Description
Book SynopsisCan the university solve the social and political crisis in America?Higher education occupies a difficult place in twenty-first-century American culture. Universitiesthe institutions that bear so much responsibility for the future health of our nationare at odds with the very publics they are intended to serve. As Kathleen Fitzpatrick asserts, it is imperative that we re-center the mission of the university to rebuild that lost trust. Critical thinkingthe heart of what academics docan today often negate, refuse, and reject new ideas. In an age characterized by rampant anti-intellectualism, Fitzpatrick charges the academy with thinking constructively rather than competitively, building new ideas rather than tearing old ones down. She urges us to rethink how we teach the humanities and to refocus our attention on the very human endsthe desire for community and connectionthat the humanities can best serve. One key aspect of that transformation involves fostering an atmosphere of what Fitz
Trade ReviewAn inspiring and convincing look at how anyone involved in higher education can nurture generosity and help integrate their institutions into their communities to further the public good. With its call for generosity and community-building that is potentially revolutionary, Kathleen Fitzpatrick's
Generous Thinking is an indispensable addition to conversations on the state of higher education today.
—
Foreword ReviewsFor anyone concerned with the future of higher education, Fitzpatrick makes a passionate argument for a simple yet potentially revolutionary idea.
—
Library JournalGenerous Thinking offers us a plan to move our national thinking about higher education in a way that enlivens our democracy.
—
The BafflerGenerous Thinking is one important step toward recovering the lost value of the university. [Fitzpatrick's] work, which clearly demonstrates how to think generously in the academy, can help make the case for increased public investment in higher education.
—
Public BooksTable of ContentsPreface
Introduction
Chapter 1. On Generosity
Chapter 2. Reading Together
Chapter 3. Working in Public
Chapter 4. The University
Conclusion. The Path Forward
Acknowledgments
References
Index
