The Vision of the Anointed Book Summary

In 'The Vision of the Anointed,' Thomas Sowell critiques the elite vision shaping modern societal policies and beliefs. He argues that the self-anointed thinkers often impose their ideologies without considering the real-world consequences. Sowell explores the disparity between their lofty intentions and the actual outcomes of their policies, challenging readers to reassess the effectiveness of these so-called progressives. His sharp analyses reveal the underlying motives and errors of these elites, pushing us to question authority and conventional wisdom. This book is a thought-provoking exploration that compels readers to engage with the ideas that shape our world.

By Thomas Sowell

Published: 1996

""The vision of the anointed is not just the vision of the elites, but the imposition of their moral worldview on the rest of us, often without regard for the practical outcomes of their policies.""

Book Review of The Vision of the Anointed

Sowell presents a devastating critique of the mind-set behind the failed social policies of the past thirty years. Sowell sees what has happened during that time not as a series of isolated mistakes but as a logical consequence of a tainted vision whose defects have led to crises in education, crime, and family dynamics, and to other social pathologies. In this book, he describes how elites—the anointed—have replaced facts and rational thinking with rhetorical assertions, thereby altering the course of our social policy.

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"The vision of the anointed is not just the vision of the elites, but the imposition of their moral worldview on the rest of us, often without regard for the practical outcomes of their policies."

The Vision of the Anointed

By Thomas Sowell