Beyond the Box.

The Quest for Cosmic Justice

By Thomas Sowell. Free Press, A division of Simon & Schuster. $25.00, 189 pp.

Thomas Sowell is a joy to read.

One reason why is that he and I share many of the same dislikes--ultra liberal and ultra conservative politicians, social reformers and do-gooders, and all those who would "re-distribute" wealth.

Another reason is the vibrant way that Sowell writes. He calls the enemies of cosmic justice "morally anointed visionaries" and "surrogate decision makers" and other scathing terms that I wish I could remember to use.

But the real reason to read The Quest for Cosmic Justice is to share in the thinking process of Thomas Sowell, who is a truly remarkable person.

I realize that most CEOs don't like books that require the full attention of the reader and which also call for some digestion and after thought. Most CEOs like to thumb through books that quickly describe a new idea, reveal how other CEOs have solved a mutual problem, or simply enable the reader to nod knowingly when something like re-engineering or Six Sigma is being discussed.

Sowell offers something different. He writes about subtle and intricate problems that CEOs face these days--such as how to deal fairly with diversity, equality, and level playing fields; how to cope with regulations that don't make economic or common sense; and how to generate policies that are reasonable and fair to people with differing backgrounds, training, and talents.

Today's CEOs need to be conversant with the underlying subtleties of discrimination for and against people of different race, sex, religion, physical condition, or thought patterns. One needs only to recall the agonizing situations that CEOs have found themselves engulfed in the last year or so. Some CEOs have reacted logically and forcefully and some have not. Others have tried to keep as far away from the issues as possible. No matter what, these issues are not going to go away and Sowell is a good reference point.

I particularly liked the specific examples of good and bad practices that Sowell uses for illustrations in his book. His analysis of the charges of racial discrimination in mortgage lending is an eye-opener. His discussion of equality among millionaires, college graduates, and professional athletes is most interesting. His examples of Hitler, Lenin, Marx, Neville Chamberlain, and other notable figures are very cleverly presented. His summary of "The Quiet Repeal of the American Revolution" is a masterpiece of thinking and writing.

There are too few people these days who have the courage and the talent to write calmly about delicate subjects such as racial and sex equality, and justice. Too many of the writers who attack these subjects are from the far left or far right side of the equation, are academics with little practical exposure, or have a special ax to grind. Sowell seems to have none of these drawbacks and offers a balanced look at the issues.

Here's what he says about visions: "It is not visions, as such, that are inherently dangerous. What is dangerous are insulated visions. Nothing produces insulation from reality more effectively than power and money. Power means that decisions based on the prevailing vision override others' decisions, belief or evidence, regardless what the facts may be. Money means that support for the ideologically preferred conclusions can be purchased not only from "hired guns" but also by funding the research and writings of those committed to the same viewpoint, for whatever reasons, while those who disagree are left unfunded."

And here's what he thinks about justice: "With justice, as with equality, the question is not whether more is better, but whether it is better at all costs. We need to consider what those who believe in the vision of cosmic justice seldom want to consider--the nature of those costs and how they change the very nature of justice itself."

Every CEO should read at least one book a year that is of a broad, philosophical nature and that forces him or her to think beyond the box. I suggest that the The Quest for Cosmic Justice be put on this year's list. You'll be glad you read it.

Formerly the CEO of F.&M. Schaefer (1972-1977), Robert W. Lear is chairman of CE's advisory board. He also teaches at Columbia Business School, where he is an executive-in-residence. He is an independent general partner of Equitable Capital Partners, holds directorships with Scudder Institutional Funds; Korea Fund; and Welsh, Carson, Anderson, Stowe Venture Capital Co., and is a partner of Lear, Yavitz & Associates.