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Posted on 04/28/2018 9:58:55 AM PDT by jazusamo
Discrimination and Disparities by Thomas Sowell, Basic Books, New York, March 20, 2018 (143 pages, $28.00, hardcover)
"Just the facts, ma'am." That was Joe Friday's interrogation refrain on Dragnet. The same comment could serve as the subtitle of Thomas Sowell's recent book, Discrimination and Disparities. Few works on politically explosive topics maintain such a consistent focus on empirical evidence while avoiding rhetorical jabs at opponents. On the other hand, empirical evidence cuts deep, especially when critics can't protest the author's "nasty" style. As radio talker Larry Elder observes, "[f]acts are to liberals what kryptonite is to Superman."
Sowell's title, if employed by a member of the leftist intelligentsia, would doubtless imply a causal link between statistical disparities and some form of discrimination – usually racial. Sowell, by contrast, marshals an abundance of evidence to show that this automatic assumption isn't justified. Focusing simply on statistical probabilities, Sowell notes that if five prerequisites are needed for success in a particular field, and if the chances are two out of three that any person will have each characteristic, the chance of possessing all five characteristics are still only one in eight – a calculation that helps explain why most pro golfers have never won a PGA tournament while Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods have collectively won over 200 times. Consequently, "[g]iven multiple prerequisites for many human endeavors, we should not be surprised if economic or social advances are not evenly or randomly distributed among individuals, groups, institutions or nations at any given time."
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Thanks for the ping jaz. Will keep an eye out for the book. Looks like a good read.
Most welcome RQSR, it looks like another winner.
He is the one POTUS should have consulted before making every important decision effecting the US Economy.
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Adding it to my stack! :)
Good, stack must be getting high. :^)
A quick read shows the title is not from a labored point in the article reviewing Thomas Sowell’s latest book.
While Sowell expressed some dissatisfactions along with the rewards of his experience as a professor, the man lives and breathes to enlighten and teach. He does it in every article, essay, book and interview.
He has retired from writing his column, but Voila, here is a new book. Perhaps it will be his last, but I can’t see him stopping his enlightenment provided by his laser like intellect.
I love reading Thomas Sowell. Hence the tagline.
I agree and believe it will probably be his last book, at darn near 88 years old he deserves to be away from the grind.
I look for him to do an occasional interview and wish he would write a short essay now and then.
We all need to be scolded from time to time, even the POTUS.
Thomas Sowell is a national treasure and I love reading his articles.
Bttt.
5.56mm
Bumpski for later.
I wish he were 20 years younger and part of Pres. Trump’s cabinet.
(...wishes and horses)
Some 'truths' are more painful than others... which doesn't distract from their veracity. As usual Sowell is correct and ... distressing.
Is this “new” math, or am I just really dumb?
If "two out of three" people have all five characteristics, why is “the chance of possessing all five characteristics” just one in eight?
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