Provoking Thought: What Colleges Should Do for Students

One of a kind book, humorous but serious underneath, that deals with college as an adventure in ideas. Using anecdotes from his own experience, the author comments on higher education as personally witnessed over the last half century, and advances an educational philosophy for the new Millennium. He identifies the qualities that college should develop in students and explains why they are important and necessary if one desires to live a full life. He rejects the current view that the humanities have become irrelevant, and reveals the remarkable interconnections among the humanities, sciences, and technology. A sampling of some of the more intriguing chapter titles suggests the flavor and scope of the work, such as "Learning from Failing," "Saying What We Mean," "Getting Curious," "Education and Love," "Discovering Great Books," "Coping With Change," "Open Minds," and "Leadership Styles." This delightful, highly readable book is free of footnotes, bibliography, and other scholarly paraphernalia. It is for anyone, regardless of age or vocation, that cares about learning and recognizes its potential to open minds, lift spirits, and expand horizons.