Is Reality Optional?: And Other Essays (Hoover Institution Press Publication) (Volume 418)

Sowell challenges all the assumptions of contemporary liberalism on issues ranging from the economy to race to education in this collection of controversial essays, and captures his thoughts on politics, race, and common sense with a section at the end for thought-provoking quotes. Contains Previously Published Essays. Pt. 1. The Social Scene. Is Reality Optional? Grasshopper And Ant. Families Under Siege. Saving The Whales. Apologizing For Civilization. Being With It Wise Man. The Green Bigots Turn Bloody. Science Versus Unisex. Abusing Children -- And The Truth. Social Deterioration. What's News? The Real Anita Hill. The Chump Society -- Pt. Ii. The World Scene. India's Economy. China's Birth Control. Bilingualism In Singapore. Beggars In Paris. Western Civilization Under Siege. Testing Intelligence. The Mindset Of Munich. All Over The Map. Despotism In Retreat -- Pt. Iii. The Economic Scene. Rich And Poor Statistics. Needs Who Watches The Watchers? The Nobel Prize In Economics. Homelessness And Property Rights. Photography And The Economy. Social Security Fraud. Profit Without Honor. Non-profit Without Honor. George J. Stigler (1911-1991) -- Pt. Iv. The Political Scene. The Century Of The Intellectual. Media Bias. Wars Over Values. The Left Versus The Common Man. Super Safety. The Time Of The Tinkerers. Nibbling Away Freedom. Throwing Money -- And Intercepting It. Spoiled Brat Politics. Dangerous Government. Aids Testing. Drug Addicts And Busybody Addicts. What Is Conservatism? Aha! Statistics. Aha! Statistics (no. 2). Aha! Statistics (no. 3). Aha! Statistics (no. 4). Impossible Political Reforms -- Pt. V. The Education Scene. Excuse Time. Minority College Students. Brainwashing In School. The Economics Of Academe. Quotas Against Asians. Sex Education Fraud. The Future Of Academe. Unsung Heroes. Students As Pawns. Student Loans. Multicultural Madness -- Pt. Vi. The Legal Scene. Views Versus Integrity. The Anti-trust Picture. Supreme Second-guessers. Supreme Chutzpah. Will Property Rights Return? Court Politicians. Courting The Anointed. The Constitution -- Pt. Vii. The Racial Scene. Minorities Historical Apologies. Affirmative Action Backlash. Race And Religion. Apartheid In Adoptions. Stereotypes Versus The Market. A Look Back. The Un-quota. Leaders And Spokesmen. Gratitude To Fat Cats. Racial Statistics. Moral Monopoly. Racial Paranoia. The New Racial Etiquette. An Exceptional Need -- Pt. Viii. Random Thoughts. Random Thoughts. Thomas Sowell. Contains Previously Published Essays.