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Dismantling America: and other controversial essays [Hardcover]

Thomas Sowell
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)

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Book Description

August 10, 2010

These wide-ranging essays—on many individual political, economic, cultural and legal issues—have as a recurring, underlying theme the decline of the values and institutions that have sustained and advanced American society for more than two centuries. This decline has been more than an erosion. It has, in many cases, been a deliberate dismantling of American values and institutions by people convinced that their superior wisdom and virtue must over-ride both the traditions of the country and the will of the people.

Whether these essays (originally published as syndicated newspaper columns) are individually about financial bailouts, illegal immigrants, gay marriage, national security, or the Duke University rape case, the underlying concern is about what these very different kinds of things say about the general direction of American society.

This larger and longer-lasting question is whether the particular issues discussed reflect a degeneration or dismantling of the America that we once knew and expected to pass on to our children and grandchildren. There are people determined that this country's values, history, laws, traditions and role in the world are fundamentally wrong and must be changed. Such people will not stop dismantling America unless they get stopped—and the next election may be the last time to stop them, before they take the country beyond the point of no return.

 


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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for the works of Thomas Sowell:
For anyone looking for a straightforward and honest discussion of the origins of our current crisis, informed by a deep understanding of both economics and politics. . . --Washington Times

I've read all his books and never been even faintly disappointed. --Fred Barnes, executive editor of the Weekly Standard

Thomas Sowell is, in my opinion, the most original and interesting philosopher at work in America. --Paul Johnson, author of Modern Times

[T]hese vigorously argued essays present a stimulating challenge to the conventional wisdom. --Publishers Weekly --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

About the Author

Thomas Sowell has taught economics at Cornell, UCLA, Amherst and other academic institutions, and his Basic Economics has been translated into six languages. He is currently a scholar in residence at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He has published in both academic journals in such popular media as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes magazine and Fortune, and writes a syndicated column that appears in newspapers across the country.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Basic Books (August 10, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0465022510
  • ISBN-13: 978-0465022519
  • Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1.2 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Sowell has taught economics at Cornell, UCLA, Amherst and other academic institutions, and his Basic Economics has been translated into six languages. He is currently a scholar in residence at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He has published in both academic journals in such popular media as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes magazine and Fortune, and writes a syndicated column that appears in newspapers across the country.

Customer Reviews

His books should be mandatory reading in all of America's high schools and colleges. Liberty24601  |  12 reviewers made a similar statement
The book is an excellent, and sobering, overview of our society. L. Swanson  |  10 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
131 of 137 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Making the comfortable uncomfortable August 24, 2010
Format:Hardcover
In this collection from his newspaper columns Sowell sights a number of disturbing trends which he claims are contributing to the erosion of defining, American foundations. For instance he sights bills being pushed through without a clear understanding of what is in them. He writes about confirmations to significant positions of political power being rushed through without a proper due-diligence. He also provides examples of long-held values being undermined - all in the name of progress.

Sowell points out startling similarities with what is going on in America and what happened to the Roman empire. He also suggests that once the Roman empire was dismantled it could never be put back together again. Some are certain to see Sowell as a doom-n-gloom prophet shouting about the coming fall of Humpty-Dumpty. Others will see him as a common sense writer who rightly identifies what should be more obvious to many.

In short, America is distancing itself from what it once was. Sowell suggest we are becoming soft, weak, and a culture of pacifism as we capitulate to the demands of other cultures, including Muslim nations.

The primary atrocity Sowell sees is the unfairness to the generations yet born. Those who are coming behind us will be handed something far less beautiful than what we have been given. When it comes to what political leaders are doing, Thomas doesn't shy away from the words `systematic denigration'.

The book is a sobering work comparing and contrasting what was and what is and what will likely be if the current direction continues.
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165 of 181 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent overview of American society August 14, 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The book is a compilation of Sowell's columns, and so covers a wide array of topics. While no issue is covered in-depth, each essay is well-written and thought provoking. I particularly like the author's focus on history--he makes it clear that the current mess the country is in didn't happen overnight--our society has been crumbling for the past 40 years, and things are now reaching crisis level. The book is an excellent, and sobering, overview of our society.
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42 of 44 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Dismantling America September 25, 2010
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Dismantling America: and other controversial essays

Thomas Sowell is one of the most brilliant economists and thinkers alive today. This book contains the thoughts of a thoughtful and logical man and is an excellent and informative read. Although this book is not footnoted since it is a selection of columns he has written, most all of his books are extensively footnoted.

Sowell's A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Strugglesis one of his best among the many I have read and is a work which should be required reading in every university and every member of Congress. It is his best work.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Dismantling America: and other controversial essays, Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell is a brilliant, analytical man. He writes in a manner that can be understood by nearly anyone, I discovered his writings a couple of years and have appreciated the... Read more
Published 23 days ago by Elie Murphy
5.0 out of 5 stars From eminent professor's long term observations
Thomas Sowell is probably one of the country's most critical thinkers and has proven it in both his editorials and in his prolific bookwriting. This one is no different!! Read more
Published 23 days ago by Kevin Rowan
5.0 out of 5 stars Not so common sense commentary on the failings of liberlism.
Mr. Sowell provides thoughtful and reasoned insight into Liberal thinking and actions. Mr. Sowell honors the constitution and the basis that America was founded: in part, limited... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Kent
2.0 out of 5 stars Recycled columns
If you like Sowell's columns, you will enjoy this book. It's bite-sized servings of Thomas Sowell. He excoriates Obama for his handling of Iran, but Sowell never comes right out... Read more
Published 1 month ago by William E. Fason
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
It's always interesting and eye opening reading Thomas Sowell. This is a good read because he covers such a wide variety of topics and adds his usual clairvoyant perspective. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kevin T. Dwyer
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Not as good as some of his works, but better than most other authors. Thomas Sowell just makes sense in a world that does not. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Trent Goldsmith
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Thomas Sowell has the ability to make the complex, simple. His columns regarding current economic topics helps those of us without formal economic training understand the science... Read more
Published 1 month ago by John G. Yakim
5.0 out of 5 stars Very insightful!
Another revealing treatise on the economically illiterate politicians being entrusted to lead a nation from prosperity to misery. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Pinemoz
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent commentary by America's most articulate spokesman
In my opinion, Thomas Sowell is the best American commentator on current events. He is highly intelligent and writes from a wealth of life experiences to complement his expertise... Read more
Published 3 months ago by GrumpyGHA
3.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the US Left Goals
I have grown increasing disatisfied with the drift of the US to socialism and the resulting loss of the prosperity that I have known over the years since my childhood. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Fredrick S Ovetly
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