from cover to cover

Any additional comments?

I just love Thomas sowell, and this book!

Great book but a bit cumbersome listen

Huge Sowell fan. Great book and content. 40 years old and as relevant as written this year. I work and listen and did find some of the details difficult to follow when I had other issues to consider. I either had to pause to focus or rewind. Not an issue say mowing or commuting.

Might be his best

Just when I thought Professor Sowell couldn't get any better, this might be his best book.

The contents are impressive, the narration is not.

This is a must read for any fan of Sowell. Truly life changing! but I can't get over the fact that the narrator seems to be gasping between every few lines.

Excellent analysis on decision making constraints

The author provides a balanced view of decision making processes from the individual to the systemic using empirical evidence which he later converges with the historical context resulting in the American constitution as an example, although the analysis applies more generally. The message is approachable, backed by data, and amenable to common sense evaluation which would otherwise be suppressed in the current political milieu.

The narration was excellently delivered in a way that allows assimilating most of the information even without intensive listening.

Recommended reading for anyone with a wide interest covering socioeconomic issues.

A Clear Explanation for Loss of Freedom

Both proof of citizenship and proof that each voter has read or listened to Knowledge and Decisionmaling should be required to be a voter. That would slow the degradation of society.