Thomas Sowell books in order
American economist, social theorist, political philosopher and author
- Born
- 1930
- Country
- United States
- Books
- 46
Thomas Sowell has published 7 novels, 1 short story collection, 27 non-fiction books and 11 other books, beginning with Knowledge and Decisions (1980). The best-known is Basic Economics (2000). The latest is Charter Schools and Their Enemies (2020).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Thomas Sowell
Start here
Basic Economics
Thomas Sowell's most-read book.
Shortest way in
Black Rednecks and White Liberals
One of the most-read, at about 311 pages.
Newest
Charter Schools and Their Enemies
Published 2020.
Standalone novels in order
Knowledge and Decisions (1980)
Civil Rights (1984)
Applied Economics (2003)
Affirmative Action Around the World (2004)
Black Rednecks and White Liberals (Jun 2005)
The Housing Boom and Bust (Apr 2009)
Intellectuals and Society (Jan 2010)
Short story collections in order
Pink and Brown People and Other Controversial Essays (1981)
Non-fiction in order
Black Education (1972)
Classical Economics Reconsidered. -- (1974)
Ethnic America (1981)
The Economics and Politics of Race (1983)
Marxism (1985)
Education (1986)
Compassion Versus Guilt, and Other Essays (1987)
A Conflict of Visions (Jan 1987)
Preferential Policies (1990)
Inside American Education (1992)
Race and Culture (1992)
The Vision of the Anointed (1995)
Conquests And Cultures (1998)
Barbarians Inside the Gates--and Other Controversial Essays (1999)
A Personal Odyssey (2000)
Basic Economics (2000)
The Einstein Syndrome (2001)
Controversial Essays (2002)
Ever Wonder Why? And Other Controversial Essays (2006)
On Classical Economics (2006)
Economic Facts and Fallacies (2007)
Dismantling America (2010)
The Thomas Sowell Reader (2011)
Intellectuals and Race (2013)
Say's Law (2015)
Wealth, Poverty and Politics (2015)
Charter Schools and Their Enemies (2020)
Other books in order
Race and Economics (1975)
Essays and Data on American Ethnic Groups (1978)
Markets and Minorities (1981)
Choosing a College (1989)
Is Reality Optional? (1993)
Migrations and Cultures (1996)
Late-talking Children (1997)
The Quest for Cosmic Justice (1999)
Basic Economics: A Common Sense Guide to the Economy (2011)
Trickle Down Theory and Tax Cuts for the Rich (2012)
Discrimination and Disparities (2018)
About Thomas Sowell
Thomas Sowell is an American economist, economic historian, and social theorist. With widely published commentary and books—and as a guest on TV and radio—he is a well-known voice in the American conservative movement as a prominent black conservative. He is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and was a recipient of the National Humanities Medal from President George W. Bush in 2002.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Thomas Sowell FAQ
- How many books has Thomas Sowell written?
- Thomas Sowell has published 7 novels, 1 short story collection, 27 non-fiction books and 11 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Thomas Sowell's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Basic Economics.
- What is Thomas Sowell's latest book?
- Charter Schools and Their Enemies (2020).
- What is Thomas Sowell's most famous book?
- Basic Economics (2000) is Thomas Sowell's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.