[livius]

That the Corvair was as safe as any other car on the road has not cut into Ralph Nader’s speaking fees, nor has the failure of hundreds of millions of people to starve to death diminished Paul Ehrlich’s access to grant money. They only have to maintain the esteem of the intelligentsia to keep the gravy train running.

Excellent observation. I'm going to have to read this book!

[neverdem]

Pretty good review, the only criticism is about the omission of an unrelated topic - vacuous celebrities.

[rellimpank]

—bflr—

[Jim W N]

Good post.

Sowell defines intellectuals as an occupation, as people whose “work begins and ends with ideas.”

I think the occupation of at least some intellectuals' work begins with the ends they seek and then figures out ideas to get there.

And as Sowell points out, they don't have to test the benefit of either their goals or the plausibility of their ideas

[subterfuge]

Knowledge is an entirely different thing than WISDOM. “Intellectuals” have little of the latter.

[astyanax]

Good read.
I think it all comes down to one thing:
Isolation from the “real” world.

“In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But in practice, there is.” -Yogi Berra

[jagusafr]

“intellectuals seldom addressed the arguments against pacifism, instead dismissing them as, in the words of John Dewey, “the stupidity of habit-bound minds.” “

C.S. Lewis has a tremendous essay (speech, actually) entitled, “Why I Am Not A Pacifist”, which he delivered to a society of English pacifists.

Colonel, USAFR

[Texas Jack]

They only have to maintain the esteem of the intelligentsia to keep the gravy train running.

This is why they are always presenting each other with awards; Pulitzer's, Nobel Peace Prize, and on and on.

Imagine that dolt Hillary winning a prize for writing a book. Her alcohol saturated brain is hardly capable of thought, let alone writing a book.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for posting and the ping, neverdem! This is well worth the read.

*PING*
Thomas Sowell

Recent columns
Intellectuals and Society
Peddlers Of Ideas Seldom Pay The Price
Old Boxing Matches

Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Thomas Sowell ping list…

[Maceman]

This was a very well-written review. Sowell’s book is the next one I will buy and read, after I finish reading the ones I got for Christmas.

[rockinqsranch]

Sowell is synonymous with Excellence isn’t it.

Thanks for the ping jaz. I am going to get that book as soon as I find it.

[bvw]

Great job, three jobs — Paul Johnson -> Thomas Sowell -> David Hogberg !

[Tax-chick]

New Thomas Sowell book. Sounds like “The Vision of the Anointed,” with examples. I just got on the waitlist at Matthews Library; I’m #6.

[VR-21]

Sowell embarasses me, the way he can express in such clear, simple ways, things that I find difficult to express at all.

[r-q-tek86]

ping

[Travis McGee]

Sowell is brilliant.

[TASMANIANRED]

French had a good idea once.

[cookcounty]

LOL! The title alone makes it worthwhile! It would be fun to read this in the University coffee shop and read it with the title prominently displayed......just to watch the wake up calls.

[Liberty Valance]

New for the reading list. Bump.