College and University Books

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.

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.

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.

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.

Two authors of the 20th century whose letters go beyond fascination are James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway. This volume is an excellent example of just how committed Hemingway was not only to writing, but to getting as close to the action of his writing. Once the reader emerses themselves into his letters, one sees the true Hemingway, not the mythological one created by critics (mostly those who were not fans of the writer).

It is almost unimaginable that someone in his time or any other could be so well connected and intimate with other artist: Joyce, Pound, McLeish, Fitzgerald, Picaso, and so on. If you're a writer this collection is wonderful. It shows the day to day dealings with drafting, editing, publishing, and the intimate relationships between writer and publisher, though this relationship is almost non-existent today.

I found Hemingway through his letters to be someone who is passionate about life and equally compassionate about friends. He tells it the way it is, not the way politically correct messengers do. It is an education in itself to read this collection.

I miss old fashioned letters, now that we live in the age of email. Frotunately, I still have 'real' letters saved that have now collected dust from my parent's generation, and from a time gone by.

Occasionally I stumble over published letters of famous writers in antique bookstores: Last time, it was a 800 page volume of some of Ernest Hemingway's personal letters; the first edition of this Amazon edition. They were published posthumeously, and not intended by EH for publication.
We get a peek behind the curtain, and learn among other things that Ernest Hemingway was addicted to letters, wrote lots and lots, starting in his teens; and that he was really depressed when he didn't receive replies; or when there were days when the postman brought no letters. Waiting for transatlantic mail added to his sense of loneliness. Letters were a lifelong passion of his, continuing up to the day when he took his own life. These private letters weren't meant to be published, and they are raw, but very honest.
When you read them, you are in no doubt that the writer is a true artist, and an original!
They stretch over the span of his productive life, and they are varied: addressed to family (his parents, his children), his ex, to friends, including famous contemporaries, such as Marlene Dietrich (just one of them), his agent(s), his publishers, and many more.

I have a hunch EH must have been hard to keep up with, but his letters are fun to read; even though, in my view, his novels are mixed: Some great, and some I don't care for.

Guess, EH's life was bizare too. The private letters are consistent with that. And yet, they exude a special warmth; both gentelness and passion.
Reviewed by Palle Jorgensen. December 2004.

This collection of letters serves as the closest thing to a Hemingway autobiography we have. It is certainly must reading for the student or researcher, and I would highly recommend it for even the casual Hemingway fan.

Hemingway often wrote letters to either warm up for a day of writing or cool off afterward, and in these letters you see him at his unguarded, intellectual, humorous best. The style of his letter writing is often much freer than the tightly crafted prose style of his fiction...it's almost like watching a classical musician break into some improvisational jazz.

A great book to just dip into wherever you want, and this new edition is long overdue.

If you want to learn how to be "appropriate" and become a skillful buisness pioneer, then this is a must own book. It entails key facts about Mr Stanley Marcus, a pioneer of the business realm.

the follow up to 'minding the store',these books give you an excellent overview of running any sort of company in a 1.st class way.
putting the client in a comfortable position,in comfortable surroundings,with well trained staff, add-- product selected with care, usage thought,& background, add--a slight sense of humour, is a recipe to do well.

I first read "Quest for the Best" when it was published in 1979. I was in college then, and Mr. Marcus' view of retailing was so informative, to say nothing of interesting. I learned more from reading that book than I did from some of my college courses. If you're thinking of a career in retailing, or just wanting a glimpse into the high-end retail world, read this book, as well as "Minding the Store," which is also by Mr. Marcus.

This is a delightful book for several reasons. First is the vigor and vitality of Haskins' mind as he talks directly to you, as he did to the audience during the three lectures given at Brown University in 1923 that comprise the book. How they must have enjoyed the show! Second is Haskins' breadth and depth of learning as he painlessly presents the history of the university. Third is the latent sense of relief and joy of post World War I [for the victors to be sure] that fueled the world's mine oyster attitude of the twenties. Until the crash.

Haskin's text, "The Rise of Universities," is fascinating for a number of reasons. First, the story is superbly told in this set of three lectures given in the very early 1920's at Brown University. Second, the insights Haskins inserts at various points of the discourse are worthy of great consideration, and we very easily feel we are listening to someone who is an expert in the subject, one who knows far more than he is telling at the given moment. Third and finally, we realize we are reading a "historical" book, not just because the subject concerns history, but because Haskin's own role in helping re-introduce the medieval world to a new generation of American scholars was history in the making. His more famous and acclaimed text, "The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century," was a critical component in doing just that, but here we see Haskins "where it all started," in the lecture room at Brown, and we close our eyes and imagine we are sitting in on these discourses exactly as they appeared nearly one hundred years ago.

The work comprises three lectures on the medieval university, the first focusing on the earliest universities in terms of their structure, organization, and even linkage to today's universities, the second on the medieval university professor, and the third on the medieval university student. The material is presented in an extremely accessible manner, and one need not be a medievalist or medieval historian to follow the content. Much of the content is simply fascinating to anyone who wonders where today's universities can trace their lineal heritage. We read about the attempt to "date" the start of the world's oldest universities (Paris, Bologna, Oxford, Cambridge, and others), the differences between "northern" and "southern" universities, the specialties of each of the institutions, and the motivations for creating both student and teacher guilds. We also read about issues that faced the medieval professor, including the management of the classroom and its' students, the awarding of degrees, and even a little about medieval instructional techniques. We learn, too, about student life during these years, including the ever-constant quest to find money to finance schooling, the in-town brawls, and the requirements for exiting the university with an official degree. A special "extra" is the inclusion of some of the poetry written by medieval students and preserved through the years.

This is not an in-depth look at the subject, nor was it ever intended to be. (For such a book, try out History of the University in Europe: Universities from 1945 to Present by Hilde de Ridder-Symoens, which, at four volumes, is not only highly detailed, but also current and exceptionally well written.) What it is, though, is an excellent introduction to the topic that still contains many good insights on the topic and is well developed and clearly presented. As such, this book likely has two main audiences: those who wish for an introduction on the topic, and also those who are medievalists and wish to become more acquainted with Charles Haskins himself, a key personage in the field. Highly recommended.

Not much has changed since the 13th century. In some ways students were freer in that they had more leeway to choose their professors. On the other hand, especially in Theology and Philosophy departments, the inquisition was a fear near at hand. Haskins seemed to argue that students' freedoms was somewhat equal in the end to now. Getting drunk and wasting time was as much a part of univeristy life (in some circles) then, as now, and the number one issue of students was money -- typically how they can get it from their parents. Most students and their parents expected some vocational, profit making, activity to be the end result of their studies. Some students were serious; some often got drunk, sang, or got in fights, or both; and some wrote poetry and played the guitar. Everyone was expected to speak Latin, despite what their native tongue might be. They learned Latin so they could read works by ancient Roman poets, like Ovid, who also sang praises to being in nature, good times with friends, and playing the guitar. There was also law to study, or various associated studies, which was profitable. Parents didn't encourage their children, very often, to study Theology as there wasn't much money as an end result of it for most. Many interesting details given in his effort.

Universities formed, essentially, as a student union to protect their rights against cheating local townspeople and professors. On occasion a whole union of students would leave a town, if they felt cheated, taking their business elsewhere. The Pope, about this time, I think, approved of union formations (which I feel was the death blow to communism in Europe, in the end, and will be in China as well; plus they keep America somewhat safe from being an out and out plutocracy). I don't know if students these days feel themselves part of a union though.

Haskins has a very down-to-earth point of view and argues, for whatever purpose, that the modern university owes its direct linage to the universities of the thirteenth century in Europe and he does this with effectiveness and enjoyable, but scholarly, descriptions.

Haskins has the distinction of being the father of Medieaval studies in America.

This book is great and I'm buying more. Provides the negative as well as the postitve and ranks each section on a standardized scale that the authors use for each college so that comparisons can be made. Gives detailed information os many things that the school info does not take into account.

College Prowler books are well worth the investment for students and parents investigating colleges. They give a detailed picture of the school, written from current students' perspectives. Once you have narrowed your list of schools to 10 or fewer, I would recommend buying the College Prowler titles for all of those. It's a small investment compared to the cost of visiting the campus, application fees, and -- of course -- TUITION!

College Prowler books are stupendous for helping you with your college search. The Cornell University guidebook is especially great if you are considering applying to Cornell, if you have already been accepted, or if you would like to compare it to other Ivy League schools. It is even a good resource if you are visiting the school, as it contains tour information, addresses and recommendations for restaurants, and information on places to visit in the surrounding community. As for the school itself, the Cornell College Prowler book considers subjects admissions officers would never tell you about like what the drug scene is, how the parties are, and even if the population is hot! It also gives you the down and dirty on academics, stress, professors, and more. It's a great resource and a small price to pay for having piece of mind on your school of choice.

JoBeth Allen has created an exceptional resource and guide book in this text. She uses the voices of teachers and others in the schools, as well as her own mother/grandmother experiences to expose the reader to what a welcoming school looks like, feels like, and does. I would encourage anyone who is interested in their school or school district being sincerely open and welcoming to families to read this book. If you really want partnerships with parents, this is a wonderful place to start or extend on what you've already begun.

This book is a pleasure to read on so many different levels. For starters, Allen doesn't fall into the trap of pitting teachers against parents. She writes frankly from the perspective of a parent and an educator, building on her own experiences and those of others to illustrate the challenges in creating productive partnerships between families and schools in diverse communities. She does an exceptional job of suggesting ways to create meaningful family-school relationships that move beyond bake sales; in doing so, she gets readers to think about the kind of partnerships that are shown to really improve student learning. She does this in a way that is open, engaging, even friendly, while not being afraid to ask us as parents and educators to take a hard look at our practices and assumptions. In sections that are worth the price of admission, she discusses real-life examples of ways to create genuine dialogue between families and schools that deepen understanding and communication while also providing opportunities for increased student learning. But the book doesn't stop there. Instead, it moves into the arena of educational transformation, pushing readers to imagine ways of building community-school-home alliances that speak to living in a democratic society. In that sense, it is an optimistic, hopeful and inspiring book, chocked full of practical ideas, hands-on activities, thought-provoking stories, and opportunities for action. And did I mention that, on top of all that, it's a good read?

JoBeth Allen (Professor of Language and Literacy Education, University of Georgie) presents Creating Welcoming Schools: A Practical Guide to Home-School Partnerships with Diverse Families, a useful resource that explains how schools and diverse families across America have entered into constructive partnerships to improve student learning. Intended for teachers, parents, and school administrators, Creating Welcoming Schools covers such options as writing cultural memoirs, inviting dialogue at the conference table, engaging families in classroom projects, collaborating for more democratic schools and a more democratic society, and much more. "Evidence of learning may come from other teachers or adults who know the learner. If the child has a gift in art or music or physical education, or is working as an assistant in the library, invite that teacher for the conference. These teachers cannot go to every conference of every child, but they are rarely invited to any. What does that say about what we value?" Highly recommended.

you would expect great writing from this author. you get it. and it is an accurate portrayal of the atmosphere on the CU campus as well as a great story. if a master of words is going to write only one novel, he should be very happy with this one.

In the era of the probably unconstitutional, Orwellian-entitled "Patriot Act," Dark Matters examines class warfare and the suppression of civil liberties on several levels: social, political, and moral. Like most good novels, it explores the intersections of landed aristocrats with middle-class strivers, principally academics, as well as the exploitation of the working classes by management, and with compelling psychological insights and unexpected flashes of humor it presents an international cast of well differentiated characters espousing varying political beliefs. The principal constituencies of a public university are perceptively portrayed, from the toadying administration bending to the state legislature's will through academic politics among the faculty to the students coping with hypocritical parietal rules and issues such as abortion that remain timely and controversial. It candidly reveals the limited career possibilities for humanities graduates, such as working in a regional post office's dead letter department, and it captures the incipient sexual revolution of the mid-twentieth century. Structured as a universe of credible characters interacting in a realistic plot, Dark Matters is a serious, well crafted novel written by a full professor of English and writing, published by a neighboring state's university press. This work is highly suitable not only for all readers of substantive fiction but also for aspiring writers as a grounding in the traditions that must shape the flowering of their individual talents.

For example, a character is described as having a "butterfly mind" because her conversation flits from topic to topic in an associative stream-of-thought pattern. As a gifted author should, Professor Levitt then illustrates this characteristic with a typical manifestation:

"A guy and three gals sat down at the vacant table to my left. One of them, Brenda Oates, I knew from my Italian Renaissance history course. She always wore a butterfly pin on her right shoulder, and must have owned dozens of them because I never saw her wear the same one twice. The pin aptly corresponded to her butterfly mind. She flitted from one subject to another, talking in a stream of associations.

"The fellow said: 'You'll never guess what I heard today. Some Negroes are forming their own fraternity. Christ, what next: hog maws and chitterlings on the school menu?'

"Brenda took her cue. 'We used to have a Negro cook, Jemima, I never liked that name, you know. My favorite is Darlene. A cousin of mine had that name: Darlene Densmor. She acted in a movie. But she retired, you know. My dad says that as soon as he retires he's going to take me canoeing in Acadia State Park. That's in Canada. Did you know that they speak two languages up there? English and French. God, I really hate my French class! The other day, the other kids in that class laughed at me when the professor said he knew children this high' - she held her hand about two feet above the floor - 'who could speak French fluently. "Well, of course, they can," I said, "they're probably French." I really thought I'd like to visit France, but not any more. They all speak French there.'"

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is funny, fluent, passionate, sad and contemporary. Dark Matters offers a hilarious and poignant look at four very different students attending college in the 1950s. They respond to controversy re: the forced signing of the loyalty oath, learning on a local level about the evils of McCarthyism and repressive politics. Of course, being college students, political affiliation is only one of their challenges: they also enjoy love, sex, religious debates, familial reminiscences. There are hilarious scenes in which at least one political radical attends a sorority party! From the local scene at University of Colorado, the students follow each other and their good intentions to New Mexico to support a mining strike. While fighting repression and exploitation on a state level, they learn more about themselves and each other. Finally, we follow the foursome through graduation (or not) and into adulthood. Each makes different choices, for better and for worse-and all are entwined as a result of their shared youthful passions. Marriages, children and jobs unfold with surprising twists and turns. Finally, more than a decade after college, the political stage shifts to international concerns: the reactionary regime that follows the overthrow of Dubcek in Czechoslovakia. We see the heartbreaking harvest of this regime and the terrible cost of resisting it. Throughout the novel, individuals respond to institutional disregard for personal freedom. I closed the novel feeling satisfied and uneasy: satisfied by a good read, including laughter, tenderness and sorrow as young students, more and less idealistic, tangle with the life and politics of their time; disturbed by the contemporary implications of our own choices as we encounter abuses of individual rights in our own societies.
Read this book: you will have a wonderful time, learn some fascinating history, be challenged and uplifted.