Publisher Description
As a professor at Yale, William 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.
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“Changed completely my point of view about education. Lots of material covered and inspiration for my own kids’ education. From the over formatting system to free thinkers and choosing the most fulfilling path to explore your potential, the author managed to literally cram in there more than I expected. Essential skills like soft skills and humanities, learning how to think, how to learn to evaluate a way of thinking should be the building blocks, not a by product of a list of courses to look nice on a resume. One of the 10 books every kids MUST read unless you want them to be excellent sheeps… ”
—
Peter V. (5 out of 5 stars)
