Maverick by Jason L. Riley

Maverick tells the story of one of the great thinkers of our time, Thomas Sowell. Without question, Sowell’s work has influenced me beyond that of any other writer or researcher. Any book on him will be a good one for me.

If you aren’t one for books on the history of economic thought, exploring race relations through the eyes of a conservative African American or biographies in general, this one probably isn’t for you.

You can buy Maverick here…

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Notes:

So, how would Sowell like to be remembered? “Oh heavens,” he replied eventually. “I’m not sure I particularly want to be remembered. I would like the ideas that I’ve put out there to be remembered.” p. 2

After a generation or two, few of us will likely be remembered. Rather than focus on a legacy of us being remembered, a focus on the impact of how we shaped the next generation seems more productive.

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While others argue over how to explain the different economic outcomes among different racial and ethnic groups, Sowell wonders why anyone should expect similar outcomes to begin with. p. 8

This is practical, as no group (or even those within most groups) have ever been completely equal in any particular aspect since the dawn of human history.

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They have encouraged the poor to believe their poverty is caused by the rich – a message which may be a passing annoyance to the rich but a lasting handicap to the poor, who may see less need to make fundamental changes to their own lives that could lift themselves up, instead of focusing efforts on dragging others down. p. 39

How often do we seek changes in others while neglecting ourselves? This extends well beyond economic status and would positively impact everything from marriages to diplomatic relations, I suspect.

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…semantic evasions… p. 52 

I just liked this phrase, used to describe the way some use clever language to mask the true meaning of what they intend to convey

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As elsewhere throughout my life, I made enough enemies to get me into trouble and enough friends to get me out. p. 99

This seems like the kind of balance I’d like. If I don’t make enemies, I am probably not being effective in some capacity. If I don’t have strong supporters around me, I will probably never survive long enough to continue in my effectiveness. 

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Rhetorical flourishes couldn’t compensate for lack of thinking. p. 101

In a world where smooth talk tends to outshine and outlast the truth, this resonates.

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The whole notion of a self-equilibrating system – the market economy – meant a diminished role for intellectuals and politicians. p. 103

Those in power are threatened by obsolescence. Unfortunately for them, most of the remedies needed in our world today require simplicity, not intellect.

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“We cannot expect that this problem will be solved by first communicating all this knowledge to a central board which, after integrating all knowledge, issues its orders. We must solve it by some form of decentralization.” (Friedrich Hayek) p. 127

No single person or small group knows as much about the needs of each individual than each individual does. Simply put, the closer to the individual (rather than government) that decisions can be made, the better.

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“The most basic question is not what is best, but who shall decide what is best. p. 132

See my comment above. All too often, mandates, laws and regulations are brought down as though from the mountain and thrust upon us – what school options are available, how much certain products must cost, etc. It is far more productive and liberating for individuals to make these determinations based on their own situation – where to send their kids to school, what types of housing to acquire or rent, etc.

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In a sense, he argued, we are not products of our environment so much as products of our culture, which encompasses more than our immediate surroundings. p. 143

Circumstance is an easy scapegoat, but we are mostly the result of more deeply ingrained beliefs and traditions passed down by the culture in which we find ourselves – for better or for worse.

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I think there are a lot of assertions and foregone conclusions that are stated over and over again, but repetition is not a substitute for facts. p. 145

We are bombarded with soundbites and “conventional wisdom” about a myriad of topics. Often, the sheer volume and consistency of a given soundtrack that is played convinces us, without question or skepticism, that the soundtrack must be true. A lie routinely stated does not make a truth.

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When Richard Epstein writes that the “study of human institutions is always a search for the most tolerable imperfections,” he’s expressing a constrained vision of the world that dates back hundreds of years.” p. 157

Sowell discussed two contrasting visions of the world – a “tragic” or constrained vision that believes humans are flawed and that we must therefore work within the parameters of imperfect human characteristics, and a “utopian” or unconstrained vision that believes, given the right institutions and framework for society, inequalities and much suffering can be overcome.

Perhaps we are a work in progress beyond what I can fathom, but based on thousands of years of poverty, unequal outcomes among individuals and groups, wars and other undesirable outcomes, I fit squarely with Sowell in the constrained vision camp. No amount of utopian thinking can fix humanity’s innate flaws.

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[The notion of contrasting visions] explains why people who attend anti-police rallies are also likely to support higher taxes on the wealthy and universal health care, and how those positions can be traced to a utopian view of the human condition outlined by men who were born before the United States even existed. p. 160

At first glance, it seems improbable that conservatives would tend to agree on five, 10 or 20 complex and seemingly unrelated issues. The same goes for most liberals. However, when you view these ideologies as based more on existential belief systems than on mere chance, it makes more sense.

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“Groups that have the skills for other things seldom concentrate on politics,” wrote Sowell. p. 179

The most objective economic progress made by groups of various races and ethnicities is rarely the result of leveraging the political system, but rather but leveraging skills that are demanded in the marketplace. 

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He concluded that it isn’t the immediate environment per se, but cultural values and human capital – skills, work habits, saving propensities, attitudes toward education and entrepreneurship, developed sometimes over long periods of time – that are the more dominant factors in explaining disparities. p. 199

It is easier to blame circumstance than personal inadequacies for a lack of progress or success, regardless of how either is defined.

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The second-order problem that Sowell identified was the attempt by public policy makers to help lagging groups through programs such as affirmative action quotas and set-asides. These efforts were based on the mistaken assumption that equal or proportionate outcomes are normal, and that where we don’t find them, something nefarious is afoot. p. 202

Our world is not inherently equal – a baby born today is helpless, impoverished and incapable of survival without a massive lift from others, while some people are able to build their own homes, grow their own crops and lead a prosperous life.

This reality is so obvious it is easy to overlook. Equality of outcome has never existed, and to assume it to be a necessary state is not only misguided but can often result in suboptimal outcomes.

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“The sins of others are always fascinating to human beings, but they are not always the best way to self-development or self-advancement…” p. 233

Preoccupation with what others do to you is not usually the most effective way to better yourself.