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Black Rednecks and White Liberals Audiobook
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(4.03) - 623 listener ratings
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Synopsis
America has, for the most part, always been a divided country. From the age of slavery into the sixties and continuing on until today, there has been an amazing amount of racial and cultural disparity among these two groups. That's where Black Rednecks and White Liberals comes in. This collection of six essays is a shocking look into America's class and race divide with a lens unlike one ever used to explore the issue before.
The first thing that Sowell explores is what is considered to be 'ghetto black culture'. In reality, this culture is neither ghetto nor black: it is, instead, a relic of Antebellum south, dysfunctional redneck family dynamics. He uses plenty of examples to back himself up, and by the end of the book, he'll have you believing that the system has failed, too.
That's not the only thing that Sowell explores. He also explores attitudes toward Jews, Chinese immigrants, and Germans. His views of how the world really works will have you turning your head at the possibilities, and perhaps looking at your own race and culture in an entirely different light.
Thomas Sowell is an American economist, social theorist, and author. As conservative and libertarian as far as his politics go, he very much advocates for lasses-faire economics and has a way of viewing insight into the world that few others do. He has been a professor both at the University of California and at Cornell, and he has authored more than thirty books, along with many more syndicated columns for newspapers and magazines. He is considered one of the leading social theorists in modern-day US politics.
Black Rednecks and White Liberals is an eye-opening view of America, and one sure to please anyone with interest in politics.
"Adam was telling me about this book, and about the amazing man that is Thomas Sowell. Read his bio -- he's led a very interesting life. It's interesting that many of the "undesirable" qualities of the South, e.g. working to feed the family when needed, rather than having a steady work ethic and income, may have come from original settlers from wilder areas like Ulstead County, Ireland, and Wales, and Northern Scotland, where many of my ancestors are from! (Back in the 17th-18th centuries, they were known as the rednecks and crackers.) Thanks for being such a wild, ferocious, touchy people!"
— Danelley (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“I’ve read all his books and never been even faintly disappointed. Black Rednecks and White Liberals is no exception.”
— Fred Barnes, executive editor of the Weekly Standard -
“These vigorously argued essays present a stimulating challenge to the conventional wisdom.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Black Rednecks and White Liberals is vintage Sowell—a neat package of six lucid and incisive essays that shed new light on the big questions that he has devoted his intellectual life to confronting and answering.”
— Stephan and Abigail Thernstrom, authors of America in Black and White
Black Rednecks and White Liberals Listener Reviews
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Josh Matz, 9/15/2022
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" All of Sowell's books are interesting. The man's intellect is extremely wide ranging. In the main piece of this book he tries to tie the "Celtic" origin theory of settlement of the American South (those who became "Rednecks") with the development of black culture in the South. Well worth it. "
— Eric Bergerud, 10/29/2021 -
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Marston Johnston, 9/9/2018
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" Great book, without a doubt. Takes time to digest it all and put it into correct perspective. So much information. "
— Marston Johnston, 10/17/2016 -
" I loved this book. Sowell makes me want to be a historian. "
— Mark, 2/18/2014 -
" This book was interesting. I had to research the author a little to make sure I wasn't buying some racist manifesto. Don't worry the book isn't racist, just conservitive. That being said it is very interesting. As a white man I rarely feel comfortable discussing race issues. I would love to discuss this book with all my friends. I wish I had read this when I was going through my multi-cultural education degree program. "
— Bryan, 1/25/2014 -
" Very thought provoking and challenging to popular history but supported with good data and research. Six provocative essays ranging from slavery, to the Germans who were mandated to leave their homeland after WW2. Did you know that the word "aks" as in "you ought to aks me a question?" was originally used by white hillbillies of the Kentucky and Tennessee area? Sowells reveals simple truths like this in this book, that beg other questions. "
— Robquarles, 1/23/2014 -
" An eclectic conglomeration of policy, politics, race relations and other topics delivered in the author's easy to read, easy to understand, enlightening, thought provoking and entertaining style. "
— JB, 1/11/2014 -
" No-nonsense look at race relations, the welfare state and their histories. Sowell is a brilliant author and I recommend anything he's written, even if I haven't read it yet. "
— Cortney, 1/10/2014 -
" One of the best collections of essays ever. "
— Shawn, 1/5/2014 -
" I've read the audio version of this three times in about six months. It is FULL of information and provoking ideas but it seems somewhat nebulous. I think that I need to settle down with print version in order to pull all of the ideas together in mind. "
— Marlin, 1/4/2014 -
" Very interesting read describing origins of different socioeconomic groups, customs, dialects, mindsets in America. Don't let the title scare you away. "
— Glenn, 11/14/2013 -
" First chapter the best: Black Culture is descended from the Scots-Irish redneck culture in the American South. "
— Ann, 5/1/2013 -
" Great collection of articles by one of today's great intellectuals. "
— Matt, 4/18/2013 -
" Great book. Gives a different perspective on various topics and is backed by fact after fact. Try this author. "
— John, 12/18/2012 -
" This is a great must read for everyone. Thomas Sowell challenges assumptions and policies in society and government that claim to help minority groups which, in fact, harm them in the long run. "
— Shane, 12/15/2012 -
" One of Sowell's best books. If you want to read just one book that sums up Sowell's thinking and power, this is the book to read. "
— Hispanicpundit, 10/7/2012 -
" This book was difficult to read, and at times I hated it. Still, it was terribly thought-provoking. "
— Alexis, 12/31/2011 -
" This book dispels some stereotypes I had as well as some misconceptions formed by popular opinion. It's a good book to read (though the print is quite fine!) although not as easy to read as Dismantling America. "
— Tee, 9/30/2011 -
" A must read for all African Americans. Sowell presents an interesting thesis which suggests much of what is considered "African American" culture is nothing more than cultural traits hi-jacked from low class whites in the South. The evidence is powerful too. Check it out. "
— Steve, 6/6/2011 -
" I've read the audio version of this three times in about six months. It is FULL of information and provoking ideas but it seems somewhat nebulous. I think that I need to settle down with print version in order to pull all of the ideas together in mind. "
— Marlin, 4/25/2011 -
" An eclectic conglomeration of policy, politics, race relations and other topics delivered in the author's easy to read, easy to understand, enlightening, thought provoking and entertaining style. "
— JB, 3/2/2011 -
" My sister gave me this book and advised me to remove the jacket and cover the title with a piece of tape if I were reading it in public. Good advice! It's a very provocative topic. <br/> <br/>Later...love it! I am going to read more by this author. "
— Jenny, 12/14/2010 -
" This book dispels some stereotypes I had as well as some misconceptions formed by popular opinion. It's a good book to read (though the print is quite fine!) although not as easy to read as <em>Dismantling America.</em> "
— Tee, 12/3/2010 -
" I loved this book. Sowell makes me want to be a historian. "
— Mark, 10/8/2010 -
" Where is his Nobel? Seriously, why isn't Sowell our first black president? "
— Ted, 5/24/2010 -
" Thomas Sowell just has a way to see things that I really like. This book was interesting in how it traced slavery throughout history and around the world. He points to 1960s liberal policies as creating todays current black culture rather than slavery or any other reason or excuse used. "
— Jennifer, 4/6/2010 -
" Okay, this guy is a stud. I love the rare academic who will actually shoot straight with you. This was a collection of 6 refreshingly incisive essays that systematically debunked many of the pet beliefs and agendas of today's intelligentsia. "
— Kevin, 1/13/2010 -
" First chapter the best: Black Culture is descended from the Scots-Irish redneck culture in the American South. "
— Ann, 1/13/2010
About Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell is a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. For more than half a century, his writings have appeared in both popular and scholarly publications, on both sides of the Atlantic, and his books have been translated into a dozen foreign languages. After a career as an economist in the government, academia, and the corporate world, he has since 1980 been a scholar in residence at the Hoover Institution. His website is www.tsowell.com.