Intellectuals and Race

By: Thomas Sowell

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

Expels the victimhood trend using logic

If all people read and discussed the topics mentioned - society might find itself on the road to greater civility in that - common excuses for mediocrity could no longer prevail.
And the reasons for its expulsion would be obvious to all classes and cultures of people.
Discusses uncomfortable truths steeped in logic. Disparages irrational assumptions using similar layman’s logic.
Incredibly illuminating.

Amazing !!!!!

If you want to know what's really going on in this country with regard to race relations. Dr. Sowell delivers yet again with the cold hard facts of stidys and statistics! No politically fueled agendas.

Great

Incredible, will pull the wool off of your eyes. Must read for anyone tired of the constant race baiting

Thought-provoking

This is a book that is well-worth the read. One major point is the demand for thought and evidence for any argument proposed by those who only real job is to create ideas. The demand is to test ideas and to ensure that mere correlation between situations is not confused with actual causation. Again, it is a book to be read, perhaps re-read, and discussed to ensure the author’s own ideas are validated with evidence (rather than just assumed to be right).

thought provoking

He holds no punches and talks facts. comparing similar groups fro! different countries to see how situations and culture effect how people succeed or fail and pointing out the flaws with then arguements intellectuals make now vs in the past.

Timely, perhaps someday timeless

Given the way we talk and think about race in modern times, it was enlightening to read this book and discover that many well-inrentioned people have gotten the issue very wrong. Sowell is extremely critical of the left, but his arguments are comprehensable and, in this reader's opinion, completely valid. That doesn't mean they are correct, but they ought to serve as a jumping off point for anyone who wants to understand how progressives have viewed race historically or how a contemporary conservative views arguments about race that he very strongly disagrees wifh.

Outstanding!

A must read for readers in pursuit of the truth! never again accept claims without supporting evidence.

Excellent!

Thomas Sowell perfectly predicts the chaos of the 2020 riots and gives historical and contemporary arguments to bring order to this recent chaos.

Brutal yet intellectually tenable

WARNING: THIS IS NOT FOR THE RACIALLY SENSITIVE

This a most brutal yet intellectually tenable thesis. From the logical relationship between geographical origins & racial disadvantages, to the annoying evidently progressive descendants of slavery compared to their African cousins, this work repeatedly surprises with it bluntness & enrages with it's insensitive pronouncements. Yet the facts claimed need closer objective examination & research. Very bold work indeed.

must read

if Thomas Sowell was as popular as Malcom X, there would be a functioning black community in America.