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Intellectuals and Society Audiobook
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(4.01) - 526 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
This title offers a withering and clear-eyed critique about—but not for—intellectuals that explores their impact on public opinion, policy, and society at large.
The thesis ofIntellectuals and Societystates that the influence of intellectuals is not only greater than in previous eras but also takes a very different form from that envisioned by those like Machiavelli and others who have wanted to directly influence rulers.It has not been by shaping the opinions or directing the actions of the holders of power that modern intellectuals have most influenced the course of events but by shaping public opinion in ways that affect the actions of power holders in democratic societies, whether or not those power holders accept the general vision or the particular policies favored by intellectuals.Even government leaders with disdain or contempt for intellectuals have had to bend to the climate of opinion shaped by them.
Intellectuals and Societynot only examines the track record of intellectuals in the things they have advocated, but also analyzes the incentives and constraints under which their views and visions have emerged.One of the most surprising aspects of this study is how often intellectuals have been proven not only wrong, but grossly and disastrously wrong in their prescriptions for the ills of society—and how little their views have changed in response to empirical evidence of the disasters entailed by those views.
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"If you pay attention to what is going around about you, particularly in the media and the press, Dr. Sowell laid out with great perspective, what a thinking person intuits. If you are among those who think, rather than just feel about the issues not just of today, but in the future. Read it, I suspect like many other books who challenge conventional thinking this will be dismissed. Only the smug and incurious will dismiss."
— Peter (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Mr. Sowell builds a devastating case against the leftist antiwar political and intellectual establishment.”
— Washington Times -
“Sowell takes aim at the class of people who influence our public debate, institutions, and policy. Few of Sowell’s targets are left standing at the end, and those who are stagger back to their corner, bloody and bruised.”
— National Review Online -
“Narrator Tom Weiner paces the somewhat dense material well and handles the author’s often-inflated vocabulary with ease. Thus, Weiner is able to enhance the material in a way that might trip up lesser readers. While conservatives will likely embrace Sowell’s theories, even those who disagree should appreciate the well-written points and be left with much to ponder.”
— AudioFile
Intellectuals and Society Listener Reviews
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" Terrific prose, easy to follow, great ideas. The elites and the benighted. "
— Robert, 2/6/2014 -
" Other reviewers have provided plenty of content description, so I'll just say that I found this book an interesting read, if a little long and repetitive. Worth reading, though not the best Sowell book I've read to date (see A Conflict of Visions and The Quest for Cosmic Justice). "
— Jeff, 2/1/2014 -
" Made be evaluate and think. "
— Rita, 1/28/2014 -
" Excellent. Amazing what elites will do when blinded by their own certainty and arrogance. "
— Steve, 1/13/2014 -
" Thomas Sowell is a paradigm buster. "
— Danny, 12/24/2013 -
" Combine this with Paul Johnson's intellectuals and you have yourself a great refutation against those who want a sophmoracracy (government by idiotic and foolish "experts" and professors). "
— Derek, 12/8/2013 -
" One of the better books I have read in some time. Thomas Sowell's ability to analyze the differences between seperate world views is phenomenal. "
— Gary, 11/30/2013 -
" A thought provoking view of policy makers in our country. Mr. Sowell describes the methods and tactics that the elitist have used to influence the direction of our country. "
— Cathy, 11/25/2013 -
" This book is a hoard of economic, policy and cultural wisdom that factually contradicts prevailing notions of justice, fairness and equality today. I would give it six stars. "
— Jerry, 9/22/2013 -
" Great read on why we should be skeptical of intellectuals (the 'intelligentsia') who opine outside their area of expertise. "
— Philski, 8/14/2012 -
" Can't go wrong with Sowell. Intellectuals and Society evaluates the people that form our culture to a surprising extent, but never pay for poor results(which come about all too often). Important read. "
— Ted, 6/19/2011 -
" Written and researched, but extremely depressing. The millions of lives and poverty and cultural ruin intellectuals have brought to the world, due their assumptions and propaganda is outrageous. "
— John, 2/19/2011 -
" I agree with some of his argument about income inequality..If MSNBC and "fairness" makes you cringe, you might, too. But book is tedious on audio. "
— Alan, 2/18/2011 -
" Very difficult to get through but interesting. I'm a fan of Thomas Sowell but this is one of the more difficult to read books of his. "
— Betty, 11/4/2010 -
" Like a diamond. <br/> <br/>I wrote a review a few minutes ago but I think I didn't save it properly. Will write another soon. <br/> <br/>The book is about the effect of people going outside their expertise and it being ineffective to actually help. <br/> <br/>My re-review still to come. "
— Anna, 9/24/2010 -
" Excellent. Amazing what elites will do when blinded by their own certainty and arrogance. "
— Steve, 8/24/2010 -
" A book by a public intellectual about public intellectuals, but not for public intellectuals. "
— Thomas, 5/24/2010 -
" Can't go wrong with Sowell. Intellectuals and Society evaluates the people that form our culture to a surprising extent, but never pay for poor results(which come about all too often). Important read. "
— Ted, 4/16/2010 -
" Terrific prose, easy to follow, great ideas. The elites and the benighted. "
— Robert, 3/10/2010
About Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is the author of dozens of books and the recipient of various awards, including the National Humanities Medal, presented by the president of the United States in 2003.
About Tom Weiner
Tom Weiner, a dialogue director and voice artist best known for his roles in video games and television shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Transformers, is the winner of eight Earphones Awards and is an Audie Award finalist. He is a former member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.