A groundbreaking manifesto about what our nations top schools should bebut arentproviding. He takes aim at just about the entirety of uppermiddleclass life in america. Excellent sheep, by william deresiewicz the new york times. The miseducation of the american elite and the way to a meaningful life by former yale professor, william deresiewicz. Elite college students feel lost and depressed, many of whom end up in careers they dont like. Life is actually the most revealing bit of the almostuptoeighteenthcenturylength title that fills the navyblue cover of the book, with a big red x handpainted over the first syllable of the opening word. He provides insight from his own experience as a student and graduate instructor at columbia, as well as from his years teaching english at yale. The miseducation of the american elite by william deresiewicz students sacrifice all to grades and resume buildingi might be miserable, a yalie noted, but were i not miserable, i wouldnt be at yale. Excellent sheep is a withering analysis of the transactional spirit that rules american education and american life, and an inspiring example of a better ideal. Deresiewicz spent 24 years in the ivy league, graduating from columbia and teaching for a decade at yale.
A groundbreaking manifesto for people searching for the kind of in. Excellent sheep is the best way to describe the students who seek to and actually attend our most elite colleges and universities, william deresiewicz argues in his 2014 book, excellent sheep. Although the book was written for veterinarians in the united kingdom, it is very useful for canadian conditions as we share many of the same diseases and management problems. Deresiewicz addresses the pressure of succeeding under which students are put by their parents and by society, considering more particularly the ones that are. Excellent sheep free summary by william deresiewicz. Excellent sheep challenges parents to break from the herd mentality, to question what we really want from our children, who we really want them to be. He recently published these ideas as a cover article for the new republic. The exyale professor effectively skewers elite colleges, their brainy but soulless students those sheep, pushy parents, and admissions mayhem people.
Excellent sheep by william deresiewicz close reading questions acquire your own copy of the book, excellent sheep. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Lets see what else i can do to try and fix the system from within, so people come out as lions and not just excellent sheep. Weve rounded up some unique and breathtaking book covers that are sure to catch your eye and your heart. The college admissions arms race excellent sheep part 35. The miseducation of the american elite and the way to a meaningful life from the worlds largest community of readers.
A teachers guide to excellent sheep about the book excellent sheep is a searching critique of american education and a guide for students looking for a more meaningful college experience. Excellent sheep, by william deresiewicz, takes aim at americas elite. The college admissions arms race excellent sheep part 3. Brook henderson this book, written by william deresiewicz and first ed in 2014, is a hardbound book that covers the value of higher education. Excellent sheep, william deresiewiczs manifesto the new york. Thats william deresiewiczs term, in his new book, for harvard, yale.
Excellent sheep takes a sharp look at the highpressure conveyor belt that. An excerpt appeared this week on the cover of the new republic under the title. I found this an excellent book to read and i will be dipping into it for helpful information for many years to come. Anyone who cares about american higher education should ponder this book. If the practitioner is not familiar with a disease listed in the text, there are several excellent texts that cover, in. Rampages volumes 123 is unlike any previous sheep hunting books, and is 6 times their size. In this groundbreaking book on the children of affluence, a wellknown. Excellent sheep by william deresiewicz a groundbreaking manifesto about what our nations top schools should bebut arentproviding. The miseducation of the american elite and the way to a meaningful life is a 2015 book of social criticism on the. Excellent sheep is likely to makea lasting markfor three reasons. On this cover is a disjointed sheep and an openmouthed wolf with sharp teeth, seemingly ready to attack.
The accumulation of gold stars for success excellent sheep part 25. Excellent sheep by william deresiewicz close reading. The miseducation of the american elite and the way to a meaningful. The excellent sheep the best of americas young people bright leaders, active volunteers and allaround overachievers head to the ivy league or to another 100 or so elite colleges. Its full of useful information written in an easy to understand and humorous way. Excellent sheep are todays young high achievers, winning admission to selective. The fundamental rule of all readers is to never judge a book by its cover, but ilhether we spot a gorgeous book in someones hands or displayed in a bookstore, the cover piques our curiosity. How six novels taught me about love, friendship and the things that really matter, was published in 2012 and received critical acclaim. This is by far the most complete study on dall sheep hunting available with no subject untouched, and the depth and attention to detail is outstanding. The miseducation of the american elite and the way to a meaningful life audiobook by william deresiewicz. Excellent sheep is the sort of book that, by its nature, floats better questions than answers. The miseducation of the american elite and the way to a meaningful life is a 2015 book of social criticism on the role of elite colleges in american society written by william deresiewicz and published by free press. The book filled me with both hope that there could be a more authentic, creative way to raise a new generation of.
Deresiewiczs portrait of the typical ivy league student will ring true for many professors, and not only at harvard and yale. Terri lobdell, excellent multipart series in palo alto weekly, prompted in part by rash of teen suicides at gunn high school. The miseducation of the american elite and the way to a. The sheep book for smallholders hardcover illustrated, 30 nov 2009. Excellent sheep casts a critical view on the most prestigious american colleges and calls into question the academic quality of elite institutions such as harvard and yale. Deresiewiczs book is packed full of what he wants more of in american life. In his book excellent sheep, william deresiewicz shows what the elite schools of the united states lack. The wolf elicits fear, yet the sheep is not panicked which heightens the readers panic. A successfully designed book cover will convey the tone of your book, will whisper hints without giving it all away, and will excite readers into actually opening up the book and reading. Read summary of excellent sheep by william deresiewicz. Deresiewicz feels sorry for and despises, are covering something up. Excellent sheep book by william deresiewicz official publisher.
These 50 awesome book covers will inspire you learn. In any event, excellent sheep, while not perfect, is an extremely important book that anyone concerned about the american university should read. Excellent sheep book by william deresiewicz official. Excellent sheep takes a sharp look at the highpressure conveyor belt that begins with parents and counselors who demand perfect grades and culminates in the skewed applications deresiewicz saw firsthand as a member of yales admissions committee. The miseducation of the american elite by william deresiewicz students sacrifice all to grades and resume buildingi might be miserable, a yalie noted, but. Excellent sheep, william deresiewiczs manifesto the.
It reminds you that, as emerson said, sometimes a scream is better than a thesis. The miseducation of the american elite and the way to a meaningful life. If you care about the future, you will no doubt find excellent sheep exceptionally enlightening. Caitlin flanagan, confessions of a prep school college counselor. The book filled me with both hope that there could be a more authentic, creative way to raise a new generation of thinkersand with the courage to try to find it. Upon graduation, they enter americas governmental and justice systems and fill the top ranks of prestigious law, consulting, finance and banking. Lets look and learn from 50 fascinating book cover designs. In his new book excellent sheep, william deresiewicz takes elite higher education to the woodshed. Because the author is a respected member of the very club he decries, excellent sheep will receive the attention appropriate to the books class and station. Et many of the freshmen arriving on campus this month at golden institutions like. Ultimately, excellent sheep reveals not just how elite american colleges stifle independent thought, but also how they directly contribute to reproducing class inequality. This book, written by william deresiewicz and first ed in 2014, is a hardbound book that covers the value of higher education. Terrific new book 2015 on helicopter parenting by former stanford dean of freshmen.