First published 2010
Thomas Sowell investigates how contemporary thinkers wield influence in democratic societies. Unlike advisors who once whispered directly into rulers' ears, today's intellectual class operates differently. They mold public sentiment, which then pressures elected officials to adopt policies regardless of whether those leaders personally embrace such ideas. Even politicians who openly dismiss intellectual opinion find themselves bending to the climate these thinkers create. Sowell traces the incentives and constraints that drive intellectual positions. He documents a striking pattern: intellectuals frequently advocate solutions that prove not merely incorrect but catastrophically harmful to society. More troubling still, they rarely adjust their worldviews when confronted with evidence of the damage their recommendations have caused. The book offers readers both a historical examination of intellectual advocacy and an analysis of why this influential class remains resistant to learning from real-world outcomes.
Genres: american, political-science, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: academic
416 pages · Hardcover · Basic Books