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A review by _walter_
Economic Facts and Fallacies by Thomas Sowell
5.0
While not perfect, I think this book is deserving of this rating if not only for the way in which Sowell approaches "common" ideas and notions taken as gospel in today's economic and social institutions. Especially important to me while reading this book, was to separate the man from his political ideas and just focus on the concrete numbers.
In a nutshell, Sowell examines six major areas in which the prevailing assumptions regarding discrimination, inequality, standards, government controls, distribution, economic aid, and more, can be challenged by taking a closer look at the data, and cold, hard facts. He presents cogent arguments, and convincing statistics to back them up.
Keep in mind though, that it is a very short book and each chapter is not so much a study but a brief survey of the issues as seen through the prism of an economist who is very much cozy on the "Chicago" side of the spectrum. So expect free-market economics to take center stage.
Some of his arguments could be seen as oversimplifications, but to explore them further would have required a much longer text. Even so, there's enough substance here to keep one ruminating for a good while.
Recommended.
In a nutshell, Sowell examines six major areas in which the prevailing assumptions regarding discrimination, inequality, standards, government controls, distribution, economic aid, and more, can be challenged by taking a closer look at the data, and cold, hard facts. He presents cogent arguments, and convincing statistics to back them up.
Keep in mind though, that it is a very short book and each chapter is not so much a study but a brief survey of the issues as seen through the prism of an economist who is very much cozy on the "Chicago" side of the spectrum. So expect free-market economics to take center stage.
Some of his arguments could be seen as oversimplifications, but to explore them further would have required a much longer text. Even so, there's enough substance here to keep one ruminating for a good while.
Recommended.