College and University Books

I must admit that I bought this book as a Spartan fan expecting pictures and statistics. To my pleasant surprise, there were incredible stories about a history that is richer than I ever imagined. This book is a must have for Spartan Fans and Basketball Fans alike!

If you like Michigan State or college basketball, this book is a must read. The stories and photos are fabulous. I laughed and cried. Every Spartan should have a copy. So should every Wolverine.

If you like Michigan State or college basketball, this book is a must read. The stories and photos are fabulous. I laughed and cried. Every Spartan should have a copy. So should every Wolverine.

This is a great book! It's as simple as that. Great stories, interesting pictures, this book has it all. A great book for any Spartan fan as well as any fan of college basketball.

This is a great book for any Spartan fan. The writers do a wonderful job. The book tells about the best players, games, and seasons in Spartan basketball history.

I wandered through the kid's section of a book store and stumbled upon this book. It was the beautiful imagery on the cover that first caught my eye. I flipped through to see that these wonderful images are carried throughout as well. I turned back to the beginning and read the tale of Ignis as he tries to find himself and his flame and fell in love with this little dragon. His journey to find his flame is fun to read and fitting for the age this book targets (4-8). Simply put, I found the tale endearing and the artwork captivating to explore. Very enjoyable indeed!

I have read this book and really enjoyed it. I have also read this book to a grade 1 class and they really enjoyed it. I feel that this book is great for all ages. I love the story-line and the fabulous illustrations. This will be a great addition to any collection.

One of the most delightful books I have ever come across!

No other book I have ever seen has illustrations that bring dragons to life like this one. As an artist, I had searched everywhere to find examples of expresive, interesting dragons that had a benevolent and inquisitive nature, and at the same time retained their reptilian appearance. The fact that the drawings are accompanied by such a well written story is a bonus!

This is my daughter's most-requested book, and it is so enjoyable I truly don't mind reading it five days in a row. I can't say that for any other book we own. The illustrations are beautiful, the text is very inspired, and I like the theme of perseverance. Ignis's personality seems so real, as does the little girl Cara's. With two children, I've bought or borrowed countless children's books, and this goes at the top of my favorites list. I wish Gina Wilson and P.J. Lynch would team up for another story.

"Ignis" is fabulous dragon book. The inspirational story is all the better due to the enchanting, beautifully drawn illustrations on each page. I love reading this book to my 5-year old son as much as he loves to hear it. This is a must read and must have book for all dragon lovers: both young and old. I highly recommend the purchase.

The author John Austin has certainly lightned the mood since his last release The Province of Jurisprudence Determined (Great Minds Series).

This book is great for those of you who are "pranksters" at heart or have always wanted to wreak havoc on your peers but don't have the courage to stand up for yourself.

If you are considering buying a self help book on assertiveness.....wait! Buy this book first. With detailed illustrations and a visual ranking system, you can find the perfect prank for dealing with the obnoxious roomate/classmate without having to have a face-to-face confrontation. (So long as you don't get caught!)

I can't wait for another release from this author. Hopefully we will see something for dealing with those pesky coworkers!

awsome illustrations & detailed descriptions keep me wanting more from the great prank master himself John Austin.

This book is going to be gold - an instant classic. I've been through the years of fireworks landing on my bed in the early morning, getting 'pennied', maybe even a few after party tattoos... After seeing these pranks, I think it's time for a few more! Muhahahaha!

I think this book is great for any college bound student looking to start off their college career with a few laughs or any Alum who has ever messed with his/her roommates while gaining their higher education. You are likely to find a few classic pranks that may bring back memories or open doors to a whole new level of pranking which is sure to make your college experience a memorable one! A must for anyone who has ever loved college!
Cheers!

Simply, I love this book. Although I am attending college, this book would probably great for high school students, too. Even though there are 100 pranks, a lot are just stupid or mean, hence "un-do-able." But overall, this book is way fun, just don't get caught. It's deffinately worth $10 or $15 to buy it.

This was the first book I've read on this subject and already I feel like I know so much! I don't know about you, but I'm doing much of my son's work in this area, so I feel like I'm doing the reading for him as well. It's important for the parent to be knowlegable even if the child DOES do the work, for they (the parents) will be doing much of the speaking and "negotiating" (key word you will learn much about) for the child. Have the facts to back you up. This author has been around and worn every 'hat' having anything to do with the whole issue of college athletics from parent to recruiter to agent to coach and MORE! You get the impression that you're really getting the inside information that you need to get the best deal for your child's education. Thank you Mr. Wheeler!

A friend's daughter who followed the recommendations for overcoming the Division III confusion & duplicity and successfully used the Ultimate Negotiating Weapon chapter recommended this book to us. Our daughter is a high school sophomore and wants to play ball in college. After reading the book, I know we will be prepared for every step of the recruiting process.

Arlene B.
Illinois

This is a great book if you have a high school athlete who wants to play in college. It really opened my eyes and one coach did something the book predicted he would.

Prior to acquiring this book we knew next to nothing about the whole process. It is especially helpful for those who live in areas where a potential scholarship candidate is not likely to be seen by very many if any recruiters. The author does a great job in laying out a step by step process that a potential college athlete should take beginning long before their senior year in high school. He stresses over and over that it will not be easy and success will likely only be achieved through the same hard work that led to the development of that person's athletic skills. A couple of areas that were not covered as well as I'd have liked were a more delineated seperation of the strategies for Div 1 & 2 schools as opposed to Div 3 and more discussion of the pluses and minuses of parental involvement. These are not significant drawbacks, however, and I would give the book 4 1/2 stars if possible.

This is an outstanding way to gain the knowledge needed to go up against the college coaches and recruiters and still come out ahead of the game. I found this to be an easy read full of valuable information and marvelous insight into the world of college athletic scholarships.

I can't overstate how valuable this book was to me when I was on the academic job market (2006/2007 academic yr). From my earliest pre-planning for the job search (including tips for professional development and invaluable timelines) to the moment I touched down to all of my campus visits (questions to ask, questions to avoid, tips for the job talk) and even to that final stage: managing offers and contracts, this book helped me figure out how to proceed on the academic job hunt. If you think you'll ever apply for an academic job in the humanities (even years down the line), this book will be useful to you now.

These features were especially useful for me:
*models and tips for CVs, application letters, dissertation summaries
*practice questions for MLA interviews
*what to expect at MLA
*a primer on handling campus visits and job talks
*timelines (how long you can expect to wait to hear about MLA and campus interviews, for example)
*things you'd never think of, like what to ask when you get the call from a department head inviting you to campus.

Having been through this often mystifying and incredibly stressful process, I can attest to the author's sound advice. Now that I'm in a tenure track job (and she has advice for once you get a job, too) I've recommended this book to job seeking grad students in my own department, and I recommend it to you, without reservation.

This is an excellent and very comprehensive guide through the academic job search process. Hume tells it like it is, and much of what you find in this book is (for whatever reasons) not often shared with graduate students as they embark on their job searches. The many anecdotes and sample CVs are a nice bonus. My department buys this book for every PhD student as they enter their job search year--it is required reading.

This book is an excellent resource for any doctoral student's job search. The advice about interviewing, putting together a job application packet, and making the transition from a graduate student to a faculty member is very timely and helpful. The sample documents, which range from c.v.'s to cover letters, are the best feature of the book. I would highly recommend it to anyone on the job market in the humanities or thinking about the process in the future.

Hume's book is an invaluable asset for anyone even considering going on the market. It covers every detail of the job search: application packets, interviews, campus visits, follow-ups, and negotiating. Moreover, it provides specific advice for landing a position at both research and teaching institutions. Particularly helpful are the lengthy lists of interview questions and the sample documents--which go well beyond the simple CV-and-Cover-Letter combination. Make reading this book the first step of your job search, and refer to it regularly as you work through the process.

For the last 4 years I've been involved in helping our English graduate students find academic jobs. Hume's book was of immense help in this regard. As the placement chair, I ordered it for our department, but I also encouraged our job seekers to get their own copies. It is simply the best book out there right now covering all the ins and outs of the humanities job market. Hume's advice, always provided in clear and direct language, is deeply rooted in both her own experience as a long-time professor at Penn State who has seen many job candidates come and go and the experience of the many students with whom she successfully worked as Penn State's placement advisor. In addition to excellent insights into the dos and don'ts of writing one's job application materials--letters, c.v.'s, teaching portfolios, follow-up communications, etc.--one of the greatest strengths of the book is its presentation of the feed-back Hume received from "her" job seekers in form of long lists of questions people were asked at MLA interviews or on campus, for instance. Working with "my" graduate students, I frequently staged mock interviews with them based on a sampling of the questions provided in Hume's book. Many of our students commented to me that one of the main reasons they felt they did well at MLA or on campus in terms of handling the various and varying questions they had to engage was that they were never really caught off-guard because Hume's book seems to cover every conceivable question one could possibly be asked. Also of great help are the many sample-documents Hume included in her book--again directly taken from her successful seekers. In short, if you at all wonder about the academic job market--what it is like, how you should prepare for it, how you might want to negotiate its various stages, and even how to handle yourself in case of success (negotiating your job offer, becoming a new faculty member)--you could not do better than get your hands on this book. There might be a question or two that the book doesn't touch on--but I can't think of any right now.

I slogged through half a dozen tactful, dignified, dripping-with-sincerity guidebooks, where you have to read between the lines to discover if the college in question is snobby, dope-infested, riddled with dirty bathrooms, or populated by spoiled princes and princesses. This is the ONLY guide I've found that gave us a good feel for the personality of a given school, and the only one my high school junior actually enjoys reading. Use it with Fiske's, or Peterson's, or other guides--but use it.

Let's up front state my bias: My undergraduate (Lehman College in the Bronx, NY) and graduate (Queens College in Queens, NY) schools were not part of the 328 mix. Also excluded was my son's school Clayton College and State University (the comprehensive IT degree is no animal party degree) in Georgia. Guys those urban schools were great and from what I know remain highly regarded.

Pitch aside for my alumni. This is overall a comprehensive easy to follow reference book that lays out the choices from a variety of perspectives. Besides the obvious overview of each school, the guide includes listings by best value, drug/alcohol free, and overall education, etc. The authors also rank schools by attendance (class presidents, valedictorians, etc.), animal house, and outside the box, etc. Titles of sections are obvious. The data comes from survey responses by counselors, attending students, and recent graduates (no wonder they didn't ask me about good old Lehman) as well as personal observations from the authors (the intelligent sidebar guide comments are worth the cost of the book).

Though the survey tool may not be reliable in a strictly statistical sense, THE UNOFFICIAL, UNBIASED GUIDE TO THE 328 MOST INTERESTING COLLEGES 2004 is a tremendous reference for high school juniors and seniors and their parents and anyone thinking of transferring to another school or an adult returning to school. The key is the ease of following the categorical break out that facilitates an individual customizing a selection for their needs.

Harriet Klausner

I am giving this book 4 stars reluctantly becasue it really sould get only 3.5 stars. It did not live up to its title of "328 most interesting colleges." This is because it fails to tell me why each college listed in this book is interesting. Howver, it does provide information very similar to, though not as good as, "357 best colleges" by Princeton Review.

What should have been done in this book is to add a section for each college that briefly describe the aspects that make that college "interesting."

This is an excellent source of information on the subject. I view it as a professional second opinion to the better-known 'The Best 351 Colleges' from the Princeton Review. Actually, both guides have a near identical structure and methodology. They both rely on extensive surveys of students who went to these schools. So, you get excellent qualitative feedback on what the schools are like. You also get a lot of quantitative information, including range of SAT scores, acceptance rate, student yield, etc... Both guides have numerous lists including best academics, and a lot of other similar lists ranking schools along a single factor. Also, they essentially cover the same pool of colleges.

While 'The Best 351 Colleges' does a better job at rating all schools among several factors such as: Campus Life, Academics, Selectivity, Financial Aid; 'The Unofficial Guide' provides much valuable qualitative information.

For my part, I really feel that you have to acquire both guides. If you would give these guides an overall personality, The Best 351 Colleges is more of a quantitative left brain type of information source. While the Unofficial Guide is sometimes more creative. The two co-authors, Trent Anderson and Seppy Basili, give their own 'biased' opinions within small text box on every single college they review. Somehow, their short humorous sound bites are very helpful. They give you the essence of what the school is like. Sometimes, just by reading their short quotes, you can readily tell whether a school is for you or not.

The way to use these guides together is to read the reviews in both guides about the schools you are interested in. If the two reviews give you the same impression about a school, you can easily assess if a school is right for you.

When it gets interesting, is when the two reviews differ. I ran into such a case, with Lewis & Clark, a liberal arts college in Portland. Within The Best 351 Colleges, I got that Lewis & Clark had a very liberal college culture that pervaded both the student body and the teaching staff. But, in The Unofficial Guide, Lewis & Clark was described as fairly apolitical. In such a case, that is when you have to do more research on the Internet. If you go to Studentsreview or Epinion, you will see comments from students who went to particular colleges. In the case of Lewis & Clark, I got that The Unofficial Guide's review was closer to the truth. Liberal political activists who went to Lewis & Clark were disappointed about the lack of political activism on campus.

Additionally, the co-authors of The Unofficial Guide have to be commended on their very healthy approach to college selection. They promote that the college fit is much more important than the college name. I could not agree more. Thus, one will be far more successful if they are very happy at Kenyon College, because of a great match between their own temperament and the college culture, than being miserable at Harvard, because the fit was not so good.

Two summers ago, I had a rough list of where I wanted to apply for university. But I had no idea what I was getting into. Then I got my hands on this book and that has affected my whole list. Back then, dream school was Johns Hopkins, then Duke and Rice. Reading through all of those comments about each university, including comments from students, swapped the members of my list around. I figured I'd go for campus visits, and that's when I noticed that a lot of what I had read were definitely true; even the campus tour guides confirmed a lot of the things that were written in here.

Now, I'm at Rice, having the time of my life. My college search was a success; I do not think I could be happier anywhere else.

If what you're looking for is a book that profiles a lot of America's top universities through the eyes of the students; stuff that they do not show you on college viewbooks, definitely get this one. A lot of the things that are in this tome of knowledge are facts about each campus. But I definitely do recommend campus visits as well. Especially overnight visits.

If anybody reading this plans on applying to Rice, definitely go for an overnight stay in the last week of March. That's when student life is at its best.

I cannot recommend Gerda Lerner's book highly enough. And it's very timely. People the world over are organizing around important issues and coming to realize that we must work TOGETHER to effect real change. Read Why History Matters to learn exactly why all oppressed peoples must work AS ONE to transform a patriarchal world that will, if left unchallenged, self destruct.

I cannot recommend Gerda Lerner's book highly enough. And it's very timely. People the world over are organizing around important issues and coming to realize that we must work TOGETHER to effect real change. Read Why History Matters to learn exactly why all oppressed peoples must work AS ONE to transform a patriarchal world that will, if left unchallenged, self destruct.

I cannot recommend Gerda Lerner's book highly enough. And it's very timely. People the world over are organizing around important issues and coming to realize that we must work TOGETHER to effect real change. Read Why History Matters to learn exactly why all oppressed peoples must work AS ONE to transform a patriarchal world that will, if left unchallenged, self destruct.

I used Lerner's book to conclude my graduate seminar in U.S. Women's History in part because it makes such a compelling case for why, in this postmodern moment, history does matter. Lerner does not pull punches; her memories of the holocaust and her return to Austria years later remind us of the burden of history. At the same time she makes a compelling case for a writing of history that is scholarly and rigerous yet personal and political. I use parts of her book in both graduate and undergraduate courses to articulate to students why history still matters and why we are not free from the burden of history. The book provokes fascinating discussion and, in the end, reminds many of us as to why we studied history in the first place. In the end it inspires as well as challenges.

I am quite astonished that no one has commented on the importance of Dr. Lerner's book. I propose that it be read in tandem with any other book that shows the treatment of women. Books ranging from "The Red Tent" by Anita Diamant,which takes place in the Biblical era all the way to Anna Quindlan's "Black and Blue," which relates to an abused wife today, begin to have even more signficance when one becomes familiar with Lerner's thesis: women have suffered from a patriarchal society since time began, and by understanding our history, we should begin to realize the power and influence that HALF the population of the world could wield. Lerner's book is surely academic, but it is worth reading. Imagine if ALL women really determined we should strive for peace, equality, freedom, etc. Lerner is a cautious optimist about the future, sensing that the women's movement does suggest a new paradigm for the future. I read Lerner's book two years ago and I find it relates to nearly every book I have read, fiction and non-fiction, since.

Peter Van Buskirk was always one of the few admission deans who was willing to tell it like it is. His chapter on "What Colleges is Want" is a gem and could only have been written by someone who spent the better part of his career doing just that. As a school counselor myself, I am weary of books that sensationalize and distort the reality of the admission process. This one lifts back the curtain on college admission and also gives sound counseling that will help both parents and students keep their feet on the ground. Highly recommended.

I highly recommend this book for high school students planning to apply to competitive colleges and for their parents. The book gives an honest and straightforward explanation of the process, from the earliest college visits to how to what to do if offered a spot on a college waitlist.

This is actually two books in one -- one geared to parents, the other for students. While some of the content overlaps, the advice, comments, and discussion is different in each section, geared to answer the different concerns and questions that students and parents have.

Despite the title, this is not one of those books that claims to explain what hoops the student must jump through to get into Ivy League schools. Rather, the author emphasizes the importance of finding a college that is a good fit for the student and disregarding the hype surrounding college rankings, and provides good tips for the student in narrowing down choices. He also tells parents to back off and let their kids take ownership of the process, while at the same time giving valuable pointers as to way parents can support and guide their teenagers along the way.

I think the book's greatest strength is the author's frank and eye-opening discussion of the hidden agenda that drives college admissions and financial aid decisions. Peter Van Buskirk provides an inside view of how applications are processed and reviewed, what admissions staff is really looking for, what catches their attention, and understanding concepts like enrollment management and how financial aid is awarded. I wish I had this book before my kids applied to college -- so I am speaking from experience when I say that this book contains some important and valuable truths that are ignored, misunderstood, or glossed over in other college books.

If you are new to the process, buy this book first -- and if you are in the midst of the process and hopelessly confused.... buy this book. It really will help you cut through the hype and gain insight into how to find the colleges that best meet your needs, and how to put together an application package that maximizes your chance of acceptance.

You have to really want to understand how college admission works to like this book. It is not written in a sensational or glib way like so many "get into college" guides. It gets at the driving forces behind how colleges set enrollment goals and then recruit and admit (or not) to meet them. Van Buskirk's writing is a blend of practical advice and scholarly insights - very challenging and very helpful for students and parents.

With wisdom, insight, and realism, Peter Van Buskirk tells it like it is. This book provides practical advice for how to succeed in the college admissions process, not just survive. The best part is that as a parent and an admissions professional, Van Buskirk knows that "winning" the game means something different for every student. The objective is to identify and gain admission to the colleges that will best fit each individual's academic, professional, and personal goals. Van Buskirk's book will help students make that happen.

The only thing wrong with this book is that I got it when my daughter was a junior and not a freshman or in the eight grade. It is actually two books in one. One is for the student and one for the parent(s). It tells what you should be doing year by year which leads into how the colleges choose their students. It goes into the importance of the student doing the work, the essay and the choosing of the right college for the student. It gives advice on financing, its availability and how to apply for it. It has a realistic "pyramid" on what your chances are to getting accepted at certain schools. The best part is that nothing is held back and it is so very easy to read and to understand. Considering its low price and the amount of money the student and parents are thinking about spending on college this book becomes "a must have" for any family considering college. I also believe it is a book that any teacher or administrator needs to own or have access to.

Very helpful already and we are just in the beginning phases of the college selection process. I can see that it will be something more than a one time read but will be used as a valuble resource to give insider-like tips to guide you through the entire college application process.

I am the mother of a college sophomore and a high school junior so I've bought and skimmed through a lot of college books over the years. Many of them disappoint me because they are often focused on getting kids into the Ivy League. This fixation is ridiculously misplaced when you consider that only .2% of kids attend these eight schools.

Jerry Israel's book, however, is extremely helpful because it addresses the needs of all teenagers intent on attending college. It's a very empowering book because it explains that high school students and their parents enjoy far more bargaining power than they realize. One of the themes of the book is that schools need and want good kids -- even if they don't have 4.0 GPA's and killer SAT scores. In many ways, it's a buyer's market.

The key, of course, is to find solid academic and financial fits and Israel, who was the former president of the University of Indianapolis, provides lots of suggestions.

Israel doesn't name any specific institutions in his book, which is one of the reasons why I think my own title, The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price, would make a perfect companion book. My book shares the same educational philosophy, but it also names names. I provide real examples, for instance, of how colleges decide who will receive the best aid packages and who won't. I also mention the names of schools in the chapters that I devote to explaining how families can truly evaluate schools as well as departments within them.

I think anybody who reads the 75 Biggest Myths About College Admissions and The College Solution will be well prepared for the college odyssey.

We have two daughters nearing college age and this book provided useful insight into the admissions process. Jerry has spent his career in higher education, was President at Morningside College and the University of Indianapolis, and his experience gives him a refreshing take on the college selection process. Because Jerry really doesn't come from the world of elite college institutions (like Harvard or Princeton) his perspective is the kind that is useful to most of us who have children that have the vita to attend a good state college or private university, but don't aspire to 1600 on the SAT.

Some of Jerry's myths in the book are fairly conventional, of course completing college is more important than where you attend. But it is in Israel's discussion of the business model used by most colleges, and this model's impact on the price a family is likely to pay for college that the book shines.

Essentially the argument boils down to the following:

1) The quoted price of tuition is typically higher than the actual cost of education. This pricing model is designed to give the college leverage to charge high income families what the market will bear while giving them space to negotiate price with other prospects. The price of college is almost always a sticker shock for parents, and many parents avoid considering private colleges at all because the posted price is so intimidated. Israel does a nice job of explaining why this is a mistake.

2) Colleges are prepared to negotiate price with most of their prospects. This negotiation is generally conducted by offering scholarships (which are really just discounts on price) and loans.

3) Colleges are more likely to work with students who treat the college as if it is their first choice and with students who best complete the profile of the student population they are trying to recruit.

4) Colleges won't negotiate if they aren't asked. If you are truly interested in the school and explain your circumstances well, colleges will do what they can (within reason) to close the deal.

Thus purchasing college, in some respects, isn't much different than buying a car, and Jerry does a nice job of debunking the myth that somehow it is.

Jerry's insights on how to test a college are also well worth reading. After reading the book, I'm convinced that we'll make at least one unannounced visit to any college that our daughters are seriously considering. If you are just starting the college selection process, this book is a great resource to frame the search and get started on the right foot.

The cover of The 75 Biggest Myths About College Admissions offers the reader the opportunity to "Stand Out from the Pack, Avoid Mistakes, and Get into the College of Your Dreams." The book delivers on all counts and more.

On one level it works as a "How To" book for high school students desiring an inside look at the college admissions process and the best approaches to get accepted by the college(s) of their choice. Each of the 75 biggest myths are presented and accompanied by a "Reality" with detailed explanation of that reality.

Often, it is a reality that less than consumer friendly institutions of higher learning might not want shared.

The book provides students with tactics to make themselves informed consumers looking for a college environment that best fits their educational and financial needs. Just as important, it provides means to discern whether their prospective colleges are truly consumer friendly, actively seeking to meet those needs.

A veil is removed that depicts the selection process as one often based upon business decisions not always in the best interest of the prospective student, and sometimes not even in the best interest of the institution involved. The book details how colleges obtain student information along with the approaches and time lines used to recruit and make financial offers. It outlines tactics for students and parents to measure the merit of potential financial aid.

If this book is interpreted only on the "How To" level it deserves to be read by high school guidance counselors and any student seeking admission. It also might serve as a guide to university personnel seeking advice on becoming consumer friendly.

On another level this book provides something even more important to prospective college students, something likely to be appreciated by their parents. It presents a reality and philosophy about the true meaning of this process, student success. Myth 2 states, "Success in life depends on which college you choose." The reality is, "Success in life depends not on which college you go to, but whether you graduate from college."

From that point on the book not only outlines tactics to use in gaining admission to the college of your choice, but interweaves with those realities what it means to be the kind of student that can make the most of this book and their full college experience. It provides a proactive selection approach for the student, suggesting topics like an unannounced visit to campus to test the institution's receptiveness and ability to react. It awakens the potential recruit to the reality that this process, to get the most out of it and their future college experience, should not be one of passive acceptance of whatever is placed in front of them. Students should use this process to apply and improve their critical thinking skills in making one of the most important decisions of their lives.

Those of us that have lived our lives, attended college, and graduated can read this book, accompanied by periodic smiles, recognizing many of the things we should have known but did not.

The 75 Biggest Myths About College Admissions is available at your local book store.

-Joe Drips, former Superintendent of Schools (1992-2002), Southeast Polk Community School District, Altoona, Iowa

As an academic aspirant, I read this book with diligence and thoroughness. Twice. Donald Kennedy has an impressive academic achievement as an environmental scientist, along with institutional leadership experience as former President of Stanford University. In this book-inspired by a conviction of the need for academic aspirants to know the true workings of the academia- various duties of members of the academia are elaborated and modern day issues facing the universities are dissected. However, after reading the book twice, as excited as I was with the book, there were some deficiencies.

Traditionally, the roles of a professor in a university have been to teach and to research, with different emphasis on the two roles, in different universities. With this as an accepted view, Kennedy further breaks down the roles of the academic into mentoring, institutional service, publishing, as symbols of truthfulness and perhaps, closest to his heart, as agents of change.

In the 303 pages, Kennedy warns the current and the future members of the need to balance academic duty with academic freedom. With no implicit arguments, he stressed the need to re-focus on undergraduate teaching, a central role of universities. The members of the academia are not only teachers but also mentors and influential role models of the students in institutions of higher learning.

He also questions the current style and intensity of producing Phd students, the majority of whom make up the future professoriate. Kennedy exposes truths about the over-production of PhD students; the subsequent failure of many to break into the academia; the lack of teaching training for those who eventually become young professors.

What is personally the most exciting discussion was without doubt the one on research, research misconduct and the pursuit of truth. Kennedy carefully elaborates examples of the difficulty of research with appropriate stories of fictional but realistic characters. However, as a student of social sciences, I was nonetheless disappointed that many of the examples were in the field of sciences and there was no significant discussion of the field of social sciences or humanities. Added to that, there were hardly any examples of Kennedy's own experiences in research. Perhaps, the author thought that any personal experiences were materials insufficient to demonstrate the arguments or that he was uncomfortable in using his own experiences as examples. Either way, I felt that lessons of his own research experiences would have been very enlightening.

However, this short book has powerful insights and lessons for the future members of the academia, not excepting me. Somehow, after reading this book, I understand the fallacy of the ivory tower. Much of the universities' world, as a scholarly enterprise, lofty in their pursuit of truths and free of political man-handling, has changed into an institution under public scrutiny and subjected to public accountability. This book has inspired me to write a piece for a scholarship application. Despite the challenges to be faced by hopeful academics, the resolve is still strong in me to become one and that is, I believe, the essence of this book-the academia, despite its pitfalls, will always be sustained in its important mission of education and discovery, by future members, themselves the product of that mission.

I've read this great work for many times. In Taiwan, there are too much fascinating heritage from US education and some unethical stuff, too. Although it seems to be a little unorganized, that's the ways of conducting academic research and nature of science. After all, Dr. Kennedy did write something insightful and helpful and, somewhat practical. Read it and know the academic community. I would say: "salvation lies within." I would like to see more revisory supplements and concurrent issues like Dr. Kennedy's works.

An outstanding antidote to misinformed university bashing. All new assistant professors should read this book. It gives excellent advice and insights into the inner workings of the university.

Great book. Not only should all assistant professors read it, but it should be required reading for all new doctoral students no matter what discipline. It illuminates the way universities actually work and details common pitfalls into which people entering the profession (academe and the professoriate)can fall. In addition, the reader is given an insider's look into one of the major research universities in the world (Stanford). It has the bonus of being extremely well written and a pleasure to read. Again, great book.