Maverick

A Biography of Thomas Sowell

By: Jason L. Riley

Narrated by: Brad Sanders

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 Books

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)

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

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.

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!

Thanks

Thanks Jason Riley. My eyes have been opened wider to Thomas Sowell and other great black thinkers.

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.

if you want to learn more about Sowell, do it here

Excellent book that was well worth the time to listen and absorb how Sowell has evolved and a little insight in why.

Excellent!

I've read almost all of Thomas Sowell's books, and this book is an excellent recap of his many points and his life story. It's no substitute for Sowell's works, of course, but Riley has provided a good biography.

A good synopsis of Sowell

I had not read anything by Thomas Sowell prior to listening to this book but it wet my appetite for more. A truly amazing mind and someone to admire His books and wisdom need to be taught in schools and his relentless pursuit of the truth even if it goes against the grain. I started reading his most recent book Social Justice Fallacies and was impressed that it was 120 pages long with 80 pages of footnotes. That is an amazingly researched book and he is in his 90’s. I hope he gets his much deserved accolades soon as he deserves them.

Great Read

Jason did a great job. Thomas Sowell is a national treasure. His writings should be mandatory in schools. I'm so glad I discovered his work!

Thomas Sowell is an excellent person to learn from

A very good biography. Well worth your time. Enjoyed it very much. Listen to it.