The economist and public intellectual Thomas Sowell turned 95 years old in June. Outside of national politicians and high-profile celebrities, few public figures are as well-known inside the halls of academia as they are outside of them. It is rare for an academic to achieve this status, but considering that Thomas Sowell is exceptional in so many ways, it is almost tautological to describe him as such. He is black, right of center, and despite a halting path through the educational system, something he has commented on over the years, he earned a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago and has taught at some of the most elite universities and colleges in America.