Sowell’s career has spanned over six decades, during which he has held positions at
several prestigious institutions. After completing his Ph.D., he worked as an economist
for the Department of Labor and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. In 1965, he
became an assistant professor of economics at Cornell University, where he remained
until 1969. He then joined the faculty at the University of California, Los Angeles
(UCLA), where he taught until 1980. Since then, he has been a Senior Fellow at the
Hoover Institution.
Sowell has written over 30 books on a wide range of topics, including economics,
political philosophy, race, and culture. Some of his most influential works include
“Knowledge and Decisions” (1980), “A Conflict of Visions” (1987), “The Vision of the
Anointed” (1995), and “Basic Economics” (2000). His writing is characterized by its
clarity, rigor, and accessibility, making complex economic concepts accessible to a
general audience.
Sowell has received numerous awards and accolades for his work. He was awarded the
National Humanities Medal by President George W. Bush in 2002 for his contributions
to American intellectual history. In 2003, he received the Francis Boyer Award from the
American Enterprise Institute for his contributions to classical liberal thought. In 2013,
he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama for his
contributions to education and economic analysis.