A Sorcerer in Search of Sources: The Wizardry of George Gilder

When David Stockman, the Sorcerer of supply-side Fantasia, characterized George Gilder’s Wealth and Poverty as “Promethean in intellectual power and insight,” Gilder quickly gained prominence as a New Right ideologue. After Ronald Reagan seconded the motion, Gilder became the Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

It now turns out that Gilder has imitated Stockman in several respects. A close look at Gilder’s sources indicates that his best-seller was something of a Troja...