Review by Choice Review
Economist Sowell (Hoover Institution, Stanford Univ.) has written a readable, interesting book organized into six themes that relate to a wide variety of contemporary issues--urban, male-female, academic, income, racial, and Third World. He identifies many of the common fallacies in each of these areas and then counters them using economic reasoning and a plethora of research, though some topics are covered more comprehensively than others. A basic understanding of economics would be useful for most readers, but the text avoids technical jargon and is written for a general audience. Sowell is the author of numerous works including Applied Economics (CH, Sep'04, 42-0429), Basic Economics (rev. ed., CH, Oct'04, 42-1063), and Affirmative Action around the World (CH, Nov'04, 42-1644). This book would be particularly appropriate for undergraduate readers, but it would also be excellent supplementary reading for graduate-level students. Although most readers would likely read the book in its entirety, chapters could easily be read independently by those interested in only a single topic. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers; students, lower-division undergraduate and up; researchers and professionals. M. L. White Albright College
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
The heart of the matter for Thomas Sowell (Basic Economics) is to ask, "What are the facts?" In his latest book, economist Sowell examines numerous misconceptions about life and economics. Sowell writes like an exacting scholar, but his arguments, which rely on economic analyses primarily, may suffer from oversimplification. Sowell argues that zoning restrictions and rent-control policies hurt those whom they're meant to help; intones that women earn less than men because they are far less likely than men to choose occupations that require very long hours; believes tenure helps neither students nor professors; demonstrates that even the poor have successfully moved up economically; tackles fallacies about race in America; and aims to convince that "there is nothing baffling or morally wrong about the fact that different nations have different per capita incomes." He falters in his chapter on the academy, when he becomes an advocate rather than an observer, and oddly neglects the individual choice available to students. Sowell's purpose is to teach readers to "examine [their] beliefs more closely and more analytically," and the conclusions he draws are certain to inspire rigorous debate. This readable volume is a useful primer exposing how economics relates to the social issues that affect our country. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
