
Maverick
A Biography of Thomas Sowell
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Narrated by:
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Brad Sanders
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By:
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Jason L. Riley
About this listen
A biography of Thomas Sowell, one of America's most influential conservative thinkers.
Thomas Sowell is one of the great social theorists of our age. In a career spanning more than a half century, he has written over 30 books, covering topics from economic history and social inequality to political theory, race, and culture. His bold and unsentimental assaults on liberal orthodoxy have endeared him to many admirers but have also enraged fellow intellectuals, the civil-rights establishment, and much of the mainstream media. The result has been a lack of acknowledgment of his scholarship among critics who prioritize political correctness. In the first-ever biography of Sowell, Jason L. Riley gives this iconic thinker his due and responds to the detractors. Maverick showcases Sowell's most significant writings and traces the life events that shaped his ideas and resulted in a Black orphan from the Jim Crow South becoming one of our foremost public intellectuals.
©2021 Jason L. Riley (P)2021 Basic BooksListeners also enjoyed...
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Overall
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-
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Required reading
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He does it again.
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Unwoke
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In a book both articulate and desperately needed, bestselling author Senator Ted Cruz provides a long overdue argument against the woke takeover of education, big business, the media, and Hollywood.
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This is one of top listens
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Charter Schools and Their Enemies
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Story
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Another winner from Thomas Sowell!
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Is Reality Optional?
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Thomas Sowell challenges all the assumptions of contemporary liberalism on issues ranging from the economy to race to education in this collection of controversial essays, and captures his thoughts on politics, race, and common sense with a section at the end for thought-provoking quotes.
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Amazing!
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Black Rednecks and White Liberals
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Performance
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This explosive new audiobook challenges many of the long-held assumptions about blacks, about Jews, about Germans and Nazis, about slavery, and about education. Plainly written, powerfully reasoned, and backed with a startling array of documented facts, Black Rednecks and White Liberals takes on the trendy intellectuals of our times as well as historic interpreters of American life.
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Great Book, Somewhat Misleading Title
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The Identity Trap
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
For much of history, societies have violently oppressed ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. It is no surprise that many who passionately believe in social justice came to believe that members of marginalized groups need to take pride in their identity to resist injustice.
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May It Mark A Turning Point
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Controversial Essays
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Performance
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One of conservatism's most articulate voices dissects today's most important economic, racial, political, education, legal, and social issues, sharing his entertaining and thought-provoking insights on a wide range of contentious subjects.
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The Divine Logic
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The Breakdown of Higher Education
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Overall
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Performance
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Story
Having watched the deterioration of academia up close for the past 50 years, Ellis locates the core of the problem in a change in the composition of the faculty during this time, from mildly left-leaning to almost exclusively leftist. He explains how astonishing historical luck led to the success of a plan first devised by a small group of activists to use college campuses to promote radical politics, and why laws and regulations designed to prevent the politicizing of higher education proved insufficient.
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It’s not for everyone, but I enjoyed it
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My Grandfather's Son
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Performance
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Provocative, inspiring, and unflinchingly honest, My Grandfather's Son is the story of one of America's most remarkable and controversial leaders, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, told in his own words.
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Wonderful read
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Critic reviews
“Fascinating.... Riley has achieved something rare in the field of intellectual biography - a recounting of a distinguished scholar’s life that draws on popular interest in Thomas Sowell the person and directs it to a lucid survey of Sowell’s voluminous intellectual output.” (National Review)
“Sowell’s vast and diverse intellectual output, devoured over the decades by a loyal readership, screamed for a biography a long time ago. Jason Riley delivers, in a pleasing style that arrives as a must-read for any fan of Thomas Sowell, what the public so wanted but inexplicably did not receive until now.” (American Spectator)
“Riley, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and columnist for the Wall Street Journal, has done an admirable job distilling Sowell’s 90 years, 30-odd books, and countless columns into a single volume. Maverick will delight Sowell’s biggest fans and help introduce new generations to the man and his work.” (Washington Free Beacon)
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- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
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Story
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- Ideological Origins of Political Struggles
- By: Thomas Sowell
- Narrated by: Michael Edwards
- Length: 7 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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In this book, which the author calls a "culmination of 30 years of work in the history of ideas", Sowell attempts to explain the ideological difference between liberals and conservatives as a disagreement over the moral potential inherent in nature. Those who see that potential as limited prefer to constrain governmental authority, he argues. They feel that reform is difficult and often dangerous, and put their faith in family, custom, law, and traditional institutions.
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Critical read for 2008 change election
- By Elaine C Grimes on 06-05-08
By: Thomas Sowell
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Basic Economics, Fifth Edition
- A Common Sense Guide to the Economy
- By: Thomas Sowell
- Narrated by: Stefan Rudnicki
- Length: 28 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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In this fifth edition of Basic Economics, Thomas Sowell revises and updates his popular book on commonsense economics, bringing the world into clearer focus through a basic understanding of the fundamental economic principles and how they explain our lives. Drawing on lively examples from around the world and from centuries of history, Sowell explains basic economic principles for the general public in plain English.
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The book is great the narrators voice is distracting
- By Eve on 07-28-24
By: Thomas Sowell
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Applied Economics
- Thinking Beyond Stage One
- By: Thomas Sowell
- Narrated by: Brian Emerson
- Length: 7 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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This book is geared to the average citizen with little or no economics background who would like the tools to think critically about economic issues. Many of today's economic issues are obscured by their inherent complexity and the often confusing and conflicting views coming from political talking heads. Sowell, a leading conservative economist and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, seeks to alleviate this confusion.
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Great book.
- By Dave Marks on 10-12-21
By: Thomas Sowell
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Barbarians Inside the Gates and Other Controversial Essays
- By: Thomas Sowell
- Narrated by: Leon Nixon
- Length: 8 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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A collection of essays that discusses such issues as the media, immigration, the minimum wage, and multiculturalism.
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Mr. Sowell exposed the soul of America.
- By rutituti. on 11-24-23
By: Thomas Sowell
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Controversial Essays
- By: Thomas Sowell
- Narrated by: Leon Nixon
- Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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One of conservatism's most articulate voices dissects today's most important economic, racial, political, education, legal, and social issues, sharing his entertaining and thought-provoking insights on a wide range of contentious subjects.
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The Divine Logic
- By Yi Mon on 07-27-23
By: Thomas Sowell
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Migrations and Cultures
- A World View
- By: Thomas Sowell
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 16 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Most commentators look at the issue of immigration from the viewpoint of immediate politics. In doing so, they focus on only a piece of the issue and lose touch with the larger picture. Now Thomas Sowell offers a sweeping historical and global look at a large number of migrations over a long period of time. Migrations and Cultures shows the persistence of cultural traits in particular racial and ethnic groups.
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Sowell always brings it!
- By nursekatie24 on 07-04-24
By: Thomas Sowell
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Ethnic America
- By: Thomas Sowell
- Narrated by: James Bundy
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Thomas Sowell provides us with a useful and concise record tracing the history of nine ethnic groups: Irish, Germans, Jews, Italians, Chinese, Japanese, Blacks, Puerto Ricans, and Mexicans.
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Understanding the ethnic tapestry of America
- By Amazon Customer on 12-23-19
By: Thomas Sowell
What listeners say about Maverick
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- Bill
- 04-26-22
Excellent overview of Sowell's remarkable mind
I started reading Sowell's columns in the 80s while in high school. I thought they were so insightful I would cut them out and keep them in a notebook. I've since read 3 of his books and listened repeatedly to podcasts/videos with him discussing his research. I'm not normally a groupie, but his brilliant words are rare and incredibly needed today.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 02-19-23
Thomas Sowell is a gift
Jason Riley’s story of Sowell’s work and life is refreshing. Sowell is a truth seeking superhero. This book convincingly describes Sowell’s unexpected answers to many of society’s struggles. Sowell’s influence will endure for generations.
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1 person found this helpful
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- John
- 09-21-21
A great mind
I love Thomas Sowell already but to hear another great mind confirm my believes is very rewarding! Close minded intolerant lefties will be the disgrace of our country for many centuries. For a long time Thomas was the lone candle shining light on their stupidity.
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- Weir Mitchell
- 11-22-22
Should be on every college reading list.
Either as an intro to opposing views or validation of current beliefs, this biography is delightful and cerebral. It excises cliches and tropes of the right and the left. Prof Sowell was his own man who achieved despite his start in life, and hurdles the barriers placed along the way. A great book about a great man. Thank you Mr Riley. I now have a new reading list based on your references therein.
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- Anonymous User
- 03-10-23
Candid portrait of one of our great thinkers
Wonderful overview of life/ career of a true mensch. Dignified excellence and true heart.
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- Sandra
- 08-05-21
Fantastic introduction to Thomas Sowell
I bought this biography to act as a starting point in reading Sowell’s works. I was not disappointed. I heard about Sowell, and was dying to read him. With so many published books, I didn’t know where to start. I’m glad I found Riley’s biography on the scholar. Now, I have foundation to start with.
PS Excellent narration voice by Brad Sanders
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4 people found this helpful
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- Gregg Davidson
- 09-30-21
Outstanding summary of Sowel’s work and impact
This is not a biography of the life of Thomas Sowel. It is a description and assessment of Sowel’s work and message, a challenge to those who seek to dismiss the importance and independence of Sowel’s ideas, and a call to follow Sowel’s example of carrying more about actual data and history than in ephemeral feelings and rhetoric.
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- Ruben Wade
- 06-18-21
Spell binding!
I found this man's story hard to put down. You will be in awe of him once you realize the scope of his intellect, body of work, and Genius!
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- JPublic89
- 06-30-22
Thanks
Thanks Jason Riley. My eyes have been opened wider to Thomas Sowell and other great black thinkers.
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- Tom Lanser
- 01-04-23
Interesting and well documented
I found this book on Thomas Sowell to be an excellent overview of his positions and philosophy in psychology, and also provided the backdrop of his history, some of which I was unaware.
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