Thomas Sowell is an economist who has written extensively. This is the second book of his that I have read. This book was relatively short but it took me longer than I thought it would to finish it.

Sowell writes “The difference between seeing economic disparities as due to differences in the production of wealth and seeing those disparities as due to the transfer of wealth from some people to other people is fundamental. History shows that either cause of economic disparities can prevail at particular times and places.”

Sowell covers many topics that address economics. When discussing poverty he writes “Isolation is a recurring factor in poverty and backwardness around the world.”

This book discusses geography and culture and the role those play in economic development. Corruption, government inefficiency, and minimum wage laws are additional topics. Sowell writes “More than simple mistakes are involved in promoting a culture of dependency among those whom government statisticians have chosen to define as living in poverty. A dependent voting constituency is very valuable to politicians”

Sowell also spend time discussing equality. He notes “Whatever the merits of any particular definition of equality of outcomes what must be faced are the consequences of perpetually promoting a fervent crusade perpetually frustrated by its own internal contradictions but whose frustration is instead blamed on some human enemies of a sacred cause.”

There is a lot of information in this book. It presents several theories about economics and can be used for thought provoking discussion. However I had a hard time getting through it and was ready for it to be over by the time I got to the end.

Overall I rate it 3 out of 5 stars.