Books Race And Culture: A World View  by Thomas Sowell (Author)

"Race and Culture: A World View" by Thomas Sowell is an extensive study exploring the diverse cultural factors that influence the socioeconomic success of different ethnic groups globally. Sowell challenges popular social science dogmas that attribute disparities primarily to racism or economic forces. Instead, he emphasizes the role of culture—defined as the collective values, skills, attitudes, and work ethics passed down through generations—as a key determinant shaping group outcomes.

The book examines how historical experiences and cultural practices impact educational attainment, entrepreneurship, and labor attitudes across various peoples, such as Jews, Chinese, Indians, and Germans, showing that cultural traits often persist despite changes in environment or oppression. Sowell criticizes simplistic victim-based narratives and argues that understanding culture helps explain why some groups succeed economically and socially where others do not.