From renowned economist Thomas Sowell, a masterful, myth-busting treatise on global immigration

“This is a lively and provocative book that is important reading for anyone who thinks we have too many immigrants or too few, who favors affirmative action and multicultural programs or opposes them.”—New York Times

Today, most commentators look at the issue of immigration through a politically motivated lens. In doing so, they focus on only a piece of the issue and lose touch with the larger picture.

In Migrations and Cultures, Thomas Sowell offers a refreshingly clear-headed historical and global look at several migrations over a long period of time. Sowell shows the persistence of cultural traits in specific racial and ethnic groups and the role these groups’ relocations play in redistributing skills, knowledge, and other forms of “human capital.” Through this, he elucidates the social and economic effects of disseminating ethnic groups’ particular patterns of skills, attitudes, and lifestyles—both for the host countries and the immigrants themselves.

Migrations and Cultures is essential reading for anyone looking to go beyond the headlines and deeply understand modern immigration debates.