Black Rednecks and White Liberals

Informative Book

Any additional comments?

I learned a great deal from this book. I feel it is one of the best books ever written about Black culture and White liberals. I like the fact Thomas Sowell backed up every narrative with facts. The book move along very quickly. I would highly recommend this book.

57 people found this helpful

Rethink your feelings on Black Culture

After reading this book I will rethink my ideals on black culture. I never really agree with the way African Americans gravitated to the notion that you were not really black unless you subscribed to hip-hop culture or dressed like a hoodlum. if you did not speak in slang or use proper English you were considered a sellout or you wanted to be white. this book breaks down the idea of wanting to be white and where it came from. The fact that our ignorant slang speaks and somewhat attitudes and not just holy hours but have transcended different cultures in generations for years is a surprise. after this book, I am more comfortable in my ideas of not wanting to assimilate to hip-hop culture or be like the others they call me whitewashed. I will push through my success I will make sure I am not falling into the black redneck or the liberal white mentality.

45 people found this helpful

A Fascinating Rebuttal To Common Race Teachings

My first book from Sowell and won't be my last. Sowell focuses on a number of topics regarding race relations between the majority and minorities around the world from Blacks in America to Jews to Germans after World War Two. Each one adding new information that I was never told in school, often because it does not fit the narrative commonly held on how race relations have occured and how they influence today. Sowell provides a different take on these events and thus a different stance on what policies and actions would improve current race related issues today. Fascinating read.

35 people found this helpful

Great Book, Somewhat Misleading Title

Thomas Sowell's scholarly expertise does not fail to disappoint in this enlightening book. Far from rendering blanket opinions, Dr. Sowell provides the reader/listener with an exceedingly well-sourced (but not at all dry) account of the origins of so-called "African American culture".

But the best surprise is that this book goes far beyond what the title appears to imply. Sowell provides one of the must elucidating explanations of the seemingly maniacal worldwide hatred of Jews that I have ever heard. He explains the role of the "middleman minority" and how their rational economic behavior often translates into class and ethnic stereotyping and hatred.

This book is a hard one to put down, and despite its scholarly merits, does not lull the reader into unconsciousness. Indeed, Sowell's writing style (the first book of his I've ever read) is crisp, clear, engaging, and always thought provoking. A solid narrative performance is also offered by Hugh Mann.

160 people found this helpful

Reshaped my view of race and race relations in U.S

Sowell reached back into history to find the origins of race and class struggles across the globe. Americans will be surprised to learn that many of their prejudices towards blacks were first targeted towards whites in the British Isles.

24 people found this helpful

Sowell An American Treasure

This book is an extraordinary example of clear, honest, and insightful thinking about people, culture, and history. Although the title would indicate that the book is entirely about some specific segments of American black culture and the white liberals who promote and seek to perpetuate such ills, it is actually broader in overall subject matter. Dr. Sowell, however, sticks close to his purpose as he ranges across time and geography, history and ideas. And his purpose is to draw a bead on the terrible damage done by the dishonesty and revisionism of self-serving and self-proclaimed moral and intellectual thinkers, teachers, demagogues, and other voices who are reported in the media. These, who Sowell sometimes refers to as the Anointed, seek to set those of us who they believe are not so blessed on the path of true moral perception and right thinking, and by their position in academia or politics have largely achieved their objective.

Thomas Sowell's ideas may be novel to many who have not looked beyond the classroom, the newspaper, or the television. If any would read this book, they will find reason and understanding supported by a world of facts, not selected facts. His presentation is clear, understandable, and easily absorbed by any people who care to think for themselves. This book is not a dry discourse or dissertation written expressly for scholars, but a lively and entertaining education. The narrator is excellent. Give it a listen.

93 people found this helpful

Thomas Sowell is my hero

Thomas Sowell book has taught me that history is the foundation to understanding ideologies, both economic and political.

Initially, the title seemed extreme to me -- BUT right away, this book is a history lesson. When I say to friends, "Do you know where the word 'redneck' came from?", they all give the same answer I had before listening to this book.

This book is a good investment, especially if you want to understand how history has shaped some of the radical thinking of today.

45 people found this helpful

I'll Never Call Anybody a Redneck Again

I've read a number of books by Thomas Sowell. This one is at least as good as any I've read. Dr. Sowell discusses a number of topics related to race and culture that need to be discussed but aren't. As always, his writing is clear, concise and flows off the page. If you read one book this year, make it this one.

52 people found this helpful

Racist ideas dressed up as cultural insights

This is one of those pieces of literature claiming to shed light and common sense on the perlexities of race issues in the USA. However, the author (who is shamefully a Black academic of notable achievement ) presents woefully superficial arguments that are based on deeply entrenched prejudices and internalised racism. The spurious use of uncontextualised historical evidence and statistics will fool all those who have only a superficial understanding of race history and seek only to validate the racist ideas they have been raised to believe are facts.

12 people found this helpful

A very slanted perspective

Although he makes a few good points, his sweeinging generalizations, emotionally charged language and the intentional bias reflected in the enormous amount of information omitted make this a poor choice for anyone seeking to better understand our history.

11 people found this helpful