Social Justice Fallacies

De: Thomas Sowell

Narrado por: Brad Sanders

The quest for social justice is a powerful crusade of our time, with an appeal to many different people, for many different reasons. But those who use the same words do not always present the same meanings. Clarifying those meanings is the first step toward finding out what we agree on and disagree on. From there, it is largely a question of what the facts are. Social Justice Fallacies reveals how many things that are thought to be true simply cannot stand up to documented facts, which are often the opposite of what is widely believed.

However attractive the social justice vision, the crucial question is whether the social justice agenda will get us to the fulfillment of that vision. History shows that the social justice agenda has often led in the opposite direction, sometimes with catastrophic consequences.

More things are involved besides simply mistakes. All human beings are fallible, and social justice advocates may not necessarily make any more mistakes than others. But crusaders with an utter certainty about their mission are often undeterred by obstacles, evidence or even fatal dangers. That is where much of the Western world is today. The question is whether we will continue on heedlessly, past the point of no return.

©2023 Thomas Sowell (P)2023 Basic Books

Another awesome book by the great Thomas Sowell

This is a great book that will give valuable insights to the world around us and how it got this way.

Another Thomas Sowell masterpiece

Pro’s-Throughly logical arguments, presented in an easy to understand manner. The author’s critique regarding social justice should be answered by progressives, not just dismissed out of hand. If progressives were honest they would have to admit Thomas Sowell make some profoundly interesting points.
Con’s-Some of this material has been covered by a few of his other books. The reader was rather bland and somewhat monotonous.

Greatest Thinker of our Time does it again!!

Is there a More Important Individual in Helping us all just understand How to think about ANY topic? May this man live until 200!

So many fallacies so little effort to research the facts and truly help.

As usual, Thomas Sowell is brillant. No one listens to all this logic. The facts are there if we just look before we take action or make policy.

Great book.

I really enjoyed the authors research and fact based opinions. The careful use of words and delivery of these allows the reader to come to their own conclusions and not deal talked into believing something. Well read and delivered for audio.

Us versus them

The core of his argument is liberal, misguided, kindness, and concern, and unexpected consequences from policy.

Trust me, I’m a big fan of facts, however the hegemony of the left brain over right brain concepts of empathy they bear the the rationalist quip “facts don’t care about your feelings”


Ultimately, the parable of the good Samaritan stands in contrast to payday lending which he defends as a function of rational self interested capitalism whose lenders offer a service to a population, who otherwise do not have access to money.


If Thomas were drowning, what rational person would either throw him a life preserver or jump to save him?

The big picture

Sowell frames social justice in a historic context, minces no words in how intellectual elites have imposed their views on what's best onto the poor, causing significant harm without themselves suffering consequences. Amongst others, Sowell
* sees the eugenics movement of a century ago driven by the same mindset of today's social justice advocates;
* blames the minimum wage for soaring black teenage unemployment and crime; and
* blames affirmative action of setting up young minorities for failure (high dropout rates of very talented minorities at elite universities; he also shows that elite schools aren't inherently providing a better education, but that students have better outcomes when the schools are appropriate for their aptitude).

Sowell sticks to facts, stays above the fray by focusing on the big picture rather than getting absorbed in the latest culture wars. His main criticism of those holding other views is that they don't back up their arguments with data, but simply assert that they are right. At the same time, Sowell is humble and points out at times that a data source he has is the best he could come up with, but ideally there might be broader ways to prove or disprove his point.

The books is a treasure in many ways, not least because this young 93 year young scholar has done it again: write a refreshing, fact driven book poking holes through establishment views.

A Must Read Book in this Age of Unfettered Propoganda

Thomas Sowell is one of the most learned and wisest men when it comes to race relations in America today. A speaker of the truth and a purveyor of facts, I urge everyone to listen to what he says and compare it to what you hear from today’s politicians, bureaucrats, judges, activists, big tech and worst of all mainstream media.

Clear and concise

This is an easy to follow summation of Thomas Sowell’s thought. Highly recommended, but his other more detailed works are not to be missed! The narrator has a powerful, resonant voice perfectly matched to the content.

Must Listen!

No one does plain, matter of fact analysis like Thomas Sowell. His explanation is a breath of fresh air. If you believe there must be a reason social issues have gone awry, I highly recommend taking a deeper dive into this brilliant mans level two thinking.