Excellent sheep : the miseducation of the American elite and the way to a meaningful life / William Deresiewicz.
Deresiewicz, William, 1964- author.
2014
LA227.4 .D74 2014 (Mapit)
Available at General Collection

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Title Excellent sheep : the miseducation of the American elite and the way to a meaningful life / William Deresiewicz.
Author Deresiewicz, William, 1964- author.
Cover Title Xcellent sheep
Edition First Free Press hardcover edition.
ISBN 9781476702711 hardcover
1476702713 hardcover
Published New York, NY : Free Press, 2014.
Language English
Description 245 pages ; 24 cm
Call Number LA227.4 .D74 2014
Dewey Decimal Classification 378.73
Summary As a professor at Yale, Bill Deresiewicz saw something that troubled him deeply. His students, some of the nation's brightest minds, were adrift when it came to the big questions: how to think critically and creatively, and how to find a sense of purpose. Excellent Sheep takes a sharp look at the high-pressure 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 Yale's admissions committee. As schools shift focus from the humanities to "practical" subjects like economics and computer science, students are losing the ability to think in innovative ways. Deresiewicz explains how college should be a time for self-discovery, when students can establish their own values and measures of success, so they can forge their own path. He addresses parents, students, educators, and anyone who's interested in the direction of American society, featuring quotes from real students and graduates he has corresponded with over the years, candidly exposing where the system is broken and clearly presenting solutions.
Note On jacket, the word "Excellent" has a big red "X" over the letters "Ex", making the title "Xcellent sheep."
Linked Resources Sample text
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Contributor biographical information
Record Appears in On-Campus Resources > Books
All Resources
Introduction. pt. 1. Sheep. The students
The history
The training
The institutions. pt. 2. Self. What is college for?
Inventing your life
Leadership. pt. 3. Schools. Great books
Spirit guides
Your guide to the rankings. pt. 4. Society. Welcome to the club
The self-overcoming of the hereditary meritocracy.

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