None
1 star
As a longtime fan of Thomas Sowell, I found Intellectuals and Society to be a major disappointment—the weakest of his many works I’ve read. Sowell sets out to explore how intellectuals often succeed professionally despite their ideas leading to failure in the real world. He also argues that intellectuals should "stay in their lane," avoiding commentary outside their areas of expertise.
Ironically, the book becomes a case study in exactly what Sowell warns against. He repeatedly strays from his own areas of expertise, blaming intellectuals for catastrophic events such as World War II, Hitler’s rise, and the outcome of the Vietnam War. These claims often lack nuance and feel overstated.
Much of the book relies on straw man arguments and becomes repetitive, recycling similar critiques without offering a compelling or balanced analysis. Rather than offering a robust critique of how intellectuals are rewarded despite being wrong, Sowell instead seems to …
As a longtime fan of Thomas Sowell, I found Intellectuals and Society to be a major disappointment—the weakest of his many works I’ve read. Sowell sets out to explore how intellectuals often succeed professionally despite their ideas leading to failure in the real world. He also argues that intellectuals should "stay in their lane," avoiding commentary outside their areas of expertise.
Ironically, the book becomes a case study in exactly what Sowell warns against. He repeatedly strays from his own areas of expertise, blaming intellectuals for catastrophic events such as World War II, Hitler’s rise, and the outcome of the Vietnam War. These claims often lack nuance and feel overstated.
Much of the book relies on straw man arguments and becomes repetitive, recycling similar critiques without offering a compelling or balanced analysis. Rather than offering a robust critique of how intellectuals are rewarded despite being wrong, Sowell instead seems to lambast the entire class for their failures—ignoring the essential role that intellectual debate plays in societal progress. For every misguided intellectual or idea, there are often others pushing back with more thoughtful, constructive contributions.
In the end, Intellectuals and Society misses the mark. A more valuable critique would have focused on the mechanisms that allow some influential thinkers to escape accountability for repeated error. Instead, Sowell’s broad-brush condemnations undercut the very argument he’s trying to make. Ironically, this book suggests that Sowell himself might have benefited from following his own advice and sticking to topics where his insights shine—such as economics and race.
