In the work, Sowell argues against the notion that economic equality is solely natural, and examines geographic, cultural, social, and political factors that have contributed to the wealth of groups and nations.

Writing in The Washington Post, Steven Pearlstein argued that Sowell's pinning of the blame for black poverty on multiculturalism and welfare is unconvincing, and added that "ghetto culture" cannot explain the problems in white America.

Pearlstein wrote that the book "is filled with such instances of overreach" and stated, "What we [...] learn from Wealth, Poverty and Politics is that there is apparently no level of inequality of income or opportunity that Thomas Sowell would consider unacceptable.

"[3] In a column for conservative publication The Independent Review, Gary M. Galles of religious college Pepperdine University stated that Sowell "thinks carefully and creatively through widely held premises and the narratives they support, bolstering his analysis with a vast array of evidence that offers insights for the intellectually curious".

[7] Reihan Salam of National Review criticized Sowell's view on the chief obstacles facing poor native-born blacks, suggesting that their problems "can be explained at least in part by the failure of governments to protect African Americans from violence.