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The Genius of Thomas Sowell — Education
The Genius of Thomas Sowell

Thomas Sowell might well be our greatest living Intellectual. His accomplishments span 6 decades and include over 40 books and thousands of columns and articles written on a wide range of topics, from economics to sociology to history to race and culture. It is hard to name another intellectual who has studied and written on as wide a range of topics in such a profound way. This podcast will discuss his ideas and is intended to provide a place for admirers of his work to discuss his contributions with other like minded thinkers.

Copyright: © 2023 The Genius of Thomas Sowell

Latest Episodes:

"Race, IQ & Sowell" with Nathan Cofnas, Part 2 Sep 23, 2024

This is Part 2 of Episode 40, “Race, IQ and Sowell” with Nathan Cofnas.

A few weeks after I recorded my original conversation with Nathan Cofnas, which I released in Episode 40, Part 1, I hosted a live conversation with Nathan on X Spaces which opened the floor up to the public and anyone who wanted to get in on the discussion.

We had a great group discussion about hereditarianism and we got to hear more about Nathan’s thinking on this controversial subject, and why Nathan thinks Sowell gets it wrong on this subject.

If you were intellectually stimulated by Part 1 of this episode, I think you will like Part 2 as well.

I really enjoy this format of public conversation because almost everyone who wants to speak can, and I get a kick out of hosting and moderating these conversations, so expect more of these in the future.

I encourage you to subscribe to Nathan’s substack and read his three essays which are mentioned in the discussion:

#1) Are smart people superior?

#2) A Guide for the Heredarian revolution, and

#3) Thomas Sowell’s wishful thinking about race

If I sound like a fan of Nathan Cofnas, it’s probably because I am. What I like most about him is not his positions or conclusions but that he gets me to think and rethink my positions on some of Thomas Sowell’s diehard arguments.

I think they call this critical thinking, or something like that.

It’s kind of fun once you get used to it.
I hope you enjoy this episode.

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

"Race, IQ & Sowell" with Nathan Cofnas, Part 1 Sep 09, 2024

In today’s episode we explore the theme of "Race and IQ" and whether or not different racial groups have different levels of innate intelligence.
Sowell explored this subject in depth in his 2013 book “Intellectuals and Race."
Joining me to discuss this controversial topic is Professor Nathan Cofnas, who has written extensively on this subject.
I highly recommend you read the following to get the most out of this episode:
1) "Intellectuals and Race" by Thomas Sowell (of course you should read it!)
2) "A Guide for the Hereditarian Revolution" by Nathan Cofnas
3) "Thomas Sowell's Wishful Thinking About Race" by Nathan Cofnas.
You can find Professor Cofnas's Substack at: https://substack.com/@nathancofnas.

• This episodes' song list
1. Strange Fruit Billie Holiday 1939
2. Carefully Taught South Pacific 1949
3. Black Boys Hair 1964
4. Birmingham Sunday Joan Baez 1964
5. Mr Rogers Kiddie Pool scene 1969
6. Black and White three dog night 1972
7. Why can’t we be friends War 1975
8. War Bob Marley 1976
9. What color is God’s skin 1977
10. Redemption Song Marley 1980
11. Ebony and Ivory 1982
12. My Hometown bruce 1984
13. People are People Depeche Mode 1984
14. Black or white Michael Jackson 1991
15. Colored People DC talk 1995
16. Changes by Tupac 1998
17. Everyone’s a little bit racist 2003
18. Stop the hatred Wyclef 2021

THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
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Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

"Honesty & Sowell" with Dan Ariely Apr 21, 2024

In today’s episode we explore the theme of “Honesty.”
Sowell wrote about honesty in his latest book “Social Justice Fallacies,” and also in his 2000 classic “Basic Economics.”
In addition, his 1993 collection of essays called “Is Reality Optional?” contains an essay about honesty which has a very unexpected spin to it.
We learn that honesty is not just a moral virtue, it’s also a form of human capital that varies greatly from culture to culture and from group to group within a particular culture.
I explore themes from those 3 Sowell books and I interview Dan Ariely, author of
"The Honest Truth about Dishonesty: How we lie to everyone, especially ourselves," published in 2012.

Notes to help you get the most out of this episode:
• My three favorite Dan Ariely books;
1. "Predictably Irrational" (2008)
2. "The Upside of Irrationality" (2010)
3. "The Honest Truth about Dishonesty" (2012)
• This episodes' song list:
1. "Honesty" by Billy Joel
2. PS22 Children's Choir rendition of "Honesty"
3. "A Matter of Trust" by Billy Joel
4. "Honesty" Saxaphone Cover by Max Sax
5. "Honor Pledge Song" by Princeton Triangle Club
6. "Honesty" orchestral version by the Japanese Army Band
7. "One Piece at a Time" by Johnny Cash
8. "And So it Goes" by Billy Joel
9. "Piano Man" by Billy Joel
10. "She's Always a Woman" by Billy Joel
11. "Lullabye" by Billy Joel
12. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel
13. "Two Thousand Years" by Billy Joel
14. "An Innocent Man" by Billy Joel
15. "Honesty" Violin cover by Shiki
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
----------------------------------------------
3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 300+ digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

"Social Pathologies & Sowell" with Theodore Dalrymple Feb 12, 2024

This episode features a deep dive into Theodore Dalrymple's 2001 masterpiece
"Life at the Bottom," one of Thomas Sowell's favorite books, and one of my all time favorites as well.
I strongly suggest you read or listen to this book as soon as possible, You can thank me later. I prefer the audiobook to the written book, just because the audiobook narrator does such a fantastic job.
I interview Dalrymple about his book and about his thoughts on Sowell's body of work.
Notes to help you get the most out of this episode:
• My four favorite Theodore Dalrymple books:
1. "Life at the Bottom" (2001)
2. "Our Culture, What's Left of It" (2007)
3. "Admirable Evastions" (2020)
4. "Spoilt Rotton" (2011)
Theodore Dalrymple has published over 30 books and has a new book coming out soon.
• This episodes' song list; all songs by Eminem.
-Lose Yourself instrumental
-Lose Yourself original version
-Without Me
-The Kiss (skit)
-Sing for the Moment (with Aerosmith)
-Love the Way you Lie (with Rihanna)
-Superman
-Guilty Conscience
-River (with Ed Sheeran)
-Lose Yourself orchestral
THERE ARE 4 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
----------------------------------------------
3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 250+ digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com
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4) NEW! Purchase our Thomas Sowell faux postage stamps, you can see them here:
https://x.com/alanwolan/status/1750903763978911931?s=46.
To purchase, PayPal $4/sheet of 30 stamps to: WolanAlan@gmail.com.
Don't forget to put your mailing address in the PayPal notes section so I know where to send them.
I know you have thousands of other podcasts you could be listening to, and I truly appreciate the time and interest you show in mine.
Alan Wolan

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

"War and Sowell" with Victor Davis Hanson Nov 22, 2023

This episode features:
1) The Causes of WW2:
A presentation of Sowell's essay "Intellectuals and War," from Sowell 2010 classic "Intellectuals and Society."
In particular, I discuss the 6 causes of WWII, from Sowell's perspective.
2) My conversation with Victor Davis Hanson, (VDH):
VDH is a Classicist and Military Historian at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
You can find his books and columns at: VictorHanson.com and I highly recommend you subscribe for premium access to all his essays.
Notes to help you get the most out of this episode:
• My four favorite Victor Davis Hanson books:
1. Mexifornia (2003)
2. The Second World Wars (2017)
3. The Case for Trump (2019)
4. The Dying Citizen (2021)
Dr. Hanson's new book is called "The End of Everything: How wars descend into annihilation," which will be released May 2024.
• This episodes' song list:
- War Pigs: Black Sabbath
-Give Peace a Chance: John Lennon
-Let There Be Peace on Earth: Boys Choir or Harlem
-Praise the Lord, Pass the Ammunition: Kay Kyser
-The Flesh Failures: Galt McDermott
-Heal the World: Michael Jackson
-We Are the World: USA for Africa
-Blowin' in the Wind: Bob Dylan
-Where Have All the Flowers Gone
-Where is the Love: Black Eyed Peas
-Ride of the Valkyries: Richard Wagner
-One Day: Matisyahu
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
----------------------------------------------
3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 250+ digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com
I know you have thousands of other podcasts you could be listening to, and I truly appreciate the time and interest you show in mine.
Alan Wolan

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Israel, The Jews & Sowell. With Dennis Prager. Oct 17, 2023

This episode was inspired by the outbreak of war between Israel and the Palestinians which started on October 7, 2023.
I explore Sowell's views on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through two columns written by Sowell, one in 2006 and the other in 2014:
2006 Column: “There is no Middle East Peace Process”
2014 Column: "Cease the Cease Fires"
Our special guest for this episode is Dennis Prager.
Dennis Prager was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1948. He graduated from Brooklyn College with a major in Middle Eastern Studies. In 1982, when he was 34 years old, Prager got his first big break as a radio talk show host at a local Los Angeles radio station and over the years his show was syndicated into other markets and he is now known nationally as one of America’s preeminent conservative talk show hosts.

In 2009, he founded perhaps his greatest achievement yet: Prager University, also known as Prager U, which you can find online at PragerU.com.

I highly encourage you to explore the offerings at PragerU.com. There are hundreds upon hundreds of extremely well-produced, educational videos on a wide range of topics, oftentimes no longer than 5 minutes each. There’s a section for adults and a section for kids. The videos cover current events, American and world history from a wholesome, positive and uplifting perspective, and they are hosted by world class scholars such as Victor Davis Hanson, Alan Dershowitz, Gad Saad, Wilfred Reilly, Rafael Mangual, Jason Riley, and many, many more great thinkers, not to mention many videos by Dennis Prager himself. And all these videos and programs are totally free. This is one of those rare cases where you get way more than you pay for.

Here are some extra resources to enhance your enjoyment of the episode:
• Dennis Prager mentions this DEBATE he had with Rabbi Jonathon Sacks.
• My favorite version of Hatikvah HERE.
• Sowell's History of the Jews from "Migrations & Cultures" HERE.
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
----------------------------------------------
3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 250+ digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

"The Triple Package" and Sowell, with Amy Chua Sep 18, 2023

In this episode, I explore the work and ideas of Amy Chua.
Amy is not only a tenured Professor of Law at Yale University, she is also a bestselling author of several books. Her most famous books was published in 2011 and is called "The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother."
Amy told me that she was a huge fan of Thomas Sowell but what I didn’t know at the time is that Thomas Sowell is also a huge fan of Amy Chua.
Find out why in this episode, as I explore Amy's ideas about political tribalism and why some groups succeed more than others, a theme which is right up Sowell Alley.
Amy just wrote her first novel called "The Golden Gate," which I highly recommend you read. Here are her other, non-fiction books:
2002: World On Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability.
2007: Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance – and Why They Fall.
2011: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother.
2014: The Triple Package: How Three Unlikely Traits Explain the Rise and Fall of Cultural Groups in America.
2018: Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations.
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
----------------------------------------------
3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 250+ digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com
I know you have thousands of other podcasts you could be listening to, and I truly appreciate the time and interest you show in mine.
Alan Wolan

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

"Maverick" A Biography of Thomas Sowell, with Jason Riley Sep 09, 2023

This episode features my conversation with Jason Riley, author of THE definitive Thomas Sowell biography published in 2021:
"Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell"
I give a broadstroke overview of the 9 chapters of Maverick, then talk about the book - and Thomas Sowell in general - with Jason Riley himself.
He and I also talk about Sowell's new book "Social Justice Fallacies" which is coming out on September 19, 2023.
Jason Riley is a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing OpEd columnist at the Wall Street Journal.
He has published 4 other books besides Maverick:
• Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders (2008)
• Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed (2014)
• False Black Power? (2017)
• The Black Boom (2022)
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
----------------------------------------------
3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 250+ digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com
I know you have thousands of other podcasts you could be listening to, and I truly appreciate the time and interest you show in mine.
Alan Wolan

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Gad Saad: Courage, Authenticity & Sowell Jul 24, 2023

I met Dr. Gad Saad at the Stanford Academic Freedom conference last November.
See Episode #27.
Lo and behold, Gad Saad is a big fan of you-know-who!
Plus he has a lot in common with Sowell, as you will learn by listening to my interview with him today.
We talk about two of Gad Saad's books:
1) The Parasitic Mind (2020)
2) The Saad Truth about Happiness (new)
I discuss 4 themes of the James Bond character which I connect with both Sowell and Saad:
1) Saving the world
2) Love of country
3) Intense masculinity
4) Tragic hero
We talk about Courage and Authenticity, two vital ingredients for happiness.
Here are some useful links to enhance your enjoyment of the episode:
• The Danish National Symphony performs Dr. No.
• The Palm Springs Air Museum
• "No Time to Die" by Epic Orchestra
I hope you will be both shaken and stirred by this discussion!
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
----------------------------------------------
3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 250+ digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com
I know you have thousands of other podcasts you could be listening to, and I truly appreciate the time and interest you show in mine.
Alan Wolan

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Love & Marriage May 28, 2023

This episode explores Thomas Sowell's views on love and marriage.
In his 1980 book "Knowledge and Decisions," Sowell tells the story of two farmers working one plot of land, and we use that story as a metaphor for the foundations of marriage.
I interview Dovid Feldman, who I view as a true expert on the subject of marriage.
Dovid is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. His specialty is the institution of marriage and what couples can do to strengthen their marriages.

He recently published a book called 52 Tweets to a Great Marriage; you're going to want to read this book and you can find it HERE.
You can find Dovid on Twitter here: @dovidfeldman, his tweets always inspire me.
His website is: dovidfeldman.com
If you're looking for a great couple's therapist, your search is over...contact him.

Dovid and I discuss many related subjects:
• Family and children
• Sowell's views on gay marriage
• Intermarriage
• The differences between men and women
The podcast takes an unexpected twist when our wives join us toward the end of the episode:
Dovid's wife is Miriam Feldman and you can find her book "God Said What?" HERE.
Alan's wife is Priyanka Wolan and you can find her Substack "Strap on a Pear" HERE.
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
----------------------------------------------
3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com
We have two editions of the quotes available:
Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.
Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100
I know you have thousands of other podcasts you could be listening to, and I truly appreciate the time and interest you show in mine.
Alan Wolan

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

"Disparate Impact" with Heather Mac Donald Apr 22, 2023

Thomas Sowell calls "Disparate Impact" ideology the "grand dogma" of our time.
But what is disparate impact and why is it so important?
On this episode we take a deep dive into disparate impact ideology and how it has changed America.
Joining me to discuss this important subject is Heather Mac Donald.
Heather is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research based in New York City. Much like Sowell , Heather does research into domestic policy and urban affairs and tries to figure out what’s working and what’s not working. She then writes articles and books sharing what she has learned.

Her first book was published in 2000 and was called “The burden of bad ideas : how modern intellectuals misshape our society”

Three years later she wrote a book called “Are Cops Racist?”

This was followed with another book about policing in 2016 called “The War on Cops: How the New Attack on Law and Order Makes Everyone Less Safe.”

I first discovered Heather Mac Donald in 2018 with the publication of her book “The Diversity Delusion: How Race and Gender Pandering Corrupt the University and Undermine Our Culture.” I loved that book and I remember finishing it then immediately starting it over and reading it a second time.

Her latest book which just came out this month is called “When Race Trumps Merit, How the Pursuit of Equity Sacrifices Excellence, Destroys Beauty, and Threatens Lives.”
USEFUL LINKS:
• More podcast-related links here: AlanWolan.com
• How to calculate the "Birthday Problem": Ted-Ed Video HERE
• "Birthday Problem Khan Academy explanation HERE
• You can purchase Heather Mac Donald's new book HERE
• Photos of the CalTech Turtle Pond HERE
• Jerry MacGuire "Show Me the Money" scene HERE
• Heather Mac Donald Wikipedia page HERE
• Classical Music featured in this episode:
"Cello Suite No 1" by Bach, "Für Elise" by Beethoven, "Canon in D" by Pachelbel, "Humoresque" by Dvorak, "Caprice No. 24" by Paganini, "Symphony No. 5" by Beethoven, "Die Zauberflöte" by Mozart, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" by Mozart, "Theme from Schindler's List" by John Williams, "Hungarian Dance No. 5" by Brahms, "Gymnopedie No. 1" by Satie, and "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven.
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Lessons of the Cold War with Peter Robinson Mar 11, 2023

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Cold War and what lessons can be learned from it. In particular, we reflect upon some key teachings of Thomas Sowell with regard to how price-coordinated, Capitalist societies perform in comparison with command-style, communist and socialist economies.
Peter Robinson joins me in the second half of the show to talk about his views about Sowell and the Cold War.
Here are some links which will enhance your appreciation of the episode:
• More info about Peter Robinson HERE.
• "Wind of Change" by the German rock band Scorpions HERE (1 billion views).
• Full Kennedy speech about the Cuban Missile crisis HERE.
• 99 Luftballons video (German version) HERE
• 99 Red Balloons video (English version) HERE
(both the "99" music videos are so bad, you have to wonder if they made them that bad on purpose. They're so bad, they're good! But who cares, such a great song!)
• Ronald Reagan Berlin Wall speech HERE
• "Berlin City of Night" by Peter Schilling HERE.
• Kennedy's "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech HERE
• "Freiheit" by Marius Mueller Westernhagen HERE
• My essay on how I acquired the Checkpoint Charlie sign HERE.
• More useful links here: linktr.ee/alanwolan
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
----------------------------------------------
3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com
We have two editions of the quotes available:
Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.
Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Fight the Good Fight with Amy Wax Jan 29, 2023

In today's episode I interview Professor Amy Wax from Penn Law School.
If you don't know Amy Wax, buckle up, you're in for a real treat.
Amy is truly one of a kind and you'll know what I mean after you listen to the episode.
I named this episode “Fight the Good Fight” because Amy Wax reminds me of the crucial importance of fighting for what you believe in. And not just fighting against what you don’t.
Here are some links to help you get more out of this episode:
• Here's a LINK to Amy's 2009 book "Race, Wrongs and Remedies"
• Macarthur Park Restaurant in Palo Alto
• Amy's Philadelphia Inquirer Op Ed which caused so much controversy: LINK
• Amy Wax's syllabus for her course on "Conservative Political Thought": LINK
• The Thomas Sowell Reader mentioned in the episode: LINK
• Podcast statistics HERE
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:
1) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon: www.Patreon.com/SowellGenius
The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com
We have two editions of the quotes available:
Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.
Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.com
There are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.
THANK YOU!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Episode 28: Changing Minds with Dr. Joel Brown Jan 09, 2023

In today's episode I explore the dynamics of radically changing your mind on important subjects.
Thomas Sowell himself experienced just such a shift in his thinking and so did our guest today, Dr. Joel Brown.
You can find Dr. Brown on Twitter under the handle @JoelBrownMD
We have a surprise guest on this episode as well: her name is Priyanka Wolan.
• Priyanka is an accomplished attorney.
• She is a Homeschooling Mom of 4 girls.
• She is also a writer and you can find her Substack HERE:
PriyankaWolan.substack.com
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com
We have two editions of the quotes available:
Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.
Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE. The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.com
There are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.
THANK YOU!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Freedom Dec 18, 2022

In today’s episode, I share with you my experience of the Academic Freedom Conference which took place at Stanford University on November 4th and 5th.
Here are some resources which will enhance your enjoyment of the episode:
1) Here's a LINK to the Academic Freedom Conference website.
2) Here's a LINK to the Youtube channel for the conference.
3) Here's a LINK to the book "Positioning: the Battle for your mind."
4) You can find Greg Lukianoff and FIRE HERE.
5) You can find the University of Austin HERE.
6) Frederic Bastiat's essay the Parable of the Broken Window can be found HERE.
7) Link to Sowell's Fourth of July essay HERE.
8) The opening song was arranged and performed by the rock band Boston and you can watch them perform it live HERE.
9) The closing song was arranged and performed by Lada Gaga at the 2016 Super Bowl and you can watch it HERE.
10) $8/month refers to the cost of a Twitter bluecheck.
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches. I really appreciate the many positive reviews, especially this one by Jonsby: "This is one of the few podcasts that I actually slow down so I can savor it!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please visit our shop at: GeniusSowell.etsy.com
We have two editions of the quotes available:
Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.
Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE. The money raised through Patreon supports our efforts to popularize the books and ideas of Thomas Sowell.
----------------------------------------------
You can email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.com
There are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.
THANK YOU!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Steven Pinker on Thomas Sowell Oct 30, 2022

In this episode, I have a conversation with Dr. Steven Pinker, Professor of Cognitive Science at Harvard University.
We talk about what Sowell gets right and what he gets wrong. We talk about why Sowell is not better known in academia and what this tells us about Sowell, and also about academia.
Here are some useful links to things mentioned in the episode:
• Here's a LINK to the theme music played in this episode. I highly recommend the Danish National Symphony orchestra, they have loads of fantastic music on Youtube.
• Steven Pinker's Wikipedia page is HERE.
• Atlantic magazine article about how they tried to cancel Steven Pinker HERE.
• Steven Pinker's Twitter handle is @sapinker.
• HERE is a funny Steven Pinker interview about taboo language (explicit!)
• HERE is a good interview with Steven Pinker about his latest book "Rationality.".
• HERE is a link to Steven Pinker's podcast "The Life of the Mind"
• You can find Steven Pinker's personal website at StevenPinker.com
• You can find Steven Pinker's photo albums HERE.
• You can find Thomas Sowell's photo album HERE.
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches.
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $4/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.
NEW: We have two editions of the quotes available:
Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.
Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100
When you order, if you don't specify, we will send you half your order Edition #2 and the other half Edition #3.
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.
You can email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.com
There are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.
THANK YOU!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Katharine Birbalsingh on Thomas Sowell and Theodore Dalrymple Oct 15, 2022

When you study Thomas Sowell, you are inevitably introduced to other intellectuals Sowell cites in his books. These are the thinkers Sowell looks up to and draws inspiration from. One such thinker is the British Psychiatrist Theodore Dalrymple.
In this episode we explore Dalrymple's book "Life At The Bottom" and what it has to teach us about the ideas which perpetuate poverty and other social pathologies in the British underclass and what lessons we can draw for a deeper understanding of the American underclasses.
We interview "Britain's Strictest Headmistress" Katharine Birbalsingh about Sowell and Dalrymple and how these two thinkers have influenced her educational philosophy.
Here are some useful links to deepen your appreciation of the episode:
• Here's a LINK to Ice T's "That's How I'm Livin'"
• Here's a LINK to Theodore Dalrymple's book "Life At The Bottom"
• Link to "We Don't Want No Education" chapter of Dalrymple's book HERE.
• Here's a LINK to the film documentary "Britain's Strictest Headmistress". This is a MUST watch!
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches.
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $4/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.
NEW: We have two editions of the quotes available:
Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.
Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100
When you order, if you don't specify, we will send you half your order Edition #2 and the other half Edition #3.
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.
You can email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.com
There are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.
THANK YOU!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Sowell, Dershowitz & Allen Oct 02, 2022

In today’s episode, I take a look at Thomas Sowell’s intellectual career from a slightly unusual perspective and I do that by comparing Sowell with two other public intellectuals of his generation: Alan Dershowitz and Woody Allen.

In my view, Sowell, Dershowitz and Allen have 10 major things in common, and you'll just have to listen to the podcast to find out what they are.
Here's a LINK to the spreadsheet I mention in the episode which compares all the published works of Sowell, Dershowitz and Allen.
Here's a LINK to the chapter of "Intellectuals and Society" called "Youth and Age."
Here are some useful links to deepen your appreciation of the episode:
• You can find the digital designs of the official Thomas Sowell Post It Note quotes HERE.
• Podcast Patreon HERE. Your financial support is greatly appreciated!
• Podcast statistics HERE.
• Thomas Sowell video truck ad campaign video HERE.
• Thomas Sowell sidewalk decal ad campaign HERE.
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches.
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $4/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.
NEW: We have two editions of the quotes available:
Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.
Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100
When you order, if you don't specify, we will send you half your order Edition #2 and the other half Edition #3.
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.
You can email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.com
There are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.
THANK YOU!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Equality & Envy Sep 05, 2022

In this episode we discuss Sowell's 1997 book "The Quest for Cosmic Justice."
In particular, we discuss how pursuing a vision of universal equality leads paradoxically to an increase in inequality and to the fostering of envy and resentment in society.
Here are some useful links to deepen your appreciation of the episode:
• "The Quest for Cosmic Justice" by Thomas Sowell HERE.
• Post It Note quotes HERE.
• Podcast Patreon HERE.
• Podcast statistics HERE.
• Thomas Sowell video truck ad campaign video HERE.
• Thomas Sowell sidewalk decal ad campaign HERE.
• Selected excerpts from "The Quest for Cosmic Justice" HERE.
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot by nudging the show to the top of Google searches.
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 100 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like.
To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $4/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.
NEW: We have two editions of the quotes available:
Edition #2: Quotes 1 - 50.
Edition #3: Quotes 51 - 100
When you order, if you don't specify, we will send you half your order Edition #2 and the other half Edition #3.
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.
You can email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.com
There are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.
THANK YOU!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Clarence Thomas Aug 03, 2022

In this episode we discuss Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. We talk about what Clarence Thomas has to say about Sowell and also about what Sowell has to say about Clarence Thomas.
Here are some useful links to deepen your appreciation of the episode:
• Billy Joel SINGS "Angry Young Man" live at Shea Stadium. Lyrics HERE.
• Full VIDEO of Clarence Thomas at the Old Parkland Conference May 2022.
• "Intellectuals and Society" by Thomas Sowell HERE.
• Post It Note quotes HERE.
• Podcast Patreon HERE.
• Podcast statistics HERE.
• Letter from Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to Alan HERE.
• "Live Not By Lies" by Alexander Solzhenitsyn HERE.
• Thomas Sowell video truck ad campaign video HERE.
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. This helps a lot.
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $3/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.
Notice: Starting September 1, 2022, the price will go up to $4/pad, including postage and handling, Sorry but you can thank Putin for the price hike.
New: we are currently in the process of designing 50 additional quotes and will be printing them in post it note pads as well. Stay tuned to see those new quotes, they're fantastic!
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.
You can email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.com
There are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.
THANK YOU!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Abortion Jun 23, 2022

In this episode, we discuss Sowell's views on the subject of Abortion.
I open the episode with a discussion of Madonna's 1986 music video "Papa Don't Preach" and what the story of that song has to teach us about Abortion.
You will appreciate this episode much more if you watch the video before listening, you can find it HERE on Youtube.
Sowell tells us about a documentary film about the abortion procedure called "The Silent Scream" which you can watch HERE in full on Youtube.
You can find Justice Samuel Alito's letter to me HERE.
NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
1) Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
2) We are having our first, live, in person Book Club meeting on Saturday, July 9, 2022 in Los Angeles. This is a free event. We will be discussing Sowell's 2020 book "Charter Schools and Their Enemies." If you'd like to attend, please email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com and I'll give you the details.
3) During the month of June we are running a truck advertising campaign in Los Angeles to promote the pod. Here's the VIDEO from the first day.
THERE ARE 3 WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SHOW:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $3/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.
You email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.com
There are only so many hours in the day and that fact that you spend some of your precious time listening to my podcast is something I will never take for granted and will always appreciate.
Thank you!
Alan

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Richard Sander about Sowell and Racial Preferences in Admissions Jun 08, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
1) Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
2) We are having our first, live, in person Book Club meeting on Saturday, July 9, 2022 in Los Angeles. This is a free event. We will be discussing Sowell's 2020 book "Charter Schools and Their Enemies." If you'd like to attend, please email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com and I'll give you the details.
3) During the month of June we are running a truck advertising campaign in Los Angeles to promote the pod. Here's the VIDEO from the first day.
You can find Alan's video interview on the "Cut The Bull" Podcast HERE.
You can find Alan's appearance on the "Calmversations" Podcast with Benjamin Boyce HERE.
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In this episode, we continue to explore the subject of Affirmative Action which was inspired by reading Chapter 6 of Thomas Sowell's 1993 classic "Inside American Education."
You can read Chapter 6 HERE.
Today's episode features a long form interview with Richard Sander, law professor at UCLA Law School.
You can find more information about Richard Sander HERE.
I also interviewed Gustav Kuhn, Professor of Psychology at Goldsmith's University in London and Founder of The Magic Lab, about two ways politicians use the techniques of magicians to manipulate the public.
His website is HERE.
If you would like to see the magic trick which baffled Professor Kuhn, you can watch it HERE.
Notes:
• Our updated listener statistics to the podcast can be found HERE.
There are 3 ways to support the show:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $3/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.
You email Alan at: WolanAlan@gmail.com

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Mediocracy and Affirmative Action • Part 5 May 15, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In this episode, we continue to explore the subject of Affirmative Action which was inspired by reading Chapter 6 of Thomas Sowell's 1993 classic "Inside American Education."
You can read Chapter 6 HERE.
We touch on the following subjects:
• A case now before the US Supreme Court about affirmative action
• MIT bringing back the SAT exam
• Elite high schools turning away from academic admissions exams
• Will law schools no longer require that applicants take the LSAT?
• Why students can now get 100 extra points on their SAT for living in a rough neighborhood
• Affirmative action in TV commercials?
• Should casting TV commercials be the same as casting university students?
• Social Engineering
Today's episode features two separate interviews with scholars who study Affirmative Action:
1) Peter Arcidiacono: Professor of Economics at Duke University.
You can find Peter's CV and articles HERE.
2) Zachary Bleemer: Soon to be Assistant Professor of Economics at Yale University.
You can find Zach's CV and articles HERE.
Notes:
• Our updated listener statistics to the podcast can be found HERE.
There are 3 ways to support the show:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $3/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.
You can email Alan at: TheGeniusOfThomasSowell@gmail.com

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Affirmative Action and Sowell's "Inside American Education" • Part 4 Apr 23, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
New: Support us on PATREON at: Patreon.com/SowellGenius LINK
In this episode, we turn our attention to Chapter 6 of Thomas Sowell’s 1993 book “Inside American Education.” Sowell named the chapter “New Racism and Old Dogmatism” and his focus there was to analyze the real world effects of affirmative action policies which began in America in the 1960’s.
Sowell makes a very surprising and counter-intuitive argument in this chapter; namely, that affirmative action policies, also called preferential admissions policies, don’t actually benefit the people they are intended to help. Sowell makes the claim that these policies not only harm their intended beneficiaries but that they also set in motion a series of incentives and constraints which harm the university system as well as society in general.
This episode includes:
• A summary of Chapter 6;
• Interviews with students on campus of an elite Los Angeles University;
• Clips from other Sowell books, Sowell interviews and other podcasters.
Notes:
• Here's a LINK to the full Chapter 6 of the book so you can read it for yourself;
• Here's a LINK to the MIT announcement referred to in the podcast;
• Here's a LINK to the Rush song played in the episode, and HERE are the full lyrics.
• Our updated listener statistics to the podcast can be found HERE.
There are 3 ways to support the show:
1) Rate and review the podcast on Apple Podcasts
2) Purchase our Thomas Sowell Post It Note pads: You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $3/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address as well as your email address in the notes of the payment. International orders will cost more, please ask.
3) Support the show financially by subscribing with a monthly contribution on Patreon, link HERE.
You can email Alan at: TheGeniusOfThomasSowell@gmail.com

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

The Will Smith Slap and Sowell's "Black Rednecks and White Liberals" Apr 11, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
For this episode, we depart from our focus on Sowell and the American education system to reflect on the unexpected altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at this year's Academy Awards ceremony on March 28, 2022.
In particular, we will weigh in on this incident through the lens of Thomas Sowell’s 2005 classic book “Black Rednecks and White Liberals”.
• The listener statistics to the podcast can be found HERE.
We will update these stats with each new episode released.
• Beginning April 1, 2022 we are charging $3 per Post it note pad, which includes postage. Each pad has 50 different Sowell quotes to stick around the house as a daily inspiration or as a way to introduce your friends and family to Sowell's ideas. You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $3/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address in the notes of the payment.
• Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it helps new listeners find the show.
PS: In Episode 18 we will be hosting a debate between Wilfred Reilly and Rod Graham about Sowell's views on Affirmative Action, as presented in chapter 6 of "Inside American Education." I encourage you to read chapter 6 in advance, you can find the full chapter HERE. Consider this your homework assignment.
New: Support us on PATREON at: Patreon.com/SowellGenius LINK

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

The Dogmas of American Education: A Panel Discussion • Part 3 Apr 03, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In this episode, we discuss the educational dogmas presented by Thomas Sowell in Chapter 4 of his 1993 classic "Inside American Education."
In Episode 14 we listened to a 1993 interview with Thomas Sowell about the book.
In Episode 15, I summarized the first 3 chapters of the book and interviewed elementary school teacher Ramona Bessinger about whether or not the observations made by Sowell match her 23 years experience as a teacher.
In this episode we discuss the 6 dogmas outlined by Sowell in Chapter 4:
1) Multicultural diversity
2) Sensitivity
3) Relevance
4) Educating the whole person
5) Role Models, and
6) Self esteem

We are joined by a panel of well known public school teachers:
• Ramona Bessinger: a 23 year veteran English teacher in Providence, RI. Twitter: @RamonaBessinger
• Frank McCormick: Frank has taught history for 10 years at Waukegan High School and Loyola Academy in Illinois. He is an outspoken critic of the critical social justice movement and expresses his views on his Youtube channel HERE and on his Substack HERE.
Twitter: @CBHeresy
• Tony Kinnett: Tony was a public school science teacher in Indianapolis as well as a school administrator. He was fired from both of those positions for speaking out in opposition to an educational agenda which he feels is harmful to his students. He is also the founder of the “The Chalkboard Review” which is a website dedicated to featuring a diverse range of voices on all topics education related. Twitter: @TheTonus.
The listener statistics to the podcast can be found HERE.
We will update these stats with each new episode released.
HERE'S the question I asked on the Alan Dershowitz podcast.
HERE'S the question I asked on the Dinesh D'Souza podcast.
In this episode, I mention the Los Angeles bilingual programs currently available. Here is a LINK to a complete listing of all these programs.
• Beginning April 1, 2022 we are charging $3 per Post it note pad, which includes postage. Each pad has 50 different Sowell quotes to stick around the house as a daily inspiration or as a way to introduce your friends and family to Sowell's ideas. You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To purchase pads of printed post it notes, please Paypal $3/pad to wolanalan@gmail.com or Venmo to @Alan-Wolan. Please put your mailing address in the notes of the payment.
• Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it helps new listeners find the show.
New: Support us on PATREON at: P

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Ramona Bessinger on Sowell's "Inside American Education" • Part 2 Mar 16, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In the previous episode, we listened to a 1993 interview with Thomas Sowell about his book “Inside American Education,” and we let Sowell himself introduce us to the main themes of that book.

In this episode, I’d like to present a more structured summary of “Inside American Education” and discuss my thoughts on some of the key arguments of the first half of the book. Later in the show I interview an elementary school teacher named Ramona Bessinger about her take on the arguments in Sowell’s book and whether or not the trends identified by Sowell are still happening today, 30 years later.
Here's a LINK to the original book on Amazon.
Here's a LINK to my favorite quotes from the book.
You can find Ramona Bessinger on Twitter: @RamonaBessinger
Special thanks to Priyanka Wolan for reading the Sowell quotes used in this episode.
Finally, if you recognized the background music which fades in at the end of this episode, you got a special treat. This is a guitar version of Pink Floyd's "We Don't Need No Education" masterfully played by Gabriella Quevedo. Look her up on YouTube, you'll be glad you did.
Here are some useful resources to help enjoy the show:
1) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.
2) Thomas Sowell quotes sticky post it notes are still in stock! Up until now we have been offering the pads for free, but beginning April 1, 2022 we will be charging $3 per pad, which includes postage. Each pad has 50 different Sowell quotes to stick around the house as a daily inspiration or as a way to introduce your friends and family to Sowell's ideas. You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To get your free pad of printed post it notes, just email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, and please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line. Remember, this free offer is only valid until the end of March 2022. Thereafter there will be a charge!
3) If you’d like to actively participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using the Voice Memos app on your smartphone, then email the recording to me at WolanAlan@gmail.com. On a future episode I’ll play your comment and respond to it.
4) Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it helps new listeners find the show.
Thanks for listening, and see you for Episode 16 where we will be analyzing the second half of Sowell's "Inside American Education."
PS: In an upcoing episode we will be hosting a debate between two terrific scholars about Sowell's views on Affirmative Act

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Sowell and the American Education System • Part I Feb 23, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
This episode features a January 1993 interview with Thomas Sowell about his book "Inside American Education."
This episode is the first in a 3 part series about this book and about the subject of American education in general.
The original 1993 fifty minute Sowell interview is split up into bite sized clips and Alan interrupts the interview in order to comment on various aspects of what is being discussed and how it relates to the present situation 29 years later.
The original Youtube video can be watched in its entirety:
Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE.
Sowell talks about the "old McGuffey Readers" and you can find them on Amazon HERE.
Alan mention's St. John's College in the episode and promises a link to the school HERE.
Alan mentions an article about the issue of selective public schools changing their admission criteria because of racial quotas, you can find that article HERE.
Here are some useful resources to help enjoy the show:
1) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.
2) Thomas Sowell quotes sticky post it notes are still in stock! Each pad has 50 different Sowell quotes to stick around the house as a daily inspiration or as a way to introduce your friends and family to Sowell's ideas. We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To get your free pad of printed post it notes, just email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, and please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.
3) If you’d like to actively participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using the Voice Memos app on your smartphone, then email the recording to me at WolanAlan@gmail.com. On a future episode I’ll play your comment and respond to it.
4) Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it helps new listeners find the show.
Thanks for listening, and see you for Episode 15!
New: Support us on PATREON at: Patreon.com/SowellGenius LINK

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Josh Lewis and Alan talk Sowell. Uncut and Unfiltered. Feb 11, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
I was recently invited to come on the Saving Elephants podcast to discuss Sowell’s work, and this episode features that conversation.
Saving Elephants is the podcast hosted by Josh Lewis, a Tulsa Oklahoma based accountant and podcaster. Saving Elephants is a podcast dedicated to re-igniting conservatism among the Millennial generation, and Josh discusses all the great thinkers of the conservative movement, from Edmund Burke to Thomas Paine to Roger Scruton to William Buckley Jr to Thomas Sowell and many, many others.

Josh and I had a great conversation about Sowell and his ideas. I was honored to be the featured guest of Josh’s one hundredth podcast episode. Given that this is only our 13th episode, I know how much work it is to produce 100 episodes.

Here are some useful resources to help enjoy the show:
1) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.
2) Thomas Sowell quotes sticky post it notes are still in stock! Each pad has 50 different Sowell quotes to stick around the house as a daily inspiration or as a way to introduce your friends and family to Sowell's ideas. We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To get your free pad of printed post it notes, just email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, and please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.
3) If you’d like to actively participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using the Voice Memos app on your smartphone, then email the recording to me at WolanAlan@gmail.com. On a future episode I’ll play your comment and respond to it.
4) Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it helps new listeners find the show.
Thanks for listening, and see you for Episode 14 where we will be featuring a very special, surprise guest to join me in discussing Sowell's book "Inside American Education" published in 1993.
Stay tuned!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Whoopi Goldberg and Sowell's "Discrimination and Disparities" Feb 02, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In this episode, we explore the recent controversy surrounding comments made by Whoopi Goldberg on "The View" about the Holocaust, and what her comments reveal about the Sorting and Unsorting of people, as presented by Thomas Sowell in his 2018 book "Discrimination and Disparities."
We continue our conversation with Charles Love about the sometimes fraught and always interesting relationship between Black and Jews, which was recorded before the Whoopi Goldberg controversy.
We recommend you listen to Episode 11 before you listen to this episode, you'll understand it a lot better if you do.
Also, you can read Chapter 3 of "Discrimination and Disparities" HERE.
If you'd like to read a summary of the whole book, click HERE.
Here are some useful resources to help enjoy the show:
1) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.
2) Thomas Sowell quotes sticky post it notes are still in stock! Each pad has 50 different Sowell quotes to stick around the house as a daily inspiration or as a way to introduce your friends and family to Sowell's ideas. We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To get your free pad of printed post it notes, just email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, and please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.
3) If you’d like to actively participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using the Voice Memos app on your smartphone, then email the recording to me at WolanAlan@gmail.com. On a future episode I’ll play your comment and respond to it.
4) Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it helps new listeners find the show.
Thanks for listening, and see you for Episode 13!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Charles Love on Sowell's "Discrimination and Disparties" Jan 30, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In this episode, we discuss Thomas Sowell's 2018 book Discrimination and Disparities.
In particular, we focus on only one chapter of the book, Chapter 3, called "Sorting and Unsorting People."
You can read Chapter 3 HERE.
If you'd like to read a summary of the whole book, click HERE.
We discuss the following subjects:
• Educational sorting of people
• Sorting people by neighborhood
• Self sorting vs sorting by third parties
• Sorting into ethnic enclaves
• Sorting within the black community
• The special case of Dunbar High School
• Brown v. Board of Education
• Unsorting schools and neighborhoods
• Alan's personal reflections on the subject of sorting people
• The "rub off effect"
The show ends with an audio clip from the 2004 film "Crash", you can watch the video clip HERE.
Here are some useful resources to help enjoy the show:
1) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.
2) Thomas Sowell quotes sticky post it notes are still in stock! Each pad has 50 different Sowell quotes to stick around the house as a daily inspiration or as a way to introduce your friends and family to Sowell's ideas. We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. You can find all 50 digital images of the post it notes HERE, feel free to download them and use them however you like. To get your free pad of printed post it notes, just email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, and please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.
3) If you’d like to actively participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using the Voice Memos app on your smartphone, then email the recording to me at WolanAlan@gmail.com. On a future episode I’ll play your comment and respond to it.
4) Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it helps new listeners find the show.
Thanks for listening, and see you for Episode 12!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

West Side Story and Sowell's "A Conflict of Visions" Jan 01, 2022

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In this episode we explore the music from Steven Spielberg's new film "West Side Story" and how the themes playing out in the film are explained by Thomas Sowell's classic book "A Conflict of Visions."
In particular, we analyze the lyrics to two songs:
• "America," and
• "Gee, Officer Krupke"
This episode can best be appreciated by listening to the full songs and reading along with the full lyrics, links to both are provided here:
America audio on youtube HERE
America lyrics HERE
Gee, Officer Krupke on Youtube HERE
Gee, Officer Krupke lyrics HERE.
Trailer to the new Spielberg film HERE (highly recommended you see it in the theaters on the big screen with booming sound).
POST IT NOTES STILL AVAILABLE
Alan reminds listeners that he is offering a limited edition Post It Note pad with 50 different Sowell quotes free of charge to anyone who emails their name and mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com. You can view the quotes HERE and feel free to print out and use these designs as you wish.
LIVE BOOK CLUB
Alan is hosting a live Zoom "bookclub" on January 5, 2022 at 7:30PM PST to discuss Sowell's "A Conflict of Visions." If you would like to participate in this free event, email us at WolanAlan@gmail.com and we'll try to find a spot for you in the meeting.

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Alan Dershowitz on Sowell and The Wisdom of the Common Man Dec 22, 2021

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In this episode, Alan discusses his all time favorite Thomas Sowell book, "Intellectuals and Society", published in 2010.
Alan outlines 10 key ideas from the book:
#1: Intellectuals influence and shape public opinion, even when most people don’t read or even hear their ideas first hand.
#2: Intellect is not wisdom.
#3: Intellectuals are fools.
#4: Intellectuals win, not when their ideas work in the real world, but when other intellectuals approve of their ideas.
#5: Intellectuals have a vastly inflated sense of their own general wisdom.
#6: Intellectuals employ their superior communication skills to convince others and to evade the testing of their favorite notions.
#7: There are two basic visions of the world and human nature which are in competition with each other: what Sowell calls the “tragic vision” vs. the “vision of the anointed”.
#8: Intellectuals and Common Sense.
#9: Intellectuals are often attracted to violence.
#10: Intellectuals overvalue the type of knowledge they are good at, and undervalue more mundane and widely distributed types of knowledge, even though the later types of knowledge may be of more consequential importance in the real world.
We take a deep dive into idea #10 and explore how the American jury system is an interesting test case for where wisdom in society truly resides.
The show takes a field trip to a popular hipster cafe in Los Angeles called Intelligentsia Coffee, where Alan interviews random patrons about their views on the jury system.
In order to deepen our appreciation for the wisdom and logic of our jury system, world famous attorney Alan Dershowitz joins the show for a discussion of the pros and cons of our system of relying on so-called "regular people" for deciding important court cases.
POST IT NOTES STILL AVAILABLE!
Alan reminds listeners that he is offering a limited edition Post It Note pad with 50 different Sowell quotes free of charge to anyone who emails their name and mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com. You can view the quotes HERE and feel free to print out and use these designs as you wish.
LIVE BOOK CLUB
Alan is hosting a live Zoom "bookclub" on January 5, 2022 at 7:30PM PST to discuss Sowell's "A Conflict of Visions." If you would like to participate in this free event, email us at WolanAlan@gmail.com and we'll try to find a spot for you in the meeting.
Alan's favorite quotes from "Intellectuals and Society" can be found HERE.

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Michael Shermer on Thomas Sowell Nov 14, 2021

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
Today I sat down for a chat with Michael Shermer to discuss how Thomas Sowell’s ideas have impacted his thinking and his work. We met in person at Michael’s office in the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains, on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
Michael is the Founder and Publisher of Skeptic Magazine and the host of his own podcast, The Michael Shermer Show. He teaches a course called Skepticism 101 at Chapman University in California. From 2001 until 2019 he wrote a monthly column for Scientific American magazine called “Skeptic.”

He has written numerous books since the 1980’s including:

• Why People Believe Weird things, in 1997

• The Science of Good and Evil, in 2004

• The Moral Arc: How Science and Reason Lead Humanity Toward Truth, Justice and Freedom, in 2015, and most recently,

• Giving the Devil His Due: reflections of a Scientific Humanist, in 2020.

I first discovered Michael from his podcast. I continue to be amazed by the quality of the intellectuals who come on his show to discuss their books and ideas. His podcast is a who’s who of the best and brightest thinkers of our age, here are some examples since he started podcasting 6 years ago:

Richard Dawkins, Deepak Chopra, Ben Shapiro, Gad Saad, Jonathan Haidt, Heather Mac Donald, Steven Pinker, Daniel Kahneman, Bari Weiss, David Buss, Niall Ferguson, Jordan Peterson, the list goes on and on over 226 podcast episodes to date.

When I arrived at Michael’s office for this interview, he was decked out in his cycling gear and wearing one of those thick waist belts; I’m not sure if he had just gotten back from a 50 mile ride or had just helped to unload 100 cases of Skeptic Magazine from a delivery truck. Either way, Michael is not just a man of the mind, he’s also a man of the body, which is further evidence of his polymath status.
Here's a LINK to Michael's personal website. His twitter is @michaelshermer.
Here's the Justice Alito Letter mentioned in the episode.
Here are some useful resources to help enjoy the show:
1) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.
2) Thomas Sowell quotes sticky post it notes are still in stock! Each pad has 50 different Sowell quotes to stick around the house as a daily inspiration or as a way to introduce your friends and family to Sowell's ideas. We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. Just email us your mailing address and we'll send one to you. You can find photos of the post it notes HERE. Email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.
3) If you’d like to actively participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using the Voice Memos app on y

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Sowell's views on Minimum Wage Laws Nov 04, 2021

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In this episode we explore Thomas Sowell's views on Minimum Wage Laws.
I know, I know, it's not the most exciting subject.
But I chose this topic because it represents the perfect intersection of many of Sowell's broader approaches to analyzing important social questions. This episode will dive into some key themes of Sowell's worldview. In a fun way.
We've got:
• A clip from Victor Davis Hanson talking about Thomas Sowell rarely coming to the office. Victor Davis Hanson website HERE.
• Charles Murray and Gad Saad talking about Sowell's poor background and why it might have been an advantage to his later career. Episode HERE.
• Interviews with CalTech students and faculty talking about why they believe in minimum wage laws;
• An in depth conversation with an award winning economist who has spent many years studying the effects of minimum wage laws on society. His name is Dr. Jonathan Meer.
Yes, we threw the kitchen sink at this topic and we hope you find the show both entertaining and stimulating!
Here are some useful resources to help enjoy the show:
1) LINK to Thomas Sowell's chapter in "Basic Economics" where he discusses minimum wage laws. Try to read this before listening to the episode, if possible, but I summarize.
2) LINK to all the Sowell quotes referred to in the episode.
3) Info about our guest economist Dr. Jonathan Meer:
Dr. Meer received his Bachelors degree in Economics from Princeton University and his PhD from Stanford. He’s been a professor at Texas A&M University since 2009 and was tenured there in 2014. He is now the Mary Julia and George R Jordan Professor of Public Policy in the economics department and was recently awarded the University Professorship for Undergraduate Teaching Excellence. He teaches an online principles of microeconomics course that reaches nearly 3,000 Texas A&M undergraduates per year. LINK.
4) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.
5) Thomas Sowell quotes sticky post it notes are still in stock! Each pad has 50 different Sowell quotes to stick around the house as a daily inspiration or as a way to introduce your friends and family to Sowell's ideas. We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. Just email us your mailing address and we'll send one to you. You can find photos of the post it notes HERE. Email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.
6) If you’d like to participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using the Voice Memos app on your smartphone, then email the recording to me at WolanAlan@gmail.com. On a future episode I’ll play your c

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Robert Chatfield, Producer of the Thomas Sowell Documentary Oct 26, 2021

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
On today's episode, Alan interviews Robert Chatfield, the CEO of the Free to Choose Network and Executive Producer of the documentary:
"Thomas Sowell: Common Sense in a Senseless World"
Joining Alan to interview Rob is Paul Rossi, a return guest on the show (see Episode 3).
You can watch the full length 56 minute documentary for free on Youtube HERE.
You can find out more about the Free to Choose Network HERE.
During the conversation, Rob mentions an Izzit.org program about Sowell's ideas called "Geography is Destiny", you can watch it on youtube HERE.
USEFUL NOTES:
1) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.
2) Thomas Sowell quote sticky post it notes are in stock! We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. Just email us your mailing address and we'll send one to you. You can find photos of the post it notes HERE. Limited edition, request now while supplies last. Email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.
3) If you’d like to participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using the Voice Memos app on your smartphone, then email the recording to me at WolanAlan@gmail.com. On a future episode I’ll play your comment and respond to it.
4) Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it helps new listeners find the show.
Thanks for listening, and see you for Episode 7, where we will be discussing Thomas Sowell's views on Minimum Wage laws. I promise it won't be as boring as it sounds.

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Should Thomas Sowell win a Nobel Prize? Oct 08, 2021

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In this episode we speculate on whether or not Thomas Sowell will be awarded a Nobel Prize in Economics for 2021, which will be announced in 3 days.
To discuss this subject, we invited John Cochrane on to the show.
John used to teach Finance and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is now the Rose-Marie and Jack Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. John writes a blog called “The Grumpy Economist” where he explores many topics in the field of economics. He writes books as well as columns for the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and appears on many podcasts as well as hosting his own podcast called The Grumpy Economist.
John’s essay entitled “Sowell Nobel?” lays out the case why the Nobel committee should finally recognize Tom Sowell for his many contributions to the field of Economics. You can read the essay HERE.
Alan makes 5 announcements in his introduction to the show:
1) Libby is a smartphone app which enables you to read and listen to Sowell books for free.
2) TomSowell.com is the show website, chock full of useful information.
3) Thomas Sowell quote sticky post it notes are finally here. We are offering listeners one pad for free; no catch, no gimmicks. Just email us your mailing address and we'll send one to you. You can find photos of the post it notes HERE. Limited edition, request now while supplies last. Email your mailing address to WolanAlan@gmail.com, please put the word "Sowell" in the subject line.
4) If you’d like to participate in this podcast, make a comment or ask a question, just record your comment or question using your smartphone, then email it to me at WolanAlan@gmail.com. On a future episode I’ll play your comment and respond to it.
5) Please rate and comment about the show on your podcast platform; it really helps.
Here's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.
ADDENDUM October 13, 2021:
Thomas Sowell was not awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Economics. Again. Oh well, there's always next year!

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Slavery: A debate about Sowell's views on the history of slavery. Sep 28, 2021

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In this episode, Alan summarizes Thomas Sowell's essay "The Real History of Slavery" found in his 2005 book "Black Rednecks and White Liberals"
You can read the original Sowell essay HERE.
You can listen to the audiobook version of the essay HERE.
Because the subject of slavery is a complex one, we've invited two scholars onto the show to conduct an actual debate as to whether or not Sowell gets it largely correct in his essay.
Wilfred Reilly, our affirmative debater, takes the position that Sowell gets it mostly right.
Charles Boyd, his opponent in this debate, takes the position that Sowell gets it mostly wrong.
Wilfred Reilly is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Southern Illinois University and a law degree from the University of Illinois.

Dr. Reilly has so far published two books:

Taboo: 10 Facts you can’t talk about, published in 2020, and

Hate Crime Hoax: How the Left is Selling a Fake Race War, published in 2019.

He is also a co-host of the “Cut the Bull” Podcast, which focuses on culture and current events.
Charles Boyd is Professor of History at Georgia State University. He has written extensively on history and politics, with an emphasis on American slavery, abolitionism and civil rights. His Masters thesis, which he is currently expanding into a book, focuses on abolitionist support for interracial marriage. He is also the host of the “Minority of One” Podcast which focuses on history and politics.
Here's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.
If you would like to contact the host of the podcast, you can email Alan Wolan at WolanAlan@gmail.com

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Moral Crusades with Paul Rossi Sep 11, 2021

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
In this episode, Alan presents an overview of Thomas Sowell's concept of "Moral Crusades" and how they differ from ideological causes and movements.
The 11 distinguishing characteristics of a moral crusade are described and quotes from Sowell's books are used to illustrate how he viewed these characteristics.
Paul Rossi joins Alan on the podcast to discuss this concept and to reflect on how it applies to his experience standing up to and pushing back against the moral crusades which had engulfed the elite New York City private high school where he taught mathematics for 9 years.
Supporting material for the podcast can be found at TomSowell.com:
The 11 Characteristics of Moral Crusades are listed HERE.
The Thomas Sowell quotes cited in the podcast can be found HERE.
Paul Rossi's story in his own words can be found HERE.
A New York Times article about Paul Rossi can be found HERE.
Here's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.
If you would like to contact the host of the podcast, you can email Alan Wolan at WolanAlan@gmail.com

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Wilfred Reilly on Thomas Sowell Aug 23, 2021

NEW NEWS THAT'S NEWSWORTHY:
Basic Books (Sowell's publisher) is teaming up with The Genius of Thomas Sowell Podcast to offer listeners a chance to win 4 Sowell books. Enter at SowellBooks.com for a chance to win!
This episode features a conversation with Wilfred Reilly, Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Southern Illinois University and a law degree from the University of Illinois. Dr. Reilly has so far published two books:

Taboo: 10 Facts you can’t talk about, published in 2020, and

Hate Crime Hoax: How the Left is Selling a Fake Race War, published in 2019.

He is a prolific public intellectual, writing articles for Newsweek, Commentary, Tablet Magazine, Quillette and provides a daily dose of political commentary on his Twitter feed, which is not only smart, but also very entertaining. Highly recommended.
Wilfred Reilly joins us today to talk about the ideas and works of Thomas Sowell.
Here's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

Introduction Aug 13, 2021

• Alan Wolan, the host of the podcast, introduces himself and gives an overview of Thomas Sowell's ideas.
• 7 Guiding Principles of Sowell's intellectual Method
• What to expect in future episodes
Here's a LIST of all Thomas Sowell books by category.

Support the show

• Find me on X (Twitter) at @alanwolan
• Email me at WolanAlan@gmail.com
• Support the show at https://www.patreon.com/SowellGenius
• Purchase podcast merch at https://www.etsy.com/shop/GeniusSowell
• See all my links at www.alanwolan.com

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