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The Vision of the Anointed

Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy

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The Vision of the Anointed

By: Thomas Sowell
Narrated by: Tom Weiner
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About this listen

In this devastating critique of the mindset behind the failed social policies of the past 30 years, Thomas Sowell sees what has happened not as a series of isolated mistakes, but as a logical consequence of a vision whose defects have led to disasters in education, crime, family disintegration, and more. This is an empirical study in which “politically correct” theory is repeatedly confronted with facts, and the sharp contradictions between the two are explained in terms of a set of self-congratulatory assumptions held by political and intellectual elites.

These elites—the anointed—often consider themselves “thinking people,” but this thinking is actually rhetorical assertion, followed by evasions of mounting evidence against these assertions. The vision of the anointed is seen not merely as a failure but as a fatal danger to the values and the future of American society.

©1995 Thomas Sowell (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Politics & Government Social Policy Sociology United States World Liberalism Capitalism Socialism Social justice

Critic reviews

“An important and incisive book.” (New York Times Book Review)

“As compelling an explanation as any for the seemingly disproportionate amount of condescension and politically correct invective that emanates from the liberal side of the political spectrum toward the conservative opposition.” (Wall Street Journal)

“Avid conservatives, for whom Sowell is a true-blue intellectual force, will certainly seize upon his analysis for succor.” (Booklist)
All stars
Most relevant
An Interesting and prescient dissection of the nonsense that has become so prevalent today. Sowell is a clear thinker and clear communicator. The reader is also excellent.

Excellent Thesis

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People who are familiar to Sowell will respect the conviction and brilliance with which the man writes. Regardless of your political affiliation; and doubtless some for such reasons will find this listen a struggle, I do highly recommend this book.

Admittedly one of the flaws of this book, as with any non fiction that is expressed in audio format is that the footnotes and bibliography are missing. That’s not a criticism of the book though as listening to such would be tiresome, but just a general caution.

The reason I give 4 stars is the fact that this book can get a feeling of lengthiness and tiresome continuation. Sowell does really like to hate on judges which especially for non US readers can be a frustration.

That being said it is a devastating and thorough indictment of the behaviour of the intellectual and political classes and a must read for all who ‘trust the system’.

Devastating Analysis

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This is the most important book your may ever read. Can we save the west?

A deconstruction of postmodernism

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every person interested in politics and social policy needs to read this. and if you are a progressive leftist you definitely need to read this

the most important book you'll ever read

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Very well read and written. Sections of the book illustrate hot button issues of the 90s but so much of today's debate is brilliantly foreshadowed that it could nearly have been written in 2018.

Remarkable analysis and foresight

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