This reissue of Thomas Sowell’s classic study of decision making, which includes a preface by the author, updates his seminal work in the context of The Vision of the Anointed. Sowell, one of America’s most celebrated public intellectuals, describes in concrete detail how knowledge is shared and disseminated throughout modern society. He warns that society suffers from an ever-widening gap between firsthand knowledge and decision making—a gap that threatens not only our economic and political efficiency but our very freedom. This is because actual knowledge is being replaced by assumptions based on an abstract and elitist social vision of what ought to be.
Knowledge and Decisions, a winner of the 1980 Law and Economics Center Prize, was heralded as a landmark work and selected for this prize “because of its cogent contribution to our understanding of the differences between the market process and the process of government.” In announcing the award, the center acclaimed that the “contribution to our understanding of the process of regulation alone would make the book important, but in reemphasizing the diversity and efficiency that the market makes possible, [this] work goes deeper and becomes even more significant.”
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"One of the greatest works on decision-making theory ever written. Combines a thoroughness of research with a clarity of writing style. Thomas Sowell is one of the great minds of our time."
— Adam (5 out of 5 stars)
“This is a brilliant book. Sowell illuminates how every society operates. In the process he also shows how the performance of our own society can be improved.”
— Milton Friedman“In a wholly original manner [Sowell] succeeds in translating abstract and theoretical argument into a highly concrete and realistic discussion of the central problems of contemporary economic policy.”
— F. A. Hayek" helped me come to peace with how people can logically choose to remain ignorant and make decisions that will ultimately hurt them "
— Tyler, 11/1/2013" Thomas Sowell should be required reading for everyone everywhere! So wroth looking into and reading. "
— Amy, 10/31/2013" Not an easy book to read but well worth it. Sowell has the unique ability to make highly abstract concepts both interesting and practical. "
— Jim, 1/19/2013" Required for all who claim to be free thinkers. "
— Matt, 12/23/2012Thomas 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.
Robertson Dean has played leading roles on and off Broadway and at dozens of regional theaters throughout the country. He has a BA from Tufts University and an MFA from Yale. His audiobook narration has garnered ten AudioFile Earphones Awards. He now lives in Los Angeles, where he works in film and television in addition to narrating.