Knowledge and Decisions Audiobook By Thomas Sowell cover art

Knowledge and Decisions

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Knowledge and Decisions

By: Thomas Sowell
Narrated by: Robertson Dean
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $23.36

Buy for $23.36

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

This reissue of Thomas Sowell’s classic study of decision making, which includes a preface by the author, updates his seminal work in the context of The Vision of the Anointed. Sowell, one of America’s most celebrated public intellectuals, describes in concrete detail how knowledge is shared and disseminated throughout modern society. He warns that society suffers from an ever-widening gap between firsthand knowledge and decision making—a gap that threatens not only our economic and political efficiency but our very freedom. This is because actual knowledge is being replaced by assumptions based on an abstract and elitist social vision of what ought to be.

Knowledge and Decisions, a winner of the 1980 Law and Economics Center Prize, was heralded as a landmark work and selected for this prize “because of its cogent contribution to our understanding of the differences between the market process and the process of government.” In announcing the award, the center acclaimed that the “contribution to our understanding of the process of regulation alone would make the book important, but in reemphasizing the diversity and efficiency that the market makes possible, [this] work goes deeper and becomes even more significant.”

Thomas Sowell is currently a scholar in residence at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He has been published in both academic journals and such popular media as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Fortune and writes a syndicated column for newspapers across the country.

©1980 Basic Books, Inc. Preface 1996 by Thomas Sowell (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Decision-Making & Problem Solving Economics Philosophy Sociology Inspiring Business Thought-Provoking Economic policy Economic disparity Career Economic inequality
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

“This is a brilliant book. Sowell illuminates how every society operates. In the process he also shows how the performance of our own society can be improved.” (Milton Friedman)
“In a wholly original manner [Sowell] succeeds in translating abstract and theoretical argument into a highly concrete and realistic discussion of the central problems of contemporary economic policy.” (F. A. Hayek)

What listeners say about Knowledge and Decisions

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    745
  • 4 Stars
    93
  • 3 Stars
    25
  • 2 Stars
    10
  • 1 Stars
    13
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    636
  • 4 Stars
    87
  • 3 Stars
    20
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    8
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    638
  • 4 Stars
    68
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    6
  • 1 Stars
    10

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome

One of the best books I've ever read. If you're a liberty loving individual, this book puts a lot of our government structure into perspective and really breaks down all thats wrong with it. Absolutely loved it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

How the Political Class Evolved in America

This is a classic that, sadly, is timeless. It would have been nice to look back on this book’s writings as no longer relevant but this is not the case. This book is still essential reading as the ideas observations and conclusions are as true today as they were when written.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love Thomas Sowell. Very informative !

Packed full of good information! A little on the monotone side. Still great work though.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Insight!

Sowell is a great intellectual mind! Full of Deep Knowledge. I am excited to read the next book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Read at least first half

The most important and foundational of Sowell's book. The first part is superb, while the second is boring at times. I enjoyed second part too because it is 30 years old and gives contemporary account, which is different than reading history books now.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding! Required reading for all!!

Outstanding! Required reading for all!!
I recommend that everyone who wishes to develop a better understanding of what we know—and how we decide—should read this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Terrific book.

Another empirical data driven masterpiece. Love the subject matter, the author, the way the information is delivered (in a no nonsense manner), and the narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A good book, but harder to understand than his other works

A good book, I think I would have to sit again to get most of it. However, it also seemed more dry than basic economics.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Part 2 made it worthwhile for me

As a non-economist, part one was a bit difficult to get through. Here he applies economic principles to social processes. Part two where he applied those principles to current trends in economics, law and politics was much more relatable and therefore more interesting for me.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must-read master piece

If you could sum up Knowledge and Decisions in three words, what would they be?

Best best and best

What was one of the most memorable moments of Knowledge and Decisions?

Every moment

What does Robertson Dean bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A good narrative

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

from cover to cover

Any additional comments?

I just love Thomas sowell, and this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful