A Personal Odyssey

By: Thomas Sowell

Narrated by: Jeff Riggenbach

Length: 10 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Here is the gritty, powerful story of Thomas Sowell's life-long education in the school of hard knocks, a journey that took him from Harlem to the Marines, the Ivy League, and a career as a controversial writer, teacher, and economist in government and private industry. It is also the story of the dramatically changing times in which this personal odyssey took place.

The vignettes of the people and places that made impressions on Sowell at various stages of his life range from the poor and powerless to the mighty and the wealthy, from a home for homeless boys to the White House. More than an account of Sowell's life, this is also the story of the people who gave him their help, their support, and their loyalty, as well as those who demonized him and knifed him in the back. It is a study not just of one life, but also of life itself, with all its exhilaration, pain, constant striving, and deserved success.

©2000 Thomas Sowell (P)2001 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Offered a job simply because he was a black man, he turned it down and said why. Despite this righteousness, he has retained a sense of humor....Sowell admits to having had plenty of enemies, but enough friends to save him. This memoir should multiply the latter. Jeff Riggenbach...renders the narrative vividly." (AudioFile)

Some Thoughts

Exceptional life..........to me—-70 yr old white businessman. Thank you for telling UOUR story. I have read some of your published works and look forward to reading others. David Worsham

Best memoir ever.

I strongly recommend everyone to read and learn from this memoir.
It is guidance for all who are being oppressed anywhere in the world.

Great memoir, tough listening, bad editing.

Wonderful to get to know this man who by his writing on economics, race and culture fed my intellectual hunger for insights and ideas.
I really enjoyed the look into his life and times, also to see how a real intellectual acts and thinks. It’s all very fascinating and the memories have its warmth and sorrow and triumphs.
That being said the reader read to fast and the editing and the starts and stops really took me out of the flow far to often.
Wonderful book though, even with the issues.

Thomas Sowell the best man for the job

Thomas Sowell must have some more great stories that couldn't fit in this wonderful book! I wish I could sit in on one of his lectures, this book was so beautifully written.

Thank you Mr Sowell

Thank you for speaking so courageously whenever you saw the need. Thank you for sharing extraordinary insights into your world. Thank you for writing this book. You have uplifted my spirits and sharpened my understanding more than you might imagine. Best wishes always.

Loved it

As a long time fan of Dr. Sowell I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about his life experiences. I also found this book to be historically enlightening and can’t help but think more people should read this book, especially in today’s political environment.

The only criticism I have is that the narrator’s performance is fairly lackluster. I would have loved to have heard Dr. Sowell do the reading instead.

A Great Story

Thomas Sowell is one of the most inspiring persons of our generation. His story shows what integrity and having standards looks like and what possible outcomes can come from your own life if you behaved in a similar fashion.

Prolific

Having read quite a few of Sowell's writtings, APO gives a great deal of insight into how this literary powerhouse began his fateful path toward academia and authorship, with having written some of the most intellectually provocative works of our time. Sowell's writtings are truly an inspiration for the contemporary intellectual community. A Must Have In Your Literary Arsenal.

A soul growing through societal manipulation

Loved the insights of seeing the world as it was & how it's devolved to what we have today. True growth & understanding comes in looking outside & beyond the status quo.

Uncompromising and honest.

Great glimpse into the life of one of the great minds of our time. If more would read Sowell we would be much better off.