The Genius of Thomas Sowell  By  cover art

The Genius of Thomas Sowell

By: Alan Wolan
  • Summary

  • 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.

    © 2024 The Genius of Thomas Sowell
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Episodes
  • "Honesty & Sowell" with Dan Ariely
    Apr 22 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 note

    Support the show

    • Text the show: ‪(646) 780-9104‬
    • Tweet me 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

    Show more Show less
    2 hrs and 13 mins
  • "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
    ----------------------------------------------
    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

    • Text the show: ‪(646) 780-9104‬
    • Tweet me 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

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 31 mins
  • "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

    • Text the show: ‪(646) 780-9104‬
    • Tweet me 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

    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 53 mins

What listeners say about The Genius of Thomas Sowell

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Awesome Podcast

Much can be learned from Thomas Sowell and this podcast which does such a great job exploring and challenging ideas and concepts.

It's tragic so few know about Sowell.
If you enjoy challenging your perception & assumptions you will enjoy this podcast.

Only feedback I have for the podcaster(Alan I believe). Please adjust volume of the ads and when you play clips because it's a big jump from your voice to loud ear bleeding addition of new sound without match in volume. Your podcast is great. Keep it up :)

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Fantastic Podcast

I have been reading and greatly admiring Thomas Sowell for years. I always feel some pressure to read Sowell more deeply or to take more facts away. This Podcast accomplishes that. Alan does deep-dives into bite size pieces. He demonstrates the genius of Sowell and his methods from multiple angles, pulls in interesting guests, serves up relevant conversation plus adds a dash of music. It is fun and it delivers a great return for the time spent listening. Thank you, Alan Wolan. Bravo!!

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This podcast is great

This is a very well thought out and well presented series. It is very informative and thought provoking. It covers a wide range of topics. There are a wide variety of guests who are quite knowledgeable. The series is appropriately named, as many of the ideas presented can best be described as genius.

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Where Has This Exceptional Person Been All My Life?

Amazing and disappointing at the same time. How much better would people in this land be if we were given or taught from our teachers from Thomas Sowell books? Mr Sowell is understandable, logical, uses common sense, researches his information, witty, confident, and can go on and on. I asked my mother, and other people and never heard his name before.

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More Debates Needed

I would like more in real time rebuttals by experts that have opposing views. And let the best man/women win. It’s easy to frame a fawning hour long podcasts nowadays. Setup more debates like the early slavery episode. I think there were rebuttals that you do not typically hear from either view.

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Much Needed!

Thank you for starting this podcast. As you mention many times, it’s criminal how little the general population knows about this extraordinary man. I have no doubt this will change in the coming decades!

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Fantastic podcast

This is a great podcast. If you are not familiar with the writings of Thomas Sowell, consider this podcast the red pill and see how far the rabbit hole goes! I was generally familiar with Thomas Sowell when I stumbled on this podcast and I’ve now finished 6 of his books and counting. Alan, you are making a great contribution to society here.

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A True Gem For The Sowell Enthusiast

Having read quite a few of Sowell's phenomenal books, it was a pleasure listing to the podcast highlighting his works.

I believe his contributions to the field of economic study definitely qualifies him to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Sowell is truly a literary genius and anyone who's had the pleasure of delving into how eloquently and seemlessly he highlights economic policy, could agree that he is truly the authority on the subject.

A gem for the Sowell enthusiast.

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love it

Thomas Sowell is great. I love listening to these podcasts. The interviews give even more info than you can get from just reading the books.

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Changed my life

Just a beautiful individual. I love his writing and have read his books.He literally shaped my future and I love him for it.

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