Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Maverick: Jason Riley On The Life And Times Of Thomas Sowell
Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley has just published Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell, the definitive account of the life of Hoover senior fellow Thomas Sowell. In this wide-ranging interview, Peter Robinson and Riley discuss the events and people that helped Sowell become one of the most important American voices on cultural, economic, and racial matters of the last 50 years.
Recorded on May 13, 2021
The clips that appear in this show came from the following interviews of Thomas Sowell:
Thomas Sowell talks about his new book Economic Facts and Fallacies
Thomas Sowell: Common Sense in a Senseless World (Jason Riley’s documentary on Thomas Sowell)
Around the World In 80 Ways: Affirmative Action around the World
An Economist Looks at 90: Tom Sowell on Charter Schools and Their Enemies
Published in General
Jason’s a great writer and his documentary on Dr Sowell was very good
An outstanding conversation! Mr. Robinson’s opening, agreeing with Mr. Riley’s assessment of Thomas Sowell as an American certainly and likely a worldwide icon was spot on. Mr. Robinson “Tom is in a category…how is it this man means so much to so many people?” His influence transcends economics, academia, and politics. His is a life that warrants aspirations beyond one’s station. It is a model of a as life well lived and above the fray of petty and superficial divides and intellectual jealousy – and I have a feeling it maddens the scholarly elite. As Mr. Riley said “He is an honest intellectual, more interested in following the truth than being popular.” I admire him, not least of all because in a world in which economists, academics, and politicians shift their opinions and change their principles to meet the current cultural, political and socioeconomic situation, for Mr. Sowell, the times and cultural atmosphere are finally catching up to the vision and teachings he has held for decades. An influence for all times and seasons. I hope to someday celebrate a school named after him. Thanks again for an enlightening discussion.
Great interview! Prof. Sowell, more than any other public intellectual, was my gateway from adolescent leftism to adult thinking. A Conflict of Visions and The Vision of the Anointed specifically. Reading those two books in my early 20s, made me question virtually everything I had thought I knew up until that point. Have been recently rewatching Sowell on Firing Line and Free To Choose. Never gets old.
So glad Riley is reminding us all what a giant Sowell is. Thanks Peter!