Four years ago I had the privilege of taking over Jasmine’s home education for her last ‘official’ year.  It was an absolute blast!  We worked on government/political science (line-by-line through the Constitution), history, philosophy/apologetics, systematic theology, chemistry, and more.  We had more fun than any parent/child or student/teacher combo should be allowed in a single year.  However, we both agreed that perhaps our greatest joy was the time we spent studying economics.  We read a number of books together including Basic Economics by Thomas Sowell.  It quickly became one of my favorite books of all times.

This past year, I went back through the book with Trey as he finished his last ‘official’ year, and I must say that it was even better the second time around.  I am a huge Sowell fan.  We have scores of his books, and I have yet to be disappointed by any of them.  Recently, I found him on YouTube, and I simply had to share (especially since so many of you responded so positively to the Peter Schiff videos). 

Sowell combines intellect, whit, confidence, grace, dignity and common sense in a way rarely seen in contemporary American society.  He is an academic with an uncanny ability to relate to the common man (as seen here in a Q&A session).  He is also a liberal’s worst nightmare... an articulate, winsome, credentialed, confident black conservative/constitutionalist (which is why you’ve probably never heard of him) who writes books that make people think.  Ironically, I didn’t know he was black until just a few months ago!  I just loved his work and wanted my kids to read it. 

I think you will enjoy this video on education, and I warn you... you’ll be hunting him down on YouTube as he is well worth listening to.  Also, as I watched this, I couldn’t help but contrast Sowell (standing flatfooted and fielding questions) with the supposedly “brilliant” Obama (who sounds incompetent without his teleprompter). Enjoy

VB

(note:  There is one instance where an inappropriate word appears on the screen.  It is unnecessary and unfortunate.  It is also the work of the editor; not Dr. Sowell.  Nevertheless, I believe the totality of the message outweighs the momentary inconvenience)