Wealth, Poverty, and Politics

An International Perspective

By: Thomas Sowell

Narrated by: David Cochran Heath

In Wealth, Poverty, and Politics, Thomas Sowell, one of the foremost conservative public intellectuals in the country, argues that political and ideological struggles have led to dangerous confusion about income inequality in America. Pundits and politically motivated economists trumpet ambiguous statistics and sensational theories while ignoring the true determinant of income inequality: the production of wealth. We cannot properly understand inequality if we focus exclusively on the distribution of wealth and ignore wealth-production factors such as geography, demography, and culture. Sowell contends that liberals have a particular interest in misreading the data and chastises them for using income inequality as an argument for the welfare state.

Refuting Thomas Piketty, Paul Krugman, and others, Sowell draws on empirical data to show that the inequality is not nearly as extreme or sensational as we have been led to believe. Transcending partisanship through a careful examination of data, Wealth, Poverty, and Politics reveals the truth about the most explosive political issue of our time.

©2015 Thomas Sowell (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

good analysis

Great book. offers a great perspective on modern economics and the disparities in our world. He posts a great case that the inequalities of our times may not be what they seem...

Great Insight for Those Not Buying Mainstream

Great information. Love it. Gives me a better prospect why some cultures succeed and thrive.

The people who need to hear this probably will never do so

Excellently thought out. Explaining how wealth and poverty have multiple causes and the roles are in constant flux.

There are some holes that could use more explanation, but doing so would extend the book, and make the message murky.

A Great Teacher

Reading Sowell’s books can be the equivalent of an advanced degree in economics. His clear writing and extensive historical research makes learning very interesting.

A synthesis of almost all of his earlier works

I have a goal that before I die I want to have read all of Thomas Sowell's books. I have read about half of them and this book seems to be a good compilation and summary of the other books I have read. Therefore, if you are an avid Sowell reader, you will not find much new here. However, as an introduction to him or as a book to give to someone who will probably not read many or all of his other books, this is a great way to share his logic and bread/depth of knowledge.

Thomas Sowell is a GIANT in honest thought.

Thomas Sowell work is truly remarkable and based on facts not feelings. His insights into the victim mentality of individuals being suppressed is thought provoking, raw and base on data.

A must-read for every minority seeking truth

Should be mandated to be taught at every academic level; this book is that important!

Amazing!!

Dr. Sowell is an absolute genius. This is my fourth book by him and so far my favorite. He teaches you how to think, not what to think. A must read for kids heading off to college.

An economist's truth by numbers.

Hard to slug through this book as every sentence has a powerful meaning. Thomas Sowell explains history in numbers which does not provide the most breath taking account, yet it accurately explains the circumstances and situations where some individuals/races/people rise while others falter. Could only have been more monotone if it was read by Ben Stein himself. Does not mean it was a bad reader or bad writing; it is just that it is a documenting of facts. Highly recommended to everyone, it should be a high school read requirement.

Should be required reading in high schools

Thomas Sowell has great insight and speaks from an educated perspective. If everyone would have his understanding of events and history we would heal faster from our media fired divide. This book can be eye opening for those that have been fed the economic history from the public school systems.