College and University Books

This is just one of those books that anyone involved in higher education needs to have. As a student of a university that is struggling with just how to reach out to our community, I would highly suggest it to anyone who wants to spend some time and reevaluate the relationship between institutions and communities.

This book is well written and very insightful. It can defintely be used as a tool for colleges and universities to form positive relationships with the community. I highly recommend it!

David Maurrasse has produced a thoughtful study in his book which examines four rather different and distinct IHES (Institutions of Higher Education). By studying how each IHE serves its community, readers can get a good picture of the different approaches in use today. The IHEs--which include a state, an Ivy League, a private, and even a community college campus--serve as a fine set of baseline campuses for study.

Hostos is my particular concern, since I am a Dean at Hostos, and I am well versed in the challenges we face each day in serving our South Bronx community. I believe that Dr. Maurrasse has indeed hit the mark and hit it well in this study. I can, at least, verify his contextualizing of the Hostos mission and its community's needs. His method of becoming thoroughly familiar with the physical aspects of each campus and its history by closely interviewing members of the community as well as faculty, staff, administrators, and students is laudable. At Hostos I know he spoke to long-time stakeholders from the college community and the community at large.

The book should be challenging higher education policy makers to focus on improving community outreach strategic plans for years to come. IHEs can not afford to be percieved as "ivory towers."

"A Black and White Case" provides a comprehensive history of affirmative action of value to anyone interested in race in America. As the subtitle ("How Affirmative Action Survived its Greatest legal Challenge") suggests, Stohr tends to favor the proponents of affirmative action. At the same time, however, he shows sympathy and insight into its opponents. For example, Stohr's portrait of Carl Cohen -- the Michigan philosophy professor who first unearthed Michigan's statistics on affirmative action -- reveals that the intellectuals behind the recent challenges come from backgrounds far from the mainstream of the conservative movement.

Stohr also presents an account of the Supreme Court that in many ways outshines that of Bob Woodward's and Carl Bernstein's in The Brethren. In contrast to Woodward and Bernstein, Stohr lacks Woodward and Bernstein's instictive hostility to the Court's right wing.

Finally, Stohr does an admirable job tying together chacters and events covering a broad scope of time and space into a book with suprisingly strong narrative force. Shelby Foote once said that in writing, plot is the last thing that a writer masters, if he masters it at all. Stohr succeeds in this important respect.

This is an excellent book.

Whether or not we choose to acknowledge it, every student who has entered an American university over the past 50 years is a product of the affirmative action and diversity policies of our nation's education system. The U. of Michigan case that is the heart of "A Black and White Case" is a landmark ruling that impacts the admission policy of every U.S. university. The issues described in this book are extremely important to each of us as citizens. Everyone interested in the American higher education system sould read this book.

Greg Stohr provides an incredibly balanced account of the highly charged issue of race-based admissions policies. Mr. Stohr also does an excellent job of taking very complicated legal facts and analysis and turning them into a fast-moving story that non-legal scholars can follow and understand. This is the most important legal book I have read in several years. It is also a terrific read. I highly recommend this new author.

Stohr's book reminded me of an old television program hosted by Walter Cronkite. It reenacted significant events in history and he always ended it by saying, "You were there." I felt as though I had been behind the scenes as those involved with the two affirmative action cases worked for victory. Stohr explains the legal terms clearly without being condescending. He delves into the personalities and the politics which determine the outcomes. I especially enjoyed his coverage of the Supreme Court. Stohr is an excellent, fair minded reporter.

I was very fortunate to read a book that gave you a feelimg that there are few football coaches out there who can coach football the old fashion way: physical discipline, honesty, and being a great motivator. For Bo to share the stories about Woody Hayes was just awesome. I feel that Bo went thru a great experince in his life time. I have read this book probably 10 times and I like what he critcizes about the NCAA making these ridiculous standards. May God bless him.

If you are a fan at all of michigan, or know anything about Bo Schembechler you will love this book. It's a great biography about a great coach. This book takes you to a small family in Ohio to a assistant coach under Woody Hays then to Ann Arbor to become one of the most famous coaches in NCAA history, I HIGHLY recomend this book... GO BLUE!

If you love football this book is a must read. The stories about Bo and Woody are tremendous. I wish all young coaches would read this book before establishing a coaching philosophy. The character of Bo is inspiring and proves that you can still win and do it the right way.

I enjoyed reading this book. It takes the reader behind the scenes and shows how much effort goes before and behind the actual game. It was a wonderful
reminder of the fun I have when I get to attend a women's basketball game.
Virgil A. Place, M.D.

As an avid fan of college women's basketball for almost thirty years, I found this book enjoyable on several levels. First, it was enlightening to learn some of what it's like inside a national powerhouse women's basketball program; the author's stories brought me inside the excitement of a well respected program. Secondly, the chapters are about Stanford, a university recognized for its scholarship; it grows scholars who happen to be athletes. The narratives about recruitment, coursework, and balance of student and athlete were informative. Thirdly, the details about the boosters who built the Fast Break Club itself were funny and touching. The author brought me along for the ride when she took a tour of the PAC-10 schools, and I was inside the hearts of boosters who traveled in sickness and in health to support their teams, no matter the weather or the time zone.

And finally, the author is a good writer and storyteller, her chapters and narratives flow well, the many photos add to the book, and I didn't want to put the book down. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in women's basketball. If you don't have a team to cheer for before you start the book, you will want to find one after you finish reading it!

Boosters Always Win! The Fans of Women's Basketball is a very engaging personal account of how a small group of people banded together to form what has become a very dynamic, educational, and highly effective booster organization that contributes enormously to the Women's Basketball program at Stanford University.
Harriet Benson has succeeded in giving little snapshots into behind the scene issues of what it took to develop The Fast Break Club, it's struggles, how it might best serve the program, it's future. For those who have followed the team, this is a bit of a trip down memory lane. It's a great read for anyone connected with the team or anyone interested in forming a booster organization to support any group.
The Fast Break Club now has a life of its own that nurtures not only the program, the players, the coaches, but the boosters as well. "If you build it they will come", and indeed they did!

There is no way to describe College Prowler's books other than amazing. Whether you're already in college, still deciding on one to go to, or deciding which ones to apply to, College Prowler's books are probably the best asset you can have.
It's the only guide written with information from students who actually go there, instead of just what the school wants you to think. College Prowler's guides can tell you everything: where to hang out, where to live, how much money to have on hand, where to park, how much drugs/alcohol is being passed around, how attractive your peers will be, and just about anything else you could want to know about a school.

I am currently a senior in high school, and will be graduating this spring. I received this book as a gift recently and read it from cover to cover. It's no nonsense, in your face honesty is something I truly enjoy and respect. This book has put me over the edge in my decision to attend BU, and I have decided to enroll early acceptance as a result. Bravo to the authors!

Unlike most college guidebooks available about particular schools, this review goes far beyond the statistics...allowing the reader to get a real glimpse at life at Boston University. Adhering to a "by students, for students" attitude, this edition is aimed at high school seniors who are uncertain whether a particular university will suit their lifestyle, preferences, and individual needs. With a generous dose of humor and honest commentary by the author about her experiences as a student, this is an excellent choice for any potential student.

As an instructional technologist for a progressive, comprehensive, rural community college, I observe and assist in the change process as it relates to teaching and learning. When I first saw this book advertised from Atwood publishing, I was intrigued by the title and felt this book would be a great addition to my professional library. Not only did this book exceed my expectations, but it provided me with a fresh perspective on the change process through helpful "real-world" case studies from leaders who are effective at their respective institutions. I would recommend this book as a "must read" for any leader or manager or perspective leader or manager in higher education.

The book is organized into three sections: an overview of change theory, case studies by effective leaders, and a summary with strategies that can be implemented at any higher education institution.

In chapter one, the authors make a strong case for a framework for organizational change that includes leadership, technology, and culture. In chapter two, the authors explore the differences between managers and leaders within the culture of higher education. Knowing the tradition and history of an institution is critical in facilitating effective organizational change. The authors also explore the culture, context and the environment of the institution and how it may impact effective leadership strategies. Various leadership styles are discussed thus providing valuable insight into the qualities needed in an effective leader. Chapter three provides practical leadership perspectives and strategies for deans and department chairs. Some of these strategies include a "hedgehog" or "fox" metaphor depending on the leadership styles a leader or manager may possess. The authors provide an excellent summary table that compares the two leadership styles as they relate to the organizational framework, leadership framework, change framework, conflict/problem framework, and pedagogical framework. An individual decision change process is also explored. In chapter 4, Christopher Musselwhite provides a comprehensive overview of managing change: styles, stages, and effective leadership for academic leaders. What I liked the most about this overview was the range of behaviors that leaders exhibited and how that impacts change. These behaviors ranged from "conservers" on the left, "pragmatists" in the middle, and "originators" on the right. Conservers prefer to work within the existing structure, are detail oriented, and don't like surprises. Pragmatists deal in outcomes, are peacemakers, appear more team oriented, and are less likely to have hidden agendas. Originators prefer quick and expansive change, are viewed as change agents, are often regarded as visionary, and are risk takers with big ideas. According to Musselwhite, knowing the behaviors and leadership styles from all three types helps a leader navigate the change process.

The second section of the book includes interviews from various leaders from colleges and universities. This section was very insightful. Each interview included similar questions that dealt with the individual's background and experience, leadership qualities, communication strategies, the drivers of change at their institution, their values, impact of technology, and where they see their institution in 5 years. I especially enjoyed reading the insights from Walter Gmelch, Dean of Education at Iowa State; Yasmen Simonian, Clinical laboratory Sciences Chair at Weber State University; Allen Mori, Dean of the Charter College of Education At California State University, Los Angeles; and Fred Hurst, Dean of Distributed Learning at Northern Arizona University. I appreciated the candor of the interviews and the valuable insights these individuals provide in exploring effective leadership practices.

In the final section, the authors compared and contrasted leadership styles, behaviors and theory with examples provided by the various interviews. This section provided the most benefit by showing how all of the pieces fit together. The authors summarized this information into a bulleted list for leadership characteristics for the future. They also provided a framework for the new academic culture for change.

I feel the authors were very successful in meeting the intent of their book. Not only is this text a solid academic resource, but also it is a practical "field guide" for leaders. The authors provided a well-written, collaborative resource for current and future leaders.

What I liked most about this book was the breadth and depth of exploration of effective leadership. By learning about various leadership styles and behaviors, I learned more about my leadership qualities. I have also used this book as a resource to evaluate and understand the leaders I work with on a daily basis. By identifying my strengths and leadership styles and those of my colleagues, I have started to employ new leadership strategies that are actually encouraging effective change to happen.

You don't have to be a dean or department chair to influence the change process. You just need to understand how effective change happens and how it works at your institution. This book provides an excellent resource to assist in this change process. It is a valuable reference for academic leaders or those involved in the change process.

Collaboratively compiled and expertly co-edited by Michael J. Johnson, Donald E. Hanna, and Don Olcott Jr., Bridging The Gap: Leadership, Technology, And Organized Change For Deans And Department Chairs is an impressively informative and strongly recommended anthology of interviews concerning the crucial responsibilities that academic deans have for maintaining the spirit of education and leading dynamic change to keep in line with new knowledge and leanings. Focusing on the keys to managing the dimensions of organized change - leadership, technology, and culture - Bridging The Gap offers a road map to adapting to both daily complications and long term shifts.

Bridging the Gap is a book whose audience is a relatively small niche but that niche effects a large portion of our society. This book is aimed at the middle layer of leaders in the colleges of the United States; specifically deans and department chairs. These are the people that affect change in colleges and universities from a powerful but less visible position because they are part of the decision making process in upper management and are the sounding board for those in the trenches of the lecture halls.

The editors approach the book in three parts. They begin with an overview of change theory laying a foundation that essentially states that being the conduit for positive change is one of the most important jobs these leaders have. The second part of this book consists of actual case studies. They have interviewed a number of deans and chair people from a variety of colleges and gotten their story regarding the joys, pitfalls and politics of making positive change a reality in this environment. The final section has a summary and suggested strategies that one might use in the college environment to lead as those who were interviewed have done.

I found this book to be very helpful and surprisingly insightful. I am new to the academic political hierarchy and now I am better prepared to seek out and pay attention to what I truly need to know. I also have a better understanding of where my strengths lie and what to keep in check. In some ways colleges, like so many companies, are going through growing pains as they keep up with the technological advances that force the old guard to change the way they do business, competition is simply too great to ignore the wired world of the 21st century. Additionally, I was surprised at how many academic leaders have no formal management or leadership training. They have simply grown through the ranks.

This book provides many perspectives and a suite of useful advice. If you are interested in being a leader or understanding what it takes to get things moving in the college environment I would highly recommend Bridging the Gap.

I enjoyed this book immensely. Rev. John Piderit, S.J. and Mealnie Morey have presented a hot-button topic in a sensible way that is easy to follow for someone like me who is not well-versed in the field of Catholic higher education.

First, I bought this at the bookstore because I saw the name of Father John Piderit, S.J. as the author. I attended Fordham University in the 1980's when Father Pidertit was an economics professor there. While he was known as being a demanding professor whose courses were definitely not an easy "A", as was the case for some of his Jesuit brethren, Father Piderit taught a special manners class every semester in which students who partook learned how to cultivate superior table manners. This manners seminar was legendary. In fact, the sitcom in the 1990's "Spin City", starring Michael J. Fox, featured the actor as a Fordham grad who was the Deputy Mayor of New York City; during Fox's five year run on the hit show, there were several references to his character having taken Father Piderit's manners class while a student at Fordham.

I admit I embarked upon this book due to Father Piderit's reputation, but Father Piderit and Melanie Morey won me over. I read the book during the recent controversies at the University of Notre Dame and it helped me to better formulate and express my opinions on the role of Catholic colleges and universities. In recent years there have been many controversies like the aforementioned ones at Notre Dame in 2006; in my opinion, this book should be used as a textbook for such cases, both by Catholic educators and the Catholic press.

One thing that struck me as impressive was how each of the various order of priests, brothers and nuns were held to the same standard. The fact that Father Piderit is a Jesuit and is the former president of Loyola University in Chicago is irrelevant because a whole spectrum of religious congregations received equal attention in the book. The Jesuits by no means received prominent coverage.

Certainly there are other crises in the Catholic Church at the moment, but the success of Piderit and Morey in addressing the crisis in Catholic higher education should receive much attention, both in the Catholic media and the secular media alike.

Two people have already asked to borrow the book, but I have refused to lend it out because I know that I will definitely use it as a reference guide in the future. I would not be surprised if some heads of institutions of Catholic higher education were to receive this book as a gift from an alumnus or two.

I purchased Catholic Higher Education: A Culture in Crisis after hearing Father John Piderit on a news show about the crisis in Catholic higher education. He and his writing partner, Melanie M. Morey, present a compelling case for practical change to remedy a definite crisis situation. I was impressed to read that Father Piderit is the former president of Loyola University in Chicago, the largest Jesuit university in the U.S.

Piderit and Morey point out the problems in Catholic higher education today and offer straightforward and practical solutions. The third part of book deals with the collapse of congregations of religious women and the devastating effect it has had on all levels of Catholic education over the last three decades. Piderit is right on target when he credits Catholic nuns for creating the strongest Catholic culture in the U.S. It made me realize how lucky past generations were to have so many nuns ready to serve in educational capacities.

The first part chronicles the recognition of four different ways to be a Catholic college or university. The authors suggest some minimal and quite compelling Catholic goals of their model. The fourth and final section puts forth policies that can be implemented inexpensively for the purpose that will likely strengthen the Catholic culture on the campus in question. Each of the four sections could be a book in their own right.

The massive amount of information in the book is presented in a fast-flowing and easy-to-read style that is almost reminiscent of a John Grisham novel. Usually I am intimidated by non-fiction books on heavy topics, but Piderit and Morey know the correct way to connect with a reader.

While the authors focus on the present day Catholic Church in the U.S., I also found the book to be an awesome and fascinating history lesson on the Catholic Church in the U.S. that I have ever read. The book gives the reader a great view of the crisis in Catholic higher education, but offers so much more. This book is a "must read" for anyone interested in Catholic education or even in Catholicism in general. Expect this book to be quoted extensively in Catholic circles in years to come.

As a member of the Jewish faith, I am definitely an unlikely candidate to have purchased and read CATHOLIC HIGHER EDUCATION: A CULTURE IN CRISIS. After our weekly Rotary club meetings, some of my fellow Rotarians and I, both Catholic and Protestant, have coffee and discuss and compare our involvements in our respective congregations. A devout Catholic with whom I have known many years recommended the book at our of our informal meetings.

First, I learned more about the Catholic Church in my first hour of reading than I had learned in my lifetime. The book was well-written and easy for a non-Catholic like me to follow and not get lost.

Having been involved in the past in religious education at my synagogue, I found many of Piderit and Morey's ideas to be potentially helpful for Jewish education as well, whether at the higher education level or any level for that matter. I know that after our discussion last week, one of our Episcopalian members of our Rotary Club is going to read it for the same reason. Their ideas and thinking on the matter of Catholic higher education can be implemented to some degree by Jewish educational institutions, as well as Protestant and Muslim for that matter I am sure.

After reading the college prowler book on harvard, it gave me that extra edge in choosing Harvard over Yale. I knew Harvard was right for me, after visiting, and researching, but this book put it all in perspective. I knew I would fit in with the students at Harvard after reading the 400 + quotes in the book from current students. I think these guidebooks (considering the rest are as good as Harvard) are a replacement to Campus Visits. It really feels like you spent a few years at Harvard after reading this guidebook. Congrats on such a remarkable product!

I wish that a book like this was available to me when I was searching for the perfect college! With quote directly from students, Wadhar and CollegeProwler tell it like it is. A great resource for students to use!

I can't beleive a product like this actually exists. I was able to know what the 5th year seniors know about Harvard. For only 5.95, that's pretty amazing, I would have paid 100 bucks for this. They have 99 other schools that they cover too.

A great read for those of us who labored and persevered in getting our degrees at public universities. This book should be read by everyone ten years after finishing school just so to remind ourselves that the, "good `ole days" of college and graduate school weren't always so good.

My only question is, Mr. Akey - When is your next book coming out?

How can someone write this well and not be nationally known? This book reads like James Dickey, pure poetry. The words are meticiously crafted. The story is both painful and exhilarating. Steve Akey has a story to tell that virtually any of us can relate to. I loved this book. Come out with another, please.

Steven Akey writes of his time in college in a way that made me relive my own (less painful, thank goodness) but largely forgotten college experience. His feelings of lonelieness and alienation are intense, and yet related with a sense of grace and humor that I found irresistable. I'll try to get my college-age kids to read this. I am sure they will find it highly entertaining, and I think they will also come away knowing that even the most pathetic and nearly invisible geek they may encounter is also liable to be a real, breathing (suffering) person different only in small ways from themselves.

Most books on "college kids" are nothing but anti-youth statistical messes. Moffat's generous phenomenological approach to the subject and refusal to make any broad generalizations make this book a truly amazing document. His analysis of "friendliness" as the dominant trope in American society, demonstrated in the micro-society of the dorm, is superb, as are his eye-opening conclusions about the trends that govern undergraduate sexuality.

The author is a faculty member in the Anthropology department at Rutgers University who decided to do a study of the students in traditional immersion fashion. To do this, he joined the incoming freshman class as an older student returning to school and lived in the dorm. The resulting book is a fascinating read, particularly for someone who was actually entering college around the same time as Moffatt's study. Moffatt covers the group dynamics, the forming and shifting of groups, and many of the aspects of college life.

One of the few college texts I actually READ. Required for a freshman anthropology class (this is almost 8 years ago now), I was thrilled by every word in this book... Easy to read, interesting, entertaining... I mistakenly loaned it to someone who never gave it back and have regretted it ever since. A must read for anyone interested in a look at college culture through the eyes of someone doing it again, 20 years after graduation.