2004-04-22 A Must Read!

This excellent, short, clear book should be part of everyone's referencelibrary, particularly those who wish to understand standard conservativeeconomic thought. The distinctions author Thomas Sowell draws betweenpolitical and economic logic should become a valuable part of each voter'smental apparatus. Writing to educate the general reader, not to furtherinstruct the sophisticated economist, the author advocates minimalgovernment interference. He calls for as little regulation as possible,mainly because regulations have unintended and usually undesirableeconomic consequences when seen with a long-range perspective. Sowell'sconcise, easy-to-read style cuts through the jargon of most economicdiscussions to lay bare the underlying, plain heartwood. It is easy toquibble here and there. Sowell doesn't offer lots of statistics andback-up material. And, he seems to argue against individual economicdecision making when he tilts a drug pricing discussion into a sermonagainst Americans buying medicine at low Canadian prices. However, we findthat his book stands on its merits nonetheless, as long as you understandthat the author has a political - as well as an economic - point of view.