Campuses Books

Excellent book. Great for any campus that deals with International Students. It gives detail information on how to handle and communicate and understands our international students/scholars on our American campuses. GO BUY THE BOOK because it's needed all across America--Even for those not on a campus.

There was tragedy and sadness from unrequited loves. A loves B. B loves C. C loves others. The first 400 pages were sad and a little tedious to get through. The last 350 pages were wonderful! One georgeous man was shallow and evil, always having short-term love affairs. Another gorgeous man was wild with women when young, but was faithful and good when he finally ended up with the right woman.

CAUTION SPOILERS: It was a good reminder of how loving the wrong person can ruin one's life. Lena was a doormat for Louis. Doing everything for him including pretending not to be angry when he would go off with other women. Her only goal was that he would come back to her later. Then, her daughter Kit fell in love with Stevie, who appeared to be similar to Louis. He had many affairs before he ended up with Kit, but, he was not like Louis which made for an interesting comparison. I loved the why and how Kit first asked out Stevie. She did it as a favor to someone else. I enjoyed how she was trying to flirt with him, feeling that he would see through her phony attempts, yet she was surprised that he liked what she thought of as "fake flirting". I loved their relationship, which began after page 440.

An interesting side story was Sister Madeleine, who lived in a hut as a hermit. Most of the local people would visit her for advice. Her guiding views of life were "to do the right thing" and that meant "to do what hurt nobody". People would tell her their secrets and she never revealed those secrets. She had an interesting way of talking so as to give good advice yet not reveal secrets from others.

Even though Lena was a doormat to Louis, I loved seeing her competent, smart business woman side. I loved how she talked Jessie into hiring her and then grew the business into something much larger and very successful, all the while giving credit to others. She made everyone else look great. She never took any credit for things, but it was understood that she was the reason behind the company's success. It was a wonderful talent which I think many people could benefit from if they could do something similar in the "real world".

As I mentioned, the first half of the book was a little hard to get through, but I'm definitely glad I read it. I know I will think of things from the book from time to time. I would have liked to have seen more from the point of view of Louis. Sexual language: none. Number of sex scenes: none. Setting: prior to 1995 in Lough Glass and Dublin, Ireland, and London, England. Copyright: 1995. Genre: human relationships fiction.

This is still my favorite Binchy novel and I have read them all. The scope of these characters' stories, the decision moments that impact the rest of their lives and the lives of those around them is finely drawn. Weaving all the lives together with good pacing took real skill.

Although this novel really struck a chord with me by dealing with the "woman leaves comfortable home for love her life" bit, I found it all too similar to Tara Road, the only other Binchy novel I have read as of yet. "Handsome man runs around on the woman who is madly in love with him and she either doesn't notice or pretends not to". However, I found it refreshing that this one at least had other characters and storylines running to distract from how similar the Lena/Louis relationship was to the Ria/Danny relationship in Tara Road. I still feel that Ms. Binchy is a good storyteller in that she makes you care about what happens to basically all of the characters (except, of course, for the wandering husband figure). She's kept me going, I will certainly read another of her books when I get the chance.

This book is one of my favourite easy reads. I rarely re-read a book - but I have re-read this one many times. The characters are realistic and modern for their times. It is a good story line - maybe a little slow - but you can skip the bits that don't fit. Some reviewers have complained of the ending - I agree it was abrubt - but I liked it - it wasn't too sweet. I would recommend you try this book.

I loved Glass Lake. That is until I got to the end. Did Kit and Stevie get married. That was not clearly explained. I can guess, they did or guess that they did not. I wish I knew. A strange ending to a very good book.

It is difficult to believe that only forty years ago, American colleges and universities tilted toward the right and that leftist thought and professors were the exception rather than the rule. Then starting in the mid 60s, the left tilt began, and with it an entirely new paradigm of pedagogy became institutionally entrenched. In THE SHADOW UNIVERSITY, Kors and Silverglate detail not only how this came about but also sound a clarion call to today's parents that when deciding which school to send their children that they ought to consider that school's speech codes at least as important as the rankings in US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT.

The first thing that all incoming freshman receive at most colleges is a political/social/sexual/ethnic indoctrination that compares in both kind and degree to that which used to be used in thuggish regimes of the past. They are told that white men are inherently biased and racist, that blacks have a right to exhibit the same racist attitudes that are prohibited to whites, that the credo in each catalogue that boasts of freedom of speech is immediately qualified by a depressingly long list of forbidden deeds, words, and thoughts, and ultimately that a double standard in the treatment of favored groups is quite the accepted thing.

The authors consider the writings of Herbert Marcuse as a prime reason for this astonishing turnaround. In the 60s, Marcuse argued that freedom of speech for all really amounts to a denial of that freedom towards the weaker such that the stronger could continue to dominate. His solution was to deny or reduce freedom of the stronger so that the weaker could compete on what he saw as a more level playing field. His new theory instantly was trumpted by the left as the answer to institutionalized racism. In fact, every speech code today can be directly traced to Marcuse. Most of the chapters in their book list many examples of quotes taken directly from administrators themselves in their written justifications for their decisions to punish erring students like Eden Jacobowitz of Penn, who in 1993 called a raucus group of Afro-American females "water buffalo," a term that to him meant a rude collection of obnoxious revelers but to them meant a racist euphemism. Jacobowitz spent the next year in politically correct hell, not for what was in his mind but what was in theirs. It is this probing of the inner thoughts of students that Kors and Silverglate find reprehensible. The solution they claim is that sunlight in the best disinfectant.

Such books as THE SHADOW UNIVERSITY represent a badly needed wake up call not just for students and parents, but for the power-hungry administrators who fail to realize that the pendulum that swung left in the 60s could just as quickly swing right, crushing the careers of those who fail to see the new political writing on the wal..

The Shadow University takes the political correctness horror of the early 90's and puts it into prospective. It was a nightmare time for professors, even those with tenure. No one cared. The female student was always right. No one, student or teacher, was safe from attack. Universities did not follow their own rules. Many good professors lost jobs and left teaching. What a sad day for higher education. This book tells the story and it is sad.

I remember trusting Siskel & Ebert for movie reviews and Consumer Reports for cars and other products. Now I have a sure fire way to determine whether or not I want to read a book (vs. judging it by its cover). I simply read Publisher's Weekly review and do a George Constanza -- the exact opposite of what they say. It has worked brilliantly. Thanks PW.

A lawyer and a professor team up to take on the American university establishment! But in this case, the two Davids have an ally: the U.S. court system. Taking college after college to court, the pair not only obtained results exonerating those faculty and students denied their rights of free speech and due process but logged some blistering denunciations of the colleges for their denial of basic Constitutional rights from the judges who heard the cases. Kors and Silvergate have since set up a website where students and teachers can register what is being done to them. Visit it at www.thefire.org and read some of what's happening. If that doesn't scare you, don't bother watching Frankenstein.

They have also set up a new website, www.campusrights.org, where students can find information on how to defend and protect their own rights on campus.

The only thing one can say against the book is that its focus is so restricted. But that is also the book's strength. For a full and thorough account of what is going on and how it got that way, you need to read other recent books on the subject, such as The Rape of Alma Mater. One of the nice things about The Shadow University is that the two authors are liberals. This is not some biased conservative ranting.

It's a pity that conservatives don't read this book and find out what true liberalism is. If they did, maybe they'd stop calling the people who have taken over the colleges "liberals." And maybe true liberals would stop thinking that the current power elite are liberals and that it is the duty of every right-thinking person to agree with them.

This book will make you angry. If it doesn't, then you did not READ it. Many of the examples in the book made me rethink how the college life is. Too often, Americans look at the universities as places of open and honest debate about ideas regarding society and then we are disappointed when we see that academia is stifling and punishing free expression.
Speech codes and suppression of politically incorrect ideas are shown throughout the book as harmful not only to the education process, but to American ideals as well.
This is an excellent expose' indicting the so-called tolerant universities as the most intolerant of them all. Whatever happened to freedom of expression? You can't say that on college campuses in the US anymore.

If you know a young person in college who is a believer, they need this book. While every story is not perfect, they are generally very inspiring and helpful. Most college kids wonder if they are the only ones dealing with the issues they face, and this book makes it very clear that they are not alone. The benefits cannot be denied, because hearing from their peers about these issues makes a greater difference than it ever would coming from anyone else. Put it on your gift list this year.

The research indicates that anywhere from 75 to 90% of high school seniors who identify themselves as Christians will abandon their faith by the time they graduate from college. These are frightening statistics.

Abbie Smith's Can You Keep Your Faith in College? introduces readers to students who are Christians at different stages of their journey with God. They tell their stories about that journey, the good and the bad. These students do not have all the answers but they do believe that God is living on the campuses of America.

The students' stories cover subjects such as: the Classroom, The Dorm, The Pressures, The Greeks, Dating, Transition, Sports, Going Abroad, Barriers and Small Moments.

No matter where you are in your life and journey with God, every student should be able to find several stories that inspire and resonate with them.

I enjoyed "The Harder Way" (Duke University) by James M. It made me think about life and choices in general. One of my favorite stories is "Jesus and Plate Tectonics" (Washington University) by Steven R. We all need the courage of our convictions. The story that hit me square between the eyes was "Embarrassed by Jesus" (University of Colorado) by Dana W. Read it and think about similar experiences in your life. I'm sure everyone has had one.

Armchair Interviews says: Can You Keep Your Faith in College? is a book that reminds us all that we can overcome the obstacles that we or others place in our path as we make our faith journey on the campuses of America.

My church recently started a campus ministry where I lead worship. It's been a few years since I graduated from college, but I can still recall the difficulties. Recently, I have come across some amazing testimonies of how difficult the transition from home to college is in today's world. Can you Keep Your Faith in College? addresses these difficulties in a very real and practical way. I say "very real" because it is written not by pastors or parents, but by actual students that are living the adventure of the college journey at the present, which gives this book credibility, in my opinion.

Addressing normal college situations like dorms, class, dating, sororities/frats, parties, church and outside college activities these young believers share their ups and downs, problems and solutions, giving great advice on how to protect and renew their faith in Christ. I meet a lot of young believers, and especially of late, brand new college converts in the minsitry I serve, and I am glad to have this resource to share with them as a means of encouragement and discipleship.

I would recommend this book to parents, students, and churches that have campus ministries or just lots of young men and women.

Lodge is one of the few real literary successes in the academic world. Compared frequently to Kingley Amis' "Lucky Jim," this novel is a true insider's view, rather than the work of an embittered, if witty, outsider. Lodge is a professor, a recognized and accomplished essayist, author of literary critiques and textbooks, along with his series of amusing novels of academic manners. I love him, but possibly less so as the years go by. Still, this is my favorite. His cross-cultural satirical treatment of an American trading places with an Englishman is what makes this so much fun. He is very good on the obsession with money that powers the lives of those who once were termed intellectuals, but who are really social climbers with brains. Lodge stays in the Jeevesian mode of love-satire, by which I mean, he never hates the subjects of his study. He makes fun of academics but doesn't despise them. His satire is not as wicked as Waugh's, not as brilliantly observed, either. Still, this is good stuff, lots of fun, especially if you have spent any time in a university.

Other reviews seem to have done a good job of summing up the plot, so I'll just skip to brief interpretations. I was introduced to David Lodge through McSweeney's, and although I've only read two of his books so far, I've thoroughly enjoyed both. I actually read the sequel to "Changing Places" ("Small World"), first and was pleasantly surprised to find that each book was done in a distinctively different style, reading the second before the first was not confusing and actually added to the charm of the characters (since you know the whole time how they're situation ends up!). The character of Zapp is one of the best I've encountered, and even if you start out hating Phillip Swallow at the start for his wishy-washy, thin-skinned demeanor, you end up enjoying the messes he gets himself into has he goes through a spiritual awakening of sorts (which is also satirized). The ending could be seen as a bit too meta, but it works.

I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to take a humorous look at the collegiate system of the 60's, and "Small World" for those looking for a thorough skewering of literary criticism and academic sponsorship.

This is the first Lodge novel I've read and I am hooked. Written in the late `70's, it is set in the easily visitable past of 1969, a globally social watershed year, especially on university campuses. Lodge looks at two literature professors, one from a British university, Rummidge (probably Birmingham) and the other, Euphoria State (a thinly disguised Berkeley), who exchange jobs for a semester. Lodge slides up and down the comedy ladder in this hilarious exploration of two ducks out of water, who come to inhabit each other's places in the classroom, campus politics, homes and families.

Mild-mannered Philip Swallow (Brit) and edgy Morris Zapp (American) are both headed into middle-age, have been comfortable in their jobs and accustomed to their family lives. They are sitting ducks (sorry about the duck metaphors, don't know why the book inspires them but it does) for the personal and public upheaval of 1969. Lodge makes hay of fusty Rummidge and trend-leader Euphoria State. To say more about the plot would be to spoil a lot of jokes and surprises. Do be prepared for the fact that this is not a straight narrative: Lodge deploys more than one kind of storytelling and the ending is not exactly expected, though it is true to everything that's gone before.

Note: In CHANGING PLACES, Swallow invents "Humiliation," a party game for English majors and those who claim to be well-read. It is getting a revival of sort in the media of late, though without the consequences it has in the novel. A player confesses to not having read a major canonical work. He/she gets one point each for every other player who has read the book.

Having participated in an academic exchange with a school in England, I purchased this book on the recommendation of a friend who also had a similar experience. I was anticipating something quite different from what I read. Although I found the general story line familiar and amusing, I did not care for the overall work. The book will have little meaning to a reader unless (a) you were either a student or teaching during the 60's or (b) you actually participated in a teaching exchange preferably in the UK.

Changing Places is a hilarious send up of academia. Although set in the later 1960's and somewhat dated, the humor relating to the ineffable foibles of the academic class in both Britain and America is timeless.

The story surrounds the yearly professorial exchange between two schools, Rummidge University in England and Ephoric State in America (a thinly disguised Berkely). The circumstances of the exchange provide for two very different characters making the move for entirely different-yet similar-reasons. They find themselves in circumstances beyond their ken in both cases and this leads to a certain amount of situational comedy, funny enough in its way but second rate compared to the forthright academic skewering that Lodge puts forth throughout this novel.

There is lot of implied sex in the novel, nothing graphic but the reader is forewarned. Most of it is between the wives of the absent professors and the new arrival, but the general "free love" of the 60's is depicted as well.

On the whole one of the best academic comedies I have read in a long time. Not quite up to Russo's standards, but very well done nevertheless. Even better, this is but the 1st book of a trilogy involving the same set of characters. The second installment is next in line on my reading list and it's a testament to "Changing Places" that I can hardly wait to get to it.

Very enjoyable light reading for any occasion.

I got this book after reading the reviews posted here, and found it rather disappointing. First, the authors have taken from Grant Wiggins the idea that 'authentic assessment' should include assignments that test 'real-world' skills and interpreted it *very* literally; as a result you will find many examples here from soil science, forestry and engineering, but almost nothing at all from the humanities (I teach history and found no applicable examples). Combined with this is an implicit argument that the point of education is preprofessional training; the authors embrace the idea that the student is a consumer purchasing a skill set from teacher-salesmen. On top of that, it's very clumsily written. I found this a narrow and discouraging view of student-centered learning, which at its best not only applies well to the humanities, but offers a wider perspective on the 'preprofessional' as well: missing here are the ideas of generating essential questions, any discussion of how to incorporate those into syllabus design, or a coherent bigger picture in which engaging assignments that duplicate 'real-world' work are fitted into a learning trajectory. There is, however, a fair amount of discussion of the practice of assessment techniques such as the portfolio etc., but this can also be found in books that apply to a wider range of educational topics. Readers, esp. those from the humanities, interested in learner-centered assessment *and teaching* would be better served by going straight to Wiggins instead of reading the excerpted and narrower version of his arguments presented here.

I had to buy it for my Educational Evaluation class. It is very boring to read. It is stuffed with annoying quotes, and repeats the same thing over and over.
Very few examples of how to shift from teacher-centered to learner-centered method of teaching...

This book provides extensive information about using online environments in the classroom. It details implementations that worked, and implementations that didn't work to show how to implement online enviornments to best benefit students.

As a faculty developer and instructional designer I am constantly on the lookout for good resources. Every once in a while, a jewel turns up. I must say that this is a pure jewel. I have had my copy for about six eeks and have read it once and am in the process of rereading it a second time.

For faculty who really want a good understanding of student-centered instruction as well as assessment, I higly recommend this book.

It is replete with examples and the section on developing and using rubrics is exceptional.

I consider this book a must have for faculty member's professional library.

Jim

Huba and Freed bridge the gap between assessment and student-centered teaching and learning. Throughout the text the authors include reflection questions to trigger thinking and changes in mental models. While the thrust of the book is conceptual, there are many practical suggestions for implementation in areas such as learning outcomes, rubrics, and other related areas of assessment. While compatible with other treatments of assessment, this is a unique perspective.

In spite of the federally-documented continuing decline in alcohol use among American college students, the authors promote the view that there is an epidemic of collegiate alcohol abuse. They rely heavily on anecdotal rather than systematically-collected evidence to support this view. Wechsler and Wuethrich contend that this alleged dangerous epidemic requires a number of strong public policies against alcohol that are prohibitionist in nature. However, attempts to impose total abstinence on adults age 18 to 21 would not likely to be successful and would almost certainly be counter-productive. Prohibition has always been a failure and led to less frequent but heavier and more dangerous consumption..

Few people realize that alcohol is involved in the deaths of six times more Americans under the age of 21 than all the other illicit drugs combined. Underage drinking is the #1 youth drug problem in our country, but far too many parents, teachers and administrators look the other way and view it as a rite of passage. "Dying to Drink" does an outstanding job laying out the true scope of underage drinking and its consequences. As a long-time advocate against drunk & drugged driving and underage drinking and as a state lawmaker, I believe this book is a great resource to students, schools, parents and communities. Many thanks to the authors for telling the truth about underage drinking and for giving concerned citizens guidance on how to take action.

In their efforts to rally the public to action, the authors have exaggerated the actual magnitude of alcohol abuse on American college campuses. Federal surveys consistently report a continuing decline in alcohol consumption rather than an "epidemic." Their own data fail to make the case and they are forced to use anecdotal interviews of students who do abuse alcohol. But anecdotal evidence does not constitute science or a sound basis for public policy. Their suggestions for reducing the problem consist of demonstrably ineffective policies along with some that appear to constitute unconstiitutional infringements upon personal liberties. Much more useful is H. Wesley Perkins' The Social Norms Approach to Prevening ...."

We are so immersed in a national cult of alcohol that we can't, or won't, see the forces at work. This book peels back the façade so that we can make our own decisions about were we want to go as a society. The myth that the personal choice to abuse alcohol is a sacred right that harms only the user, is exploded. The authors put a human face on a steady stream of well-researched statistics that run throughout the book. I was afraid that this was going to be yet another preachy tome but found myself intrigued, angered, disgusted, yet often uplifted and enlightened by the vignettes presented in this lively-written narrative. Personally, I abhor cynicism and knee-jerk accusations that use conspiracy to explain away every societal ill - but the authors' indictment of the alcohol industry and its accomplices is so compelling, and upon reflection, so obvious, that the word "conspiracy" is too weak in this case. Sadly, they show that even the purity of "good science" is being prostituted by certain social-pschology academics; as a scientist I find this shocking. The ultimate obscenity is that, more than ever before, our children are being systematically used as "societal gateways" to infuse violence, tragedy, and irresponsible behavior into the bedrock of our culture. And we are willing and compliant.

Great service. The book was in excellent condition and arrived within the stated delivery time.

If all you require in selecting a college is what the cutoff for the SAT scores are, and which Motel-6 is nearby where you can stay while visiting the campus, then this is your book. The best that the book can do for you is supply you with the hours and telephone number of the admission office. It offers absolutely no insight to the curricula, strengths or weaknesses of the school.

Having just returned from a "college caravan" trip through the Northeast with my daughter and another family, including a son, I can attest to the glaring inaccuracies in this book. They often have the times of tours and info sessions wrong. They even sometimes indicate that things are closed when they are open and vice versa.

An hour or two on the Web (and then printing off the pages) will save lots of aggravation. Then give each college a call!

You are going to be traveling with Fiske anyway, just pick-up a Mobil Guide, a map, and copies of the web pages.

Andy Beveridge beveridg@bestweb.net

Andy Bevridge completely misunderstands the purpose of this book.
At the start of a book there is a disclaimer which directs readers to double check times of tours and visits with the college you are planning to visit.As a high school College counselor, what I found very useful in the book were the directions to each college which were incredibly accurate..and believe me if you ever tried to drive to these schools you know how difficult the directions can be. In addition most people don't have access to the web while they are driving and don't always plan ahead. This book allows for the opportunity to visit other schools that are in the area of the school you originally intended to visit. Not every one is so organized before a trip--I've told countless parents about this book and they've been very appreciative before and after. Don't leave home without it.

This might be a great guide, for all I know, but we barely used it. I bought it more for local lodging and restaurants than for the college visit itself. Our focus came down to 11-14 colleges, and you can get updated information on visits from the college website. I was also surprised that all but one college had at least one virtual tour on their website--though sometimes you have to do a little searching to find it.

Essential: Princeton's Best 361 Colleges and Fiske's Guide to Colleges. All-but-essential: Students' Guide to Colleges. All three highly recommended.