A Personal Odyssey
This is the gritty story of one man's lifelong education in the school of hard knocks, as his journey 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.
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Thomas Sowell's journey 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. This is his story. It is a story of life in all its exhilaration and pain. And it is the story of the tumultuous times in which Sowell's odyssey took place.Publishers WeeklyA nationally recognized economist and scholar, Sowell recounts his long, steady climb from a hardscrabble North Carolina childhood to the top ranks of influential conservatives within the Republican Party in Washington. Sowell, who is African-American, racked up a series of notable accomplishments through sheer determination and a refusal to let his race prove an obstacle to a productive life. His grit and focus became evident during his early years as a rebellious schoolboy in Harlem, an unremarkable stint in the Marines, his later studies at Howard University and his frustrating time at Harvard. Of particular note is his unwavering approval of leading economist Milton Friedman, who taught Sowell at the University of Chicago. Known for his attention to detail and the nuance of his theoretical writings, Sowell doesn't consistently display those skills to advantage: he often seems to race through key periods in his life, leaving the reader to wonder what elements of significance have been left out. However, he pulls no punches in his conservative stance on the thorny issue of race, which has frequently put him in opposition with the African-American community, and demonstrates his steadfast belief in meritocracy. He earns points for his revelations about his personal disappointments, his painful divorce and his frustrations with an unkind media, dispelling a common belief that he was a close adviser of President Reagan. Offering only a controlled, muted look at the author's inner world, Sowell's account occasionally seems arrogant, but often reflective and always provocative. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\|
Prefacexi1.Carolina in the Morning12.In Old New York133.A Four-Leaf Clover534.Halls of Montezuma685.Halls of Ivy1066.Drifting Along1347.Cayuga's Waters1708.Movin' On2009.California, Here I Come21810.Arrivederci24711.September Song27412.Memories302
\ Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly\ A nationally recognized economist and scholar, Sowell recounts his long, steady climb from a hardscrabble North Carolina childhood to the top ranks of influential conservatives within the Republican Party in Washington. Sowell, who is African-American, racked up a series of notable accomplishments through sheer determination and a refusal to let his race prove an obstacle to a productive life. His grit and focus became evident during his early years as a rebellious schoolboy in Harlem, an unremarkable stint in the Marines, his later studies at Howard University and his frustrating time at Harvard. Of particular note is his unwavering approval of leading economist Milton Friedman, who taught Sowell at the University of Chicago. Known for his attention to detail and the nuance of his theoretical writings, Sowell doesn't consistently display those skills to advantage: he often seems to race through key periods in his life, leaving the reader to wonder what elements of significance have been left out. However, he pulls no punches in his conservative stance on the thorny issue of race, which has frequently put him in opposition with the African-American community, and demonstrates his steadfast belief in meritocracy. He earns points for his revelations about his personal disappointments, his painful divorce and his frustrations with an unkind media, dispelling a common belief that he was a close adviser of President Reagan. Offering only a controlled, muted look at the author's inner world, Sowell's account occasionally seems arrogant, but often reflective and always provocative. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\|\ \ \ \ \ Library JournalImagine a life in which you succeed at every task you undertake, you vanquish every opponent in a verbal dual, and you show off your mental prowess outrageously and get away with it. This is the essence of Sowell's life story, as he tells it. Even his divorce is depicted as if he had no part in it. Modesty is not one of his strengths. The author, a well-known conservative educator and economist, heaps criticism on just about everyone whoever crossed him or attempted to thwart his ambitious rise from a difficult home life and semipoverty to national prominence. Like Reagan and Teflon, nothing sticks to Sowell, at least in his version. Either way, he must get credit for what appears to be total recall. Fact or fiction, listeners may judge for themselves. Jeff Riggenbach provides his usual proficient narration. Recommended. Mark Pumphrey, Polk Cty. P.L., Columbus, NC Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.\ \ \ Kirkus ReviewsFrom African-American economist and author Sowell, a forthright memoir of growing up the hard way in Harlem-without a father, but with an admirable refusal to compromise one's principles.\ \
