Glenn Loury Tells All

Dinesh D'Souza's "The End of Racism" is a controversial book that argues against the existence of systemic racism in the United States. D'Souza contends that racism is primarily an individual phenomenon and that policies aimed at addressing systemic racism are misguided. The book has been widely criticized for its selective use of evidence and its dismissal of historical and contemporary accounts of racial inequality. It sparked significant debate and controversy upon its release, highlighting the ongoing complexities of the discussion surrounding race and racism in America. The book's arguments have been challenged by numerous scholars and activists who point to the persistent effects of historical and ongoing racial discrimination.

In this book, Michelle Alexander argues that the U.S. prison system has created a new racial caste system, where people of color are disproportionately incarcerated and disenfranchised. She examines the historical and contemporary factors contributing to this crisis and advocates for a more equitable justice system.

Written against the backdrop of the nuclear arms race in the late 1950s, this book sets forth Thomas Schelling's vision of game theory as a unifying framework for the social sciences. It explores areas where progress has been least satisfactory, including negotiations, war and threats of war, criminal deterrence, extortion, and tacit bargaining. Schelling's analysis highlights enlightening similarities between various conflict scenarios, such as maneuvering in limited war and in a traffic jam, and deterring adversaries versus one’s own children. His work emphasizes the importance of strategic commitments, the credibility of uncertain retaliation, and the exploitation of potential force rather than its application. The book has significantly influenced conflict resolution and the development of game theory across the social sciences.

Published in 1944, 'An American Dilemma' is a seminal work by Gunnar Myrdal that meticulously details the obstacles faced by African Americans in participating fully in American society. The book, funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, was written with the assistance of key researchers like Ralph Bunche. Myrdal's study emphasizes the 'American Creed' of individualism, civil liberties, and equality of opportunity, and how this creed contrasts with the pervasive racial discrimination of the time. The book was highly influential, cited in the landmark 'Brown v. Board of Education' case, and laid groundwork for future policies on racial integration and affirmative action.

In 'Micromotives and Macrobehavior', Thomas C. Schelling examines how small, seemingly insignificant decisions by individuals can result in substantial unintended consequences for larger groups. The book is notable for its analysis of social phenomena like segregation and tipping points, making it a foundational text in economics and sociology.