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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
A quick read, which is good. But one really has to spool through dubious statistics that sometimes seemed pulled out of thin air with no real relevance to the deeper subject at hand.
This was a beneficial read though to understand just why Affirmative Action programs were so challenged. The Professor's explanation of the under qualified being accepted into too fast paced programs did make sense.
Sowell couldn't resist taking shots at some of his liberal detractors. He reached deep to accuse Nader of wanting to protect consumers from their own indiscretion & vanity. Does that mean that laws preventing auto racing on the interstates are unwise? Likely that whole airbag fight saved several thousands of lives.
I do agree though that growing intolerance and suppression of opinion is a danger in the media, government as well as academic and corporate setting. Here I would recommend "Tyranny, Inc" by Sohrab Ahmari which overlaps with Sowell's disdain for coercion.
While I was expecting more solutions, I am pleased with the new works he introduced me to in the Notes. These should keep me busy a few months.
This was a beneficial read though to understand just why Affirmative Action programs were so challenged. The Professor's explanation of the under qualified being accepted into too fast paced programs did make sense.
Sowell couldn't resist taking shots at some of his liberal detractors. He reached deep to accuse Nader of wanting to protect consumers from their own indiscretion & vanity. Does that mean that laws preventing auto racing on the interstates are unwise? Likely that whole airbag fight saved several thousands of lives.
I do agree though that growing intolerance and suppression of opinion is a danger in the media, government as well as academic and corporate setting. Here I would recommend "Tyranny, Inc" by Sohrab Ahmari which overlaps with Sowell's disdain for coercion.
While I was expecting more solutions, I am pleased with the new works he introduced me to in the Notes. These should keep me busy a few months.
dark
sad
fast-paced
a case of someone with an academic background straying from their expertise & it being taken at face value ... commentary that very conveniently prevents statistics / information that support only his narrative while leaving out very key parts of the larger picture / causal mechanisms. arguments come across very much as bad faith, meant to specifically persuade those without background on social theory, psychology, determinants of health, etc. (ie wider public) of his views. lacks nuance & appropriate depth in the topics explored. ironically filled to the brim with logical fallacies & incomplete narratives.
I wished I liked this book more, but I think that's because I listened to it via audiobook and that didn't quite make a good experience when there's so much information being thrown at me, most of it I could sense was important and insightful, but that I couldn't grab a hold of because I was distracted by other tasks as I was listening to Sowell's words.
Make no mistake: Thomas Sowell is one of the most underrated intellectuals of the 20th century in that he appeals to facts and logic rather than get caught up in ideology. Ironically, most of his critics consider him an ideologue, which just shows the precarious state the world is in when citing facts can brand you an ideologue. Of course, I don't agree with most of everything Sowell says in this book. He has this one section in which he talks about how sex education is a factor in high teen pregnancy, which sounds questionable. Nonetheless, Sowell does make an effort to lay out his arguments thoroughly.
"Social Justice Fallacies" dares to go against the mainstream narrative most social justice activists and progressive intellectuals tout and it's important to get the other side of things so as not to cloud your judgement.
Sometimes the book jumps through various topics that it can be hard to keep track, but I think it'll serve me well to actually sit down with the book and try to digest through it all.
Make no mistake: Thomas Sowell is one of the most underrated intellectuals of the 20th century in that he appeals to facts and logic rather than get caught up in ideology. Ironically, most of his critics consider him an ideologue, which just shows the precarious state the world is in when citing facts can brand you an ideologue. Of course, I don't agree with most of everything Sowell says in this book. He has this one section in which he talks about how sex education is a factor in high teen pregnancy, which sounds questionable. Nonetheless, Sowell does make an effort to lay out his arguments thoroughly.
"Social Justice Fallacies" dares to go against the mainstream narrative most social justice activists and progressive intellectuals tout and it's important to get the other side of things so as not to cloud your judgement.
Sometimes the book jumps through various topics that it can be hard to keep track, but I think it'll serve me well to actually sit down with the book and try to digest through it all.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
medium-paced
A good look at some of the shortcomings of the social justice movement and policies using statistics and studies to disprove the common narrative. It was a bit dry at times but informative nonetheless.
DNF. I only got through chapter one.
So far the entire book is one giant straw man argument.
Social justice initiatives are obviously aware of the historical, geographic, and cultural reasons for inequality between demographics.
Social justice initiatives do not ignore these factors but seek to mitigate them through programs that support education, family planning, and a multitude of other things.
Blinks:
-Friedrich Hayek once argued that knowledge isn't just about the information we consciously know and share - it also encompasses unarticulated nuances like habits, skills, and behavioral responses that are often unique to each individual. Localized knowledge is better than centralized planning. Thus, intellectual elites can drive broad sweeping laws that have far reaching unintended consequences.
-Friedrich Hayek once argued that knowledge isn't just about the information we consciously know and share - it also encompasses unarticulated nuances like habits, skills, and behavioral responses that are often unique to each individual. Localized knowledge is better than centralized planning. Thus, intellectual elites can drive broad sweeping laws that have far reaching unintended consequences.
I have just started a degree in economics and picked this book up because I have read articles by Thomas Sowell, a renowned economist, for a couple of decades but none of his books. Big mistake on my part. As this is my first Sowell book, I can guarantee I will be picking up a few more.
What is fascinating about SJF, is that Sowell, like any economist, is all about the numbers, even while tackling the most challenging cultural and economic issues. More important, he tackles issues over time to make trends visible. There aren’t many problems, if any, whose challenges aren’t understood by examining current information. His long view, historical view, is truly enlightening. His conclusions often fly in the face of today’s opinion factories on both sides of the aisle.
Another nicety, and my favorite prejudice, the book is short and to the point. What could have been a wordy tome by a more erudite economist, is easily understood and very accessible for anyone.
For those interested in public policy this is a must read. Actually, now that I think about it, this book is for anyone that reads the news and wonders whether the opinion offered is accurate. -Tom L.
What is fascinating about SJF, is that Sowell, like any economist, is all about the numbers, even while tackling the most challenging cultural and economic issues. More important, he tackles issues over time to make trends visible. There aren’t many problems, if any, whose challenges aren’t understood by examining current information. His long view, historical view, is truly enlightening. His conclusions often fly in the face of today’s opinion factories on both sides of the aisle.
Another nicety, and my favorite prejudice, the book is short and to the point. What could have been a wordy tome by a more erudite economist, is easily understood and very accessible for anyone.
For those interested in public policy this is a must read. Actually, now that I think about it, this book is for anyone that reads the news and wonders whether the opinion offered is accurate. -Tom L.
TAKEAWAYS...
-a man is not even equal to HIMSELF at different stages of his life, much less equal to all other people in varying stages of life
-racism is an attitude inside people's heads and may cost racists nothing. But discrimination is an overt act, out in the real world, that can cost the discriminator either little or much, depending on economic circumstances (ie minimum wage laws)
-so many policies are written as if people are chess pieces who only can move in predetermined directions; that's not how people operate though
--move geographically, move vertically via employment and education
-Sowell's breakdown of the paycheck loan places and how they've been demonized was interesting
-Sowell's concept of "consequential knowledge" is fascinating (and incredibly revealing as to why the "elites" attempt policy changes)
--“As an example of consequential knowledge— knowledge affecting decisions with meaningful consequences in people’s lives— the officers in charge of the Titanic no doubt had much complex knowledge about the intricacies of ships and navigation on the seas. But the most consequential knowledge on a particular night was the mundane knowledge of the location of particular icebergs, because collision with an iceberg is what damaged and sank the Titanic.”
-during the COVID pandemic death rates from other diseases increased due to people afraid of catching COVID in medical facilities (fatality rate of less than 1% for most of the population)
-JFK's affirmative action Executive Order was codified as "equal opportunity" but turned into "equal outcomes" by LBJ and Nixon Executive Orders
-Civil Rights Act (1964) was supported by more Republicans than Democrats, an inconvenient truth
-Regarding affirmative action educational policies..."What good does having a visible minority student presence on campus do, if most of them do not graduate? (Daaaaammmnnn, Sowell bringing the
-a man is not even equal to HIMSELF at different stages of his life, much less equal to all other people in varying stages of life
-racism is an attitude inside people's heads and may cost racists nothing. But discrimination is an overt act, out in the real world, that can cost the discriminator either little or much, depending on economic circumstances (ie minimum wage laws)
-so many policies are written as if people are chess pieces who only can move in predetermined directions; that's not how people operate though
--move geographically, move vertically via employment and education
-Sowell's breakdown of the paycheck loan places and how they've been demonized was interesting
-Sowell's concept of "consequential knowledge" is fascinating (and incredibly revealing as to why the "elites" attempt policy changes)
--“As an example of consequential knowledge— knowledge affecting decisions with meaningful consequences in people’s lives— the officers in charge of the Titanic no doubt had much complex knowledge about the intricacies of ships and navigation on the seas. But the most consequential knowledge on a particular night was the mundane knowledge of the location of particular icebergs, because collision with an iceberg is what damaged and sank the Titanic.”
-during the COVID pandemic death rates from other diseases increased due to people afraid of catching COVID in medical facilities (fatality rate of less than 1% for most of the population)
-JFK's affirmative action Executive Order was codified as "equal opportunity" but turned into "equal outcomes" by LBJ and Nixon Executive Orders
-Civil Rights Act (1964) was supported by more Republicans than Democrats, an inconvenient truth
-Regarding affirmative action educational policies..."What good does having a visible minority student presence on campus do, if most of them do not graduate? (Daaaaammmnnn, Sowell bringing the
TL;DR: Sowell's "Social Justice Fallacies" is a critical examination of the social justice movement and its foundational assumptions. It is an exquisitely researched, cogent weighing of well-meaning (albeit somewhat harmful) ideas in the face of cold, hard facts. Sowell argues that many of the movement’s principles are rooted in misunderstandings of economics, history, and human behavior. His core thesis is that social justice initiatives tend to focus on achieving equality of outcomes rather than equality of opportunity, overlooking key factors like personal responsibility, cultural differences, historical context, and other circumstances not owing to systemic patterns of oppression. Some highlights below.
Misunderstanding Inequality: Sowell argues that social justice advocates often misinterpret the causes of inequality. Rather than viewing disparities as natural outcomes of differing talents, efforts, backgrounds, historical precedents, and decisions, many social justice theorists assume these differences stem from systemic oppression or discrimination. Sowell asserts that this focus on unequal outcomes without understanding the underlying causes results in misguided policies that fail to address the root issues.
For these he cites economic studies of populations who are largely homogeneous (i.e. wholly "White") but who nevertheless suffer from inequities in outcomes due to some of the factors mentioned above.
Most surprising to me, was the revelation that even within the same family, with access to the same environment and resources, the first-born child tends to be overly represented in most measures of achievement (such as receiving prestigious scholarships, admittance to elite institutions, success in highly-competitive professions, etc.). Here, neither racism nor systemic bias is to blame, but rather a simple behavioral pattern on the part of the parents, who are able to focus all of their attention on this single child. Also eye-opening were the statistics on the incidence of pathologies and teen pregnancies in households with a single parent.
Affirmative Action and Its Unintended Consequences: One of Sowell’s most scathing critiques is aimed at affirmative action policies, which he argues often harm the very people they are intended to help. For example, he discusses how race-based college admissions can lead to a "mismatch" problem, where students are admitted to institutions where they struggle academically because they do not match the academic standards. This can lead to higher dropout rates and long-term negative impacts on those students' careers.
Fallacies of Systemic Solutions: Sowell criticizes the assumption that government interventions, like wealth redistribution or regulations aimed at correcting perceived injustices, can effectively fix social problems. He emphasizes that such policies frequently ignore the complexity of human behavior and can lead to unintended economic consequences.
For instance, efforts to redistribute wealth through higher taxes may disincentivize investment and innovation, ultimately harming economic growth.
The “Chess Piece” Fallacy: A key idea Sowell discusses is what he calls the "chess piece fallacy," which assumes that people in society can be moved around like chess pieces by policymakers to achieve desired outcomes. He criticizes this view as overly simplistic, arguing that human beings have their own agency, motivations, and reactions to policies. The fallacy lies in thinking that outcomes can be engineered without considering individuals' diverse responses to incentives and constraints.
Personal Responsibility vs. Systemic Blame: A recurring theme in the book is Sowell’s defense of personal responsibility. He argues that much of the social justice movement’s focus on external factors, like systemic racism or institutional biases, ignores the role of individual choices. Sowell contends that while systemic issues do exist, they should not be used as blanket explanations for all disparities, nor as excuses to avoid addressing personal accountability.
Disclaimer: this is my first book by Sowell, hence the rating might be more biased owing to novelty.
Misunderstanding Inequality: Sowell argues that social justice advocates often misinterpret the causes of inequality. Rather than viewing disparities as natural outcomes of differing talents, efforts, backgrounds, historical precedents, and decisions, many social justice theorists assume these differences stem from systemic oppression or discrimination. Sowell asserts that this focus on unequal outcomes without understanding the underlying causes results in misguided policies that fail to address the root issues.
For these he cites economic studies of populations who are largely homogeneous (i.e. wholly "White") but who nevertheless suffer from inequities in outcomes due to some of the factors mentioned above.
Most surprising to me, was the revelation that even within the same family, with access to the same environment and resources, the first-born child tends to be overly represented in most measures of achievement (such as receiving prestigious scholarships, admittance to elite institutions, success in highly-competitive professions, etc.). Here, neither racism nor systemic bias is to blame, but rather a simple behavioral pattern on the part of the parents, who are able to focus all of their attention on this single child. Also eye-opening were the statistics on the incidence of pathologies and teen pregnancies in households with a single parent.
Affirmative Action and Its Unintended Consequences: One of Sowell’s most scathing critiques is aimed at affirmative action policies, which he argues often harm the very people they are intended to help. For example, he discusses how race-based college admissions can lead to a "mismatch" problem, where students are admitted to institutions where they struggle academically because they do not match the academic standards. This can lead to higher dropout rates and long-term negative impacts on those students' careers.
Fallacies of Systemic Solutions: Sowell criticizes the assumption that government interventions, like wealth redistribution or regulations aimed at correcting perceived injustices, can effectively fix social problems. He emphasizes that such policies frequently ignore the complexity of human behavior and can lead to unintended economic consequences.
For instance, efforts to redistribute wealth through higher taxes may disincentivize investment and innovation, ultimately harming economic growth.
The “Chess Piece” Fallacy: A key idea Sowell discusses is what he calls the "chess piece fallacy," which assumes that people in society can be moved around like chess pieces by policymakers to achieve desired outcomes. He criticizes this view as overly simplistic, arguing that human beings have their own agency, motivations, and reactions to policies. The fallacy lies in thinking that outcomes can be engineered without considering individuals' diverse responses to incentives and constraints.
Personal Responsibility vs. Systemic Blame: A recurring theme in the book is Sowell’s defense of personal responsibility. He argues that much of the social justice movement’s focus on external factors, like systemic racism or institutional biases, ignores the role of individual choices. Sowell contends that while systemic issues do exist, they should not be used as blanket explanations for all disparities, nor as excuses to avoid addressing personal accountability.
Disclaimer: this is my first book by Sowell, hence the rating might be more biased owing to novelty.