The Vision of the Anointed by {author}: summary and why it matters
Thomas Sowell's 1995 study of how elite opinion makers push policies by claiming moral superiority and ignoring contrary evidence.
Also known as Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy
The book
| Author | Thomas Sowell |
|---|---|
| First published | 1995 |
| First publisher | Basic Books |
| Kind of book | Social criticism |
What it argues
Sowell applies the framework of his earlier book to the policies of the late twentieth century. He describes a pattern in which an elite, the anointed, identifies a problem, offers a policy as the solution, and when it fails, blames other causes and seeks more of the same.
The pattern has four stages: a crisis is declared, a policy is proposed as the answer, the results are the opposite of those predicted, and the anointed deny the evidence or claim that things would have been worse. Sowell describes examples drawn from education, crime, housing and public health, such as the sex education programs of the 1960s, the reforms of criminal law that reduced punishment, and the growth of welfare.
He argues that the anointed dismiss the dissenters as stupid or evil rather than answering them, and that they escape the consequences of failure.
Why it matters
The book is a pointed introduction to a style of reasoning that conservatives dislike and that opponents may find unfair. Its value lies in the demand it makes of all, left and right: to test claims against results.
About the author
The book was the second of Sowell's books on visions, after A Conflict of Visions in 1987, and it was followed by The Quest for Cosmic Justice in 1999. It was written in a style intended for general readers, with short chapters and many examples from newspapers and political debate, and it is the most frequently quoted of his books on social policy.
Who should read it
Readers who enjoy Sowell's prose and want a challenge.
Sources
Profile last reviewed November 8, 2026