Podcasts about Excellent Sheep

De studerar vid en av Europas mest prestigefyllda handelshögskolor. De talar flera språk, klär sig korrekt och vet hur man bygger ett varumärke – även om det råkar vara sig själva. I dokumentären Framtidens elit (SVT Play) får vi följa fem unga vuxna som fostras till att bli just det: framtidens elit. Men det som på pappret ser ut som ett framgångsrecept, framstår i praktiken som ett liv som aldrig riktigt börjar.I dagens avsnitt pratar Anna-Karin och Ivar om lägenheter utan tavlor, relationer som tystnar, arbetsdagar som aldrig tar slut – och vad som händer när mening reduceras till mätbarhet. När man lever som om man alltid är på väg, men aldrig riktigt kommer fram.Till sin hjälp har de bland annat boken Excellent Sheep av William Deresiewicz (2015), där elitutbildning liknas vid en sorteringsmaskin för perfekta men vilsna individer – skickliga på att prestera, men dåligt rustade att välja liv.Det blir ett samtal om konsultbranschen som emotionellt vakuum, utbildning som dressyr, och varför så många unga högpresterare verkar ha allt – men ändå undrar vad det är värt.Prenumerera eller stötta Rak högerI takt med att fler blir betalande prenumeranter har Rak höger kunnat expandera med fler skribenter och mer innehåll. Vi får inget presstöd, vi tar inte emot pengar från någon intresseorganisation eller lobbygrupp. Det är endast tack vare er prenumeranter vi kan fortsätta vara självständiga röster i en konform samtid. Så stort tack för att ni är med, utan er hade det inget av detta varit möjligt.Den som vill stötta oss på andra sätt än genom en prenumeration får gärna göra det med Swish, Plusgiro, Bankgiro, Paypal eller Donorbox.Swishnummer: 123-027 60 89Plusgiro: 198 08 62-5Bankgiro: 5808-1837Utgivaren ansvarar inte för kommentarsfältet. (Myndigheten för press, radio och tv (MPRT) vill att jag skriver ovanstående för att visa att det inte är jag, utan den som kommenterar, som ansvarar för innehållet i det som skrivs i kommentarsfältet.) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.enrakhoger.se/subscribe

Few observers are more insightful than the critic William Deresiewicz at identifying the changing landscape of American culture. In my latest conversation with Deresiewicz, best known for his book Excellent Sheep, we explore how young American men are increasingly drawn to right-wing politics while feeling socially devalued and alienated by progressive rhetoric. Deresiewicz critiques universities for embracing a censorious left-wing ideology that has become intellectually stagnant. He contrasts this with the creative ferment happening on the right, while at the same time rejecting Trump's authoritarian tactics against universities. Deresiewicz argues that art has lost its cultural significance as consumption has become disposable, and notes that a new counter-elite is attempting to destroy the established liberal elite rather than join its exclusive club.Here are the 5 KEEN ON AMERICA takeaways in our conversation with Deresiewicz: * Young men, particularly those without elite educations, are increasingly drawn to right-wing politics partly due to economic changes, dating app dynamics, and what Deresiewicz perceives as dismissive rhetoric from the progressive left.* Universities have embraced a "far left progressive ideology" that has been repeatedly rejected by voters even in traditionally liberal areas, yet Deresiewicz condemns Trump's authoritarian tactics against these institutions.* The political left has become intellectually stagnant, with creative energy now more visible on the right, while progressive spaces have become censorious and intolerant of debate.* Art has lost its cultural significance as streaming platforms and internet culture have turned creative works into disposable "content," diminishing both audience engagement and artistic seriousness.* A new counter-elite (represented by figures like Trump and Musk) isn't seeking admission to established power structures but rather aims to destroy them entirely, representing a significant shift in elite dynamics.William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic, a frequent speaker at colleges, high schools, and other venues, and the author of five books including the New York Times bestseller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. His most recent book is The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society. His current project is a historically informed memoir about being Jewish. Bill has published over 300 essays and reviews. He has won the Hiett Prize in the Humanities, the National Book Critics Circle's Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, and a Sydney Award; he is also a three-time National Magazine Award nominee. His work, which has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harper's, The London Review of Books, and many other publications, has been translated into 19 languages and included in over 40 college readers and other anthologies. Bill taught English at Yale and Columbia before becoming a full-time writer. He has appeared on The Colbert Report, Here & Now, The New Yorker Radio Hour, and many other outlets and has held visiting positions at Bard, Scripps, and Claremont McKenna Colleges as well as at American Jewish University and the University of San Diego. His previous books are The Death of the Artist: How Creators are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech, A Jane Austen Education, and Jane Austen and the Romantic Poets. Bill is a member of the board (directorial, editorial, or advisory) of The Matthew Strother Center for the Examined Life, a retreat and study program in Catskill, NY; The Metropolitan Review, a new literary journal; Tivnu: Building Justice, which runs a Jewish service-learning gap year and other programs in Portland, OR; the Prohuman Foundation, which promotes the ideals of individual identity and shared humanity; Circle, a group coaching and purpose-finding program for college and graduate students; and Clio's, a selectively curated, chronologically organized bookstore in Oakland.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting the daily KEEN ON show, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy interview series. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.Keen On America is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a Text Message.Bill Deresiewicz, a former Yale professor, and Aaron Pete discuss how liberal arts degrees impact personal development, the challenges in higher education, and the importance of diverse perspectives and mentors in building a democratic society.Support the Show.www.biggerthanmepodcast.com

William Deresiewicz — author of (the newly updated) Excellent Sheep, The Death of the Artist, and The End of Solitude — returns to the pod! This time we dive into one of the institutions we love to hate: elite universities. We dwell on and debate the protests at Columbia (et al.), the reasons why it's all gone so wrong, and whether or not the solution is just to raze them to the ground. Check out our ‘Uncertainty' newsletter for updates and rants. To support us and gain access to exclusive content, consider becoming a paid member of Uncertain on Substack. Follow @UncertainPod on your social media of choice.On the agenda:-The context for Excellent Sheep, c. 2014 [2:39-12:21]-The student as customer / PC police officer [12:22-27:32]- The emptiness inside [27:33-40:02]-To fix or ruin the elite reputation? [40:03-49:54]-Getting into the protests & elite failure [49:55-58:58]- What exactly went wrong [58:59-1:08:08]-The answer isn't yoga [1:08:09-1:29:36]Mentioned in this conversation: -Our last conversation with Bill -Vanessa's newsletter on solitude/friendshipUncertain Things is hosted and produced by Adaam James Levin-Areddy and Vanessa M. Quirk. For more doomsday rumination, subscribe to: uncertain.substack.com. Get full access to Uncertain Things at uncertain.substack.com/subscribe

“The system of elite education, which I can define at greater lengths is making kids miserable, and it's producing an elite class that's wrecking the country,” says best-selling author and essayist Bill Deresiewicz in this week's episode of The Syllabus. Syllabus host Mark Oppenheimer discusses topics in Deresiewicz's book Excellent Sheep, including societal pressures to attend elite colleges, overwhelming careerism, admissions competition, and increasing inequality in access to education. Guest Bio: William Deresiewicz is an essayist, critic, speaker, and author of the best-seller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. Formerly a Yale and Columbia English professor, Deresiewicz transitioned to full-time writing and has taught or lectured at schools including Bard, Scripps, Claremont McKenna, and the University of San Diego. Deresiewicz is also active with Tivnu: Building Justice and Project Wayfinder, promoting social justice and purpose-based learning.Stay informed about this podcast and all of AJU's latest programs and offerings by subscribing to our mailing list HERE If you'd like to support AJU and this podcast, please consider donating to us at aju.edu/donate

As an English professor at Yale University, essayist and literary critic William Deresiewicz observed a trend across American higher education that troubled him deeply. Instead of learning to think independently, critically, creatively, and courageously, students were increasingly subscribing to a mode of careerism, credentialism, and conformism that focused on climbing the academic or professional ladder. So what is the value of higher education? As Deresiewicz writes in his 2014 book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, colleges, first and foremost, are supposed to teach you to think, to help you develop a habit of skepticism and the capacity to put it into practice. More than that, college is where you build a soul — your moral, intellectual, sensual, emotional self, through exposure to books, ideas, works of art, and pressures of the minds around you that are looking for their own answers to the big questions. Questions of love, family, God, mortality, time, truth, dignity, and the human experience. Over the course of our conversation, we discuss the search for a meaningful life, the worth of a liberal education, the role of mentorship, the relationship between solitude and leadership, what it means to cultivate moral imagination, and more.In this episode, we discuss: 3:00 - Deresiewicz' approach to teaching during his years as a college professor6:25 - The reason why parents are not ideally positioned to guide their children through questions of what they want to do with their lives 8:02 - What Deresiewicz believes is the purpose of higher education 10:50 - What it means to “shape the soul” of students 17:12 - What we miss when we take a scientistic view of the world 20:45 - The challenge of establishing normative values in society, and why a “moral education” should be prioritized instead28:25 - The search for individualism among students today30:55 - What true leadership looks like and why people in powerful positions in our society do not often exhibit these traits40:28 - What does it mean to have a sense of purpose?43:00 - How young people can work to develop their sense of a calling or purposeWilliam Deresiewicz is the author of four books, including A Jane Austen Education (2011), Excellent Sheep (2014), The Death of the Artist (2020), and The End of Solitude (2022), as well as multiple essays, including Solitude and Leadership (2010) and The Disadvantages of an Elite Education (2008). William Deresiewicz can be found on Twitter/X at @Wderesiewicz.Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to info@

Chapter 1 Understand the idea behind Excellent Sheep"Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life" is a book by William Deresiewicz. In this book, Deresiewicz explores the flaws of the modern education system and the pressure placed on students to pursue narrow definitions of success and achievement.Deresiewicz, a former Yale professor, argues that the education system focuses too much on grades, test scores, and prestige, rather than fostering creativity, intellectual curiosity, and a sense of purpose. He criticizes what he calls the "meritocracy" where students are pushed to achieve for the sake of achievement, often leading to a lack of authenticity and fulfillment in their adult lives.The term "Excellent Sheep" comes from a quote by former Yale professor William Sloan Coffin, who said, "The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity." Deresiewicz sees this as reflective of the conformity and lack of critical thinking fostered by the education system.Through personal anecdotes, interviews with students, and a deep analysis of societal pressures, Deresiewicz offers insights and suggestions for creating a more meaningful education system that values personal growth, self-discovery, and the pursuit of true passions. He encourages students to think critically about their goals and aspirations, and to find their own paths rather than conforming to societal expectations."Excellent Sheep" has sparked much discussion and debate about the current state of higher education and the effects of the pressure to achieve. It offers a critique of the status quo and a call to action for reforming the education system to better serve the needs of students.Chapter 2 Is Excellent Sheep Worth the Hype?The book has received generally positive reviews and has been praised for its critique of the higher education system and its examination of the pressure and conformity faced by college students. It has been described as thought-provoking, insightful, and well-researched. If you are interested in exploring topics related to education, personal development, and the challenges faced by students, you might find "Excellent Sheep" to be a valuable read.Chapter 3 Overview of Excellent Sheep"Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life" is a book written by William Deresiewicz that examines the flaws of the education system in America, particularly within elite institutions.The book argues that many elite colleges and universities prioritize the development of narrow skills and the pursuit of prestige over the pursuit of a truly meaningful and fulfilling education. Deresiewicz suggests that these institutions and their students are often consumed with competition, conformity, and achievement, leading to a culture of "excellent sheep" who are focused on getting the best grades, securing high-paying jobs, and maintaining a certain social status, rather than cultivating genuine intellectual curiosity and personal growth.Deresiewicz draws on his own experiences as a professor at Yale University, as well as interviews with students and faculty from various elite institutions, to shed light on the detrimental effects of this education system. He critiques the overspecialization and hyper-competitive nature of these institutions, arguing that they produce graduates who lack the ability to think critically, engage in meaningful social and political discourse, and find true fulfillment in their lives.Additionally, Deresiewicz highlights the impact of societal pressures and...

Recorded June 6, 2023. William Deresiewicz is a non-fiction writer whose work includes The End of Solitude, Excellent Sheep, and A Jane Austin Education. In this episode he speaks with us about his book The Death of the Artist: How Creators are Struggling to Survive in the age of Billionaires and Big Tech. Over the course of our conversation Bill gives us a synopsis of the book and highlights different factors that have resulted in the current marketplace for creatives. He includes the new formation of “parasocial relationships” with fans and customers that are a part of selling creative work and acknowledges the death of institutional gatekeepers, which is a double edged sword. This interview is one you will not want to miss. To find more of Bills's work visit: https://billderesiewicz.com/Help keep the podcast alive! Visit our Patreon, pick up some Merch, or make a one time donation! Listeners make it all possible. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Support the show

Today I speak with Ken Hart, CEO and Founder at Snowdrop Solutions, a data enrichment FinTech. We talk about the importance of clarity and transparency of transactions in financial services, focusing on solving every day problems, the need for a user-centric approach using personalized spending insights and recommendations, the benefits of autonomy in building a company to have a meaningful impact on users' lives and the importance of creating a culture that builds challengers, not excellent sheep"There's moments in people's lives where there's a lack of clarity, a lack of transparency, and if you could just make sense of it quickly and intuitively... people just get it."Let's dive into it!

This week, The Unspeakable welcomes back William Deresiewicz, who enters the pantheon of three-time guest! Bill was first on the pod in the fall of 2020 talking about his book The Death of the Artist and he came back last year to talk about his book of collected works The End of Solitude. He returns now to discuss some articles he published recently about the state of human creativity and the future of creative output. In an article for Tablet called We're All Bored Of Culture, Bill explores how and why the arts have seemingly become so lackluster in the last several decades and why audiences appear to be so bored. In an article for Persuasion, Bill writes about artificial intelligence and why he thinks that, despite all the fuss, AI, will never be a substitute for human creativity.    As with all of his visits to The Unspeakable, Bill and Meghan talk about why it might be more difficult than ever to be an artist–-not just in terms of making a living but in terms of “making meaning” (whatever that means). Are artists afraid to take risks for fear of public rebuke and the financial penalties that can result? Or does the machinery of the marketplace disincentivize originality in any form? They also talk about Bill's early career as a dance critic and Meghan's recent experience revisiting some films that were important to her when she was younger.    For paying subscribers, Bill stays over time to reflect on the aging process and some of his feelings about friendship, masculinity, regret, and (of course) the new gender movement.    Guest Bio: William Deresiewicz is the author of Excellent Sheep, The Death of the Artist, and The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society. Find him at www.billderesiewicz.com.

Host Blaise Brosnan sits down with William Deresiewicz, the author of Excellent Sheep and The Death of the Artist. They discuss the degree of intellectual engagement of the American elite, the postmodern turn in post-war American literature, and the increased proliferation of different forms of art over time.

William Deresiewicz — author of Excellent Sheep, The Death of the Artist, and The End of Solitude — has lived many lives. He's been an orthodox Jewish boy who lost his faith; a journalism school student unimpressed by the pretensions of the profession; a literature professor who (blasphemously) loved books and teaching. Today, he's an author, essayist, and nostalgic ex-New Yorker. No matter where he's been in life, Deresiewicz has often been on the outside looking in, which is maybe why he's able to see and analyze our culture so clearly. We start off this conversation diving into The Death of the Artist, and how the concept/role of the artist has evolved and changed throughout history; we then meander into a discussion on community, solitude, and cities; and conclude by diving into his two definitions of the word “culture,” while unpacking the techno-solutionism of America.Check out our ‘Uncertainty' newsletter for updates and rants. To support us and gain access to exclusive content, consider becoming a paid member of Uncertain on Substack. Follow @UncertainPod on your social media of choice.On the agenda:-Phantasms, Batman, and Bill [0:00-6:00]-The first paradigm - artist as artisan [6:01-17:04]-The second paradigm - artist as bohemian  [17:05-27:55]-The third paradigm - artist as professional  [27:56-33:40]-To the fourth paradigm [33:41-39:41]-Artist as producer vs. truth teller [39:42-57:53]-Art and community [57:54-1:01:59]-Solitude and cities [1:02:00-1:19:25]-Culture vs culture [1:19:26-1:40:06]Mentioned in this conversation: -Washington Post's Leonard Downie Jr. on moving beyond “objectivity”-The Herd of Independent MindsThe Two Cultures and the Scientific RevolutionUncertain Things is hosted and produced by Adaam James Levin-Areddy and Vanessa M. Quirk. For more doomsday rumination, subscribe to: uncertain.substack.com. Get full access to Uncertain Things at uncertain.substack.com/subscribe

William Deresiewicz is an American author, essayist, and critic. He taught English at Yale University from 1998 to 2008. He is the author, among other books, of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. In this week's conversation, Yascha Mounk and William Deresiewicz discuss how the intensely meritocratic nature of elite universities prioritizes striving over deep learning; the instrumentalization of traditional pursuits to the detriment of mastery; and how broader cultural transformations frustrate deep immersion in art, friendship, and learning. This transcript has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Please do listen and spread the word about The Good Fight. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: podcast@persuasion.community  Website: http://www.persuasion.community Podcast production by John Taylor Williams, and Brendan Ruberry Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk & @joinpersuasion Youtube: Yascha Mounk LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What kind of person is our education system designed to create? Best-selling author and award-winning essayist William Deresiewicz discusses the failures of our higher education system, how it mis-conditions our elite, and fails to value the humanities, as well as his latest collection of essays, "The End of Solitude." Sign up for our event with Bill via Zoom in 1 week! https://jmp.princeton.edu/events/college-kids-are-not-ok-and-what-do-about-it-conversation-william-deresiewicz-end-solitude  More on Bill Deresiewicz: https://billderesiewicz.com/  His book, "The End of Solitude": https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250858641/the-end-of-solitude  His book, "Excellent Sheep": https://billderesiewicz.com/books/excellent-sheep/  His recent piece on secularism: https://salmagundi.skidmore.edu/articles/360-disenchantment-and-dogma  Jean Anyon's article on how our education system enforces social class: https://www.jstor.org/stable/1179509  Nicholas Kristof's educational advice in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/07/opinion/sunday/student-success-advice.html

Bill Deresiewicz is one of the sharpest cultural critics of our time. I may not agree with everything he says, but I have to hand it to the guy. He's a powerhouse of incisive, piercing insight into all things culture. His books include A Jane Austen Education and The Death of the Artist as well as my personal favorite Excellent Sheep. And now he's got a new one on the way. In July, we sat down and talked about The End of Solitude, an exceptionally well curated set of essays that I'd recommend to anybody. For those interested, the book drops on August 23rd and can be snagged here. Be sure to check out the Quillette website soon for an exclusive excerpt from The End of Solitude. And while you're there, throw in a subscription and join the club. You can thank me later.

Bill Deresiewicz is a former Yale professor who wrote a book about the failures of the elite education institutions in the West called Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American elite and the way to a meaningful life.In this podcast, Þórarinn speaks with Bill about how he perceives the problem today, who are these excellent sheep, the grade-inflation, wokeism and its implications on free speech and censorship, classism, and more.

Why is it important to gain insight into what college is for you as an individual? What happens if you don't have that awareness? Moreover, what questions should you ask yourself to get that clear idea?  Jenn dives into these questions to start the episode off. Later in the episode, Jenn talks to William Deresiewicz, a former English professor at Yale University, an essayist, a literary critic, and an author of best-selling books, A Jane Austen Education and Excellent Sheep. Take a listen to this week's episode and find out who is an excellent sheep, the unintended impact the US admissions process has on students throughout life, and how to avoid these pitfalls. Furthermore, you will discover whether a school's reputation impacts future earnings, why faculty at most US universities are discouraged from spending time teaching, the problems of educational and residential-class segregation, and much more!  “As a result of the excellence that students have been forced to demonstrate, always doing what grown-ups want them to do, never having time to think about what they want, what they are good at, what they care about, they become sheep.” William Deresiewicz

This week's episode is the first of several episodes about how colleges and universities have abandoned their core mission - the collaborative search for truth - in favor of, well, something else. My guest for this episode is https://billderesiewicz.com/ (William Deresiewicz), author of https://billderesiewicz.com/books/excellent-sheep/ (Excellent Sheep), The Death of the Artist, and the landmark essay ""https://newrepublic.com/article/118747/ivy-league-schools-are-overrated-send-your-kids-elsewhere (Don't Send Your Kid to the Ivy League)." Bill and I discuss the meritocracy and the damage it is doing to our students, our colleges, and our political institutions. We also discuss the way that the meritocratic language around "diversity" obscures the actual problems and solutions for social and political justice in higher education. Next week's episode is about anarchism and Christmas. I highly recommend that you read "An https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/transformation/anarchist-guide-to-christmas/ (Anarchist Guide to Christmas)" by Ruth Kinna, covering the similarities between Kropotkin and Santa Claus, in advance of my conversation with Ruth about Santa and anarchism. As always, you can find me at https://www.everydayanarchism.com/ (https://www.everydayanarchism.com/)

Thom Golden, Founder & CEO of Golden Educational Consulting, shares the story of his journey from college admission work to higher-ed adjacent work to launching his own college consulting firm centered around "whole student scheduling."   The episode focuses on "purposeful unrest," the path not taken, and watershed moments, and includes great insights no matter where around the desk your seat is located.Whole Student Scheduling100 Cups AcademyNapier Executive SearchAtomic Habits by James ClearWatershed by Indigo GirlsRapid DescentWalkout song:  The Man by Aloe BlaccBest recent read: The Second Mountain: The Quest for a Moral Life by David Brooks (hat tip to Brad Weiner for the recommendation)Eager to read next: Excellent Sheep; The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life by William DeresewiczFavorite thing to make in the kitchen: Smoked pork shoulder (and yes, he shared his recipe).What he uses to take and keep notes: Rocket Book, Moleskine, Evernote. Memorable bit of advice: "Say 'Make it a great day' instead of 'Have a great day,' [because it speaks to agency and action].Bucket list: There's a piece of paper in their kitchen where each of his sons has picked trips for him to take with each of his sons: to waterparks, to England to watch Tottenham Hotspurs, and the United States Grand Prix in Austin.Theme music arranged by Ryan Anselment.

We're back! This week we're wrapping up our series on William Deresiewicz's speech "Excellent Sheep". So far we've learned how to become effective leaders through two of three practices: reading and developing friendships. This week we cover the third practice, introspection. Listen in as we dive deep into what it means to think about what we think! Hosts: Dr. Lily Abadal & Shelby Cala Producer: Shelby Cala

We're talking about reading! This week we dive into another theme from William Deresiewicz's speech "Excellent Sheep" and learn how sustained reading can help us become more virtuous people.  Hosted by: Dr. Lily Abadal & Shelby Cala Produced by: Shelby Cala

This week Lily & Shelby reflect on the "Excellent Sheep" speech given by author & Ivy League professor,William Deresiewicz. This will be one of several episodes centered around the talk and this week the focus is on becoming an effective leader! Hosts: Dr. Lily Abadal & Mrs. Shelby Cala Producer: Shelby Cala

William Deresiewicz returns to In Conversation to speak about "Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life". We talk about the narrative that college is something that young people just "need to do", the importance of a humanities education and the courage that it will take to challenge our current meritocratic approach to college and university admissions. We're speaking across national borders on some of these issues, but there is plenty that should resonate with Canadian listeners. As with our conversation about "THE DEATH OF THE ARTISTHow Creators Are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech", Bill has given us plenty with which to build a bigger conversation. Find out more about Bill's work at https://billderesiewicz.com/

A former Yale professor on the clever but morally clueless students pursuing an elite education.  ------ In 2014, William Deresiewicz's book Excellent Sheep: The miseducation of the American elite and the way to a meaningful life became an instant best-seller. The former Yale professor called out the way that elite American universities produced “excellent sheep”: clever, highly credentialled, and conscientious young people who were nonetheless stumped about the meaning of life. Instead, they funnelled themselves into high-paying jobs in law, finance, medicine, consulting, or tech.    In this fascinating discussion, Deresiewicz talks about the way that words like “soul” have a gravity that non-religious language can't replicate, why a good education is necessarily going to ask existential questions about “love and time and God and everything”, and how he annoyed Canadian psychologist and popular science writer Steven Pinker with talk about university as a time to “build your self”. As the Australian federal government changes the pricing structure of university degrees to encourage students to pursue courses in areas of expected job growth, it's clear that we're also asking: what exactly is the value of an education? ------ Explore: Excellent Sheep: The miseducation of the American elite and the way to a meaningful life (Bill's most recent book) The Death of the Artist: How Creators Are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech

Michael Hardiman describes the Denver Lab School as in its embryonic stage. Recorded 18 months prior to the opening of school - the journey seems monumental, but Michael is on a path to create a unique learning experience that will greatly impact those he seeks to serve! mhardiman@denverlabschool.org2:30 Holderness School2:45 Phil Peck4:15 AmeriCorps5:00 Windermere Prep6:00 Klingenstein Center9:45 Vinny Dotoli10:00 Brooklyn Independent Middle School10:00 Orly Friedman22:00 Vivid Vision by Cameron Herold22:15 Traction by Gino Wickman23:45 Mastery Transcript Consortium®27:15 No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention by Reed Hastings42:30 North American Outdoor Leadership Schools47:00 Creative Schools by Ken Robinson  - Do schools kill creativity? - TED Talk47:30 Excellent Sheep by William Deresiewicz 47:30 Make It Stick by Peter C. Brown48:00 John Dewey Academy - Experience And Education by John DeweyHere are some additional resources supporting our mission.Episodes, Feeback, Show Notes & more - www.elevateschool.usFacebook Group   LinkedIn GroupConnect with Matt on LinkedInConnect with Kevin on LinkedInComments or Questions? - kevin@theSMARTsub.com

This book, Excellent Sheep, sharply points out the downsides of elite education. By elite education, the author means not only prestigious institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton but also everything related to them. He criticizes elite students for their inability to accept failure, their lack of creative thinking, their disconnection from society, and other failings. Moreover, the book states that prestigious institutions are “soulless,” even though each one of them seems to have a character. By examining the various issues and problems in American elite education, readers have an opportunity to rethink what a good education should look like and how the prestigious schools should respond.

Episode #14 of the Real College Matters podcast Is heavy on the "real" and a little lighter on the "podcast," an uncut, unfiltered conversation between Leigh and Bill Deresiewicz, the writer who has most influenced her college advising practice.In a departure from Bill's usual speaking venues--his most recent being with New York University--Bill gives generously of his time to talk with Leigh not only about his latest publication but also about the provocative essays and books which call into question our culture's troubling assumptions about higher education. (Link to new book) The Death of the Artist: How Creators Are Struggling to Survive In the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech(Bill's website)Selected writings:Solitude and Leadership (text of speech given to West Point cadets In 2010)The Disadvantages of an Elite EducationOn Political Correctness Other books: A Jane Austen Education: How Six Novels Taught Me About Love, Friendship, and the Things That Really MatterExcellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life

Rachel chats with our guest about the success narrative she inherited as the daughter of Chinese immigrants. We unpack what it was like to have it all on the outside but feel miserable on the inside. She tells the story of her tumultuous transition from college into young adulthood, what it took for her to quit her prestigious tech job, and how her relationship with her mom has evolved throughout. Resources mentioned: - Brené Brown interview on Skavlan: How to cope with grief, fear and anxiety during Corona [link] - Marina Keegan essay: Even Artichokes Have Doubts [link] - William Deresiewicz book: Excellent Sheep [link] - Ruth Chang TED Talk: How to make hard choices [link] --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/misfortune-cookies/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/misfortune-cookies/support

...........................................................................................William Deresiewiczhttps://billderesiewicz.com/Death of The Artist - BUY THE BOOK:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250125510/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=williamderesiewicz-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1250125510&linkId=3b99246920a343c09ba0bc86c1302d51...........................................................................................SPONSORS...........................................................................................PATREONIf you’re a podcaster, Youtuber, musician, writer, illustrator... if you’re a creative person of any kind, or simply love one, now is the time to check out patreon.com. Now is the time to join the millions of fans and creators who are changing the way art is valued together. STORYBLOCKSThis episode is brought to you by Storyblocks Video. Story Blocks give you studio-quality 4k stock video without blowing your budget. If you need b-roll, after effects templates, or video motion background you gotta check out Storyblocks Video. Head to storyblocks.com/CreativePepTalk to learn more about Storyblocks Video today. SKILLSHARE X CREATIVE PEP TALKOur first ever online video course is out now on SKILLSHARE!Are you looking for your next big break? Whether you’ve NEVER had a big break in your creative career OR you’re a veteran creative who needs a new big break to reinvent yourself: this class is for you!!! Go to skillshare.com/creativepeptalk  to get started!!! JakprintsGet our new 2021 Calendar printed by Jakprints.com AVAILABLE NOW!

Bestselling author William Deresiewicz's new book, The Death of the Artist: How Creators Are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech, paints a grim picture of the state of the arts-at least as far as actual artists are concerned. For all the talk about how it's never been easier to be creative, the truth is that it's never been more difficult to do so professionally. In this conversation, Deresiewicz relays what he learned from interviews with more than one hundred working artists, how the digital economy has obliterated the creative economy, and what he portends for the future of his own career. Guest Bio:  William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic, a frequent speaker at colleges and other venues, and a former professor of English at Yale. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Harper's Magazine, the Nation, the New Republic, and many other publications. He is the recipient of a National Book Critics Circle award for excellence in reviewing and is the New York Times bestselling author of Excellent Sheep, The Death of the Artist, and A Jane Austen Education.  

Michael talks with William Deresiewicz, author about Excellent Sheep, on parent and counselor expectations and Fear around the broken educational systemAs a Yale professor, Bill Deresiewicz saw something deeply troubling. His students 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 continues into college. As schools shift focus from the liberal arts to narrowly “practical” subjects like economics and computer science, students are losing the ability to think for themselves.Deresiewicz explains how college should be a time for self-discovery, when young people can establish their own values and measures of success in order to 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.William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic, a frequent speaker at colleges, high schools, and other venues, and the best-selling author of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. His new book is The Death of the Artist: How Creators Are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech.Bill has published more than 250 essays and reviews. He has won the Hiett Prize in the Humanities, the Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing, and a Sydney Award; he is also a three-time National Magazine Award nominee. His work, which has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Harper’s, The American Scholar, and many other publications, has been translated into 17 languages and anthologized in more than 30 college and scholastic readers.Bill taught English at Yale and Columbia before becoming a full-time writer in 2008. He has spoken at over 100 educational and other venues and held visiting positions at Bard, Scripps, and Claremont McKenna Colleges as well as at the University of San Diego. His previous book is A Jane Austen Education.About the Crushing Your Fear PodcastBioMichael is an Entrepreneur who has started multiple revenue generating companies both in the US and Europe. He currently hosts two Podcasts (Crushing Your Fear and Craft Beer Storm) and has learned to conquer Fear through leaving the past behind, learning from it and adopting Gratitude and a Positive outlook for the future. On his Crushing Your Fear Podcast, Michael explains "We live in a Society of Fear. Everywhere we turn, fear is there. Most people we know are affected by fear in one form or another. We ourselves are consumed by fear - we cant move forward - we wont take chances - we "fear' what others may "think" of us - and on and on and on. Enough! There is another way. We explore different areas in society, flush out the manipulation and empower you to overcome fear. Our guests are experts and give you the insight and tools needed to identify and conquer fear. So join us and Crush Your Fear..."Michael BearaHostCrushing Your Fear Podcastmichael@crushingyourfear.comWebsite: http://www.crushingyourfear.com/Instagram: @crushingyourfearFacebook: @crushingyourfearTwitter: @crushingfearTik Tok: @crushingyourfearSubscribe to our Podcast!iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-your-fear/id1465751659Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/craft-beer-storm/crushing-your-fear

There are two stories you hear about making a living as an artist in the digital age, and they are diametrically opposed. One comes from Silicon Valley and its boosters in the media. There's never been a better time to be an artist, it goes. If you've got a laptop, you've got a recording studio. If you've got an iPhone, you've got a movie camera. GarageBand, Final Cut Pro: all the tools are at your fingertips. And if production is cheap, distribution is free. It's called the Internet: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Kindle Direct Publishing. Everyone's an artist; just tap your creativity and put your stuff out there. Soon, you too can make a living doing what you love, just like all those viral stars you read about. The other story comes from artists themselves, especially musicians but also writers, filmmakers, people who do comedy. Sure, it goes, you can put your stuff out there, but who is going to pay you for it? Digital content has been demonetized: music is free, writing is free, video is free, even images you put up on Facebook or Instagram are free, because people can (and do) just take them. Everyone is not an artist. Making art takes years of dedication, and that requires a means of support. If things don't change, a lot of art will cease to be sustainable. We welcome friend of the Innovation Show and author of “The Death of the Artist: How Creators Are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech” Bill Deresiewicz, welcome back to the show. Previous episode: Excellent Sheep: https://bit.ly/2ZlQ6OI Bill is here: https://billderesiewicz.com/

Bill Deresiewicz, bestselling author and our first ever guest on the show, re-joins us for our 100th episode to talk about his latest book The Death of the Artist. We discuss if art is even a worthy pursuit for young people today and if so, what can young people expect.

Episode 34 with Henry and Dylan.Read today's BOOK CLUB BOOK:Excellent Sheep by William DeresiewiczDishin' out Smart Nonsense about:Excellent Sheep: The herd mentalityDiscover the arc of COLLEGE historyConflating research with teachingLinksExcellent Sheep by William DeresiewiczPod Club: Gary Vee on Aubrey Marcus Podcast Pt. 1 | Smart Nonsense Pod #9Pod Club: Gary Vee on Aubrey Marcus Podcast Pt. 2 | Smart Nonsense Pod #10The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan HaidtHow to Get Rich | NavalThe Gettysburg Address | NPRPre-enrollment Material, 1935-1936 | John F. Kennedy - Presidential Library And MuseumSteve JobsBob DylanWilliam DeresiewiczNaval RavikantWoodstockCall of DutySputnik 1[Heads up: We get a $ kickback from some of these recs, so if you buy something, thanks for supporting the pod.]Here's the full Show Notes.Watch Henry's last YouTube video.Read Dylan's last blog post.

Excellent Sheep by William Deresiewicz provided by the nateliason.com site. I believe that this is quite important… —————————————————————

Dr. William Deresiewicz is an author, essayist, and literary critic. He received his bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. from Columbia University and taught English at Yale University before becoming a full-time writer. In 2014, Dr. Deresiewicz wrote the best-selling book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. Excellent Sheep on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Excellent-Sheep-Miseducation-American-Meaningful/dp/1476702721   ———   Website: https://www.ericcervone.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC13h27HBHpqpHWtzxJF4jQA Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericcervone Twitter: https://twitter.com/ericcervone  

What does it mean to “self-educate?” Are autodidacts made or born? Can one develop an intellect without formal higher education? In this special episode, Blake discusses these big questions (and many more) with Bill Deresiewicz (the author of Excellent Sheep) and guest facilitator Dev Carey. This event was recorded live in Portland, Oregon, on September 1, 2019, at the Wayfinding Academy. Learn more about Bill at billderesiewicz.com, Dev at highdesertcenter.org, and Wayfinding Academy at wayfindingacademy.org. (Note: My claim about the percentage of K-12 students in private schools in the US was wrong: it’s roughly 10%.)

Why are we still using an outdated system? There's been a lot of advancements made in education over the past 100 years, but grading students from A to F on a 100-point scale is not one of them. The grading system most schools use today was first used at Mount Holyoke College in 1897. Middle school principal Eric Saibel recently wrote an article in Education Week challenging educators to reevaluate what he describes as "a profoundly arbitrary and subjective ranking system." "If what we want in schools is to create a culture centered on learning and growth then a feedback model based on points and percentages isn't the most effective route," says Saibel.  "It does provide feedback, but the problem with letter grades is that it combines every aspect of what a student does both academically and behaviorally, mixes it all in a cauldron and then spits out a percentage. So what we get is information that is not very nuanced. Saibel says that the current grading scale has led to grade inflation. "In 1940 15% of grades at private colleges and universities fell within the A range. In 2008, that number was almost 45%." that's from the book "Excellent Sheep" says Saibel. Saibel argues that the problem with A-F grading is that there's a wide range of practices between schools and even classrooms. He also points to a misconception that students will be motivated when they score poorly on an assignment or test, but argues it actually may prompt students to withdrawl from learning. What does grading reform look like? Saibel suggests a few possible to changes to grading. Implement a type of "habits of learning" rubric.Three modelsNew Tech Network Learning OutcomesISTE Student StandardsHabits of Learning created by his own schoolSeparate academic grades from homework.Separate academic grades from behavior.Give standards-based grades, then convert them to letter grades. Saibel says sometimes he feels a little bit isolated when he's making the case for grading reform, but he knows several colleagues that agree a major shift is needed. Susan Brookhart from the School of Education at Duquesne University penned a similar article in the ASCD Summer Edition. Saibel says the awareness from the research goes back to the 1980s and 90s, but the implementation of some type of new system could take much longer. To learn more about Saibel's ideas on grading reform, listen to Episode 112 of the Class Dismissed Podcast on your favorite podcast app or on iTunes. All Rights Reserved. Class Dismissed Podcast 2017-2019

Author and essayist William Deresiewicz discusses his book “Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life” and the current college admissions scandal. William got his Bachelor's, Master's and PhD from Columbia University and has taught at Yale University. Following his article, 'The Disadvantages of an Elite Education' in 2008 which went viral, William wrote “Excellent Sheep” which examines how elite colleges are failing young kids. In this fascinating conversation, William shares his views on the epidemic of mental distress amongst college students who can't navigate their way outside of school. He discusses how parents have failed their children by getting caught up in status anxiety, where they produce a child that looks good on a college application, but lacks the resiliency, energy and optimism to truly know themselves and be happy. Find out more about Bill and his book @: www.billderesiewicz.com And check out his article here

As parents, we just want to give our kids the best. We want to give them opportunities and send them to the best colleges. Sometimes that means signing them up for all the classes and starting the resumé in the earliest years. In today's episode I am chatting with author Bill Deresiewicz. We are discussing the … SFP 126: How to Give Your Child the Very Best [with Bill Deresiewicz, author of Excellent Sheep] Read More » The post SFP 126: How to Give Your Child the Very Best [with Bill Deresiewicz, author of Excellent Sheep] appeared first on Simple Families.

William Deresiewicz, award winning essayist, critic, and the writer of Excellent Sheep, joins Jim and Jan and shares his perspective on the need for solitude in the interconnected age, social and emotional learning, and which interpersonal skills are crucial to moving forward in the future.     Key Takeaways [4:33] In order to be a real leader, you have to be able to think and create space around the ideas. [8:18] What William calls the “waitress principle” emphasizes the tendency for managers to lead without listening, and push the ideas away from those who really are in the front lines of what is happening. [10:54] There seems to be a push to imply that everyone has to be some type of leader, and if you aren’t interested in leadership you must be a follower. Good thinkers and intellectuals don’t have to automatically be pushed with the label as a thought leader. [13:33] The educational system now generally produces the type of person who is afraid of taking risks, doesn’t know how to make decisions on their own and relies on doing what someone else tells them to.  While ambitious and talented, students need to learn more how to take control of their own thoughts and lives. [20:22] William discusses how the meritocracy from the 1960’s has now led to the present day  created creditantled arts race that puts the interest of the country ahead of individualism. [29:57] We have come to believe that education is all about the job market. While that is clearly important, social and emotional learning is also crucial to developing sound future leaders. [37:50] It’s not fair to say kids these days don’t work hard or have an interest in leadership. They they have been thrown into an economy with no stability and security, and under the lead of employers that may not show commitment or leadership principles they can follow.     LinkedIn: @William Deresiewicz Facebook: @WilliamDeresiewicz Website: billderesiewicz.com Twitter: @WDeresiewicz   Quotable Quotes Solitude is the essence of leadership. “My only experience in leadership has been resisting other people’s efforts to exert it on me.” In order to really think, you have to be able to be alone. We don’t all have to be leaders. Successful adults do not lead linear lives. I’ve learned to agree with being disagreed with. Ask yourself why the term and concept of leadership is important to you in the first place.   Bio William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic, a frequent college speaker, and the best-selling author of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life.   Books Mentioned in this Episode Excellent Sheep How to Raise an Adult Kids These Days On Political Correctness

Many Asian Americans see college education, particularly elite college education, as their main pathway to success. But is that true? Furthermore, does the process turn Asian American kids against each other to strive for inclusion in a selective white liberal milieu? Jess, Oxford, and Oriana draw upon their experiences at these types of schools to talk about whether we should idealize these institutions at all. Intro/Outro Song: "Graduation Song (Instrumental)" by Vitamin C Intro/Outro Voice Track: 2012 Wellesley High School Commencement Speech by David McCullough Jr. TWITTER: Jess (@cogitatotomato) Oxford (@oxford_kondo) REFERENCED RESOURCES: Asian Americans Think An Elite College Degree...: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-lee-ramakrishnan-asian-american-prestige-20180327-story.html Prescriptive Stereotypes and Workplace Consequences... ("Berdahl Study"): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22506817 "Excellent Sheep" by William Deresiewicz: https://www.amazon.com/Excellent-Sheep-Miseducation-American-Meaningful/dp/1476702721/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523842119&sr=8-1&keywords=excellent+sheep "The Price of Admission" by Daniel Golden: https://www.amazon.com/Price-Admission-Americas-Colleges-Outside/dp/1400097975/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523842784&sr=8-1&keywords=price+of+admission

Unschooling is more about self-directed learning, finding out what you’re interested in, and going really deep into something. In this episode of Nat Chat, I’m joined by Blake Boles. While in college, Blake stumbled upon a book that really opened his eyes to the world of unschooling, alternative education, and how students could be learning better outside of the traditional systems. Shortly after graduating, he worked in California doing outdoor education and then ran off to South America for three months, where he decided he wanted to work within the alternative education field while also traveling. He then started Unschool Adventures, where he takes students on two-month trips to interesting places around the world. Blake is an excellent guy to follow if you’re into the alternative education and unschooling movement, as well as the digital nomad space. We covered a wide range of topics, including: Alternative educational systems The unschooling movement and its goals Finding the motivation to leave the traditional school system Fixing the existing school systems The importance of self-directed learning Turning your passions into a career And much more. Please enjoy, and reach out to Blake on his website! If you enjoyed this episode and the bits on turning your passion into a career, you’ll like my episode with Tasha Meys, where we talk about that and more. If you want more on the schooling system, be sure to listen to my episode with William Deresiewicz, where we discuss that in-depth.   Find Blake Online: Website Unschool Adventures How to Live Nowhere Mentioned in the show: Unschool Adventures [0:55] Lonely Planet [3:27] Summerhill School [9:05] Astro Camp [9:41] Not Back to School Camp [13:41] Couchsurfing [34:16] Minerva [34:37] (Nat Chat episode with the founder) Liberated Learners [36:49] North Star [36:54] Lord of the Flies [37:53] Arthur Morgan school [40:20] Mooc [43:12] Blakes website [51:44] Blake’s newsletter [51:44] How to Live Nowhere [52:47] Books mentioned: Dumbing Us Down [11:11] A Different Kind of Teacher [11:13] Excellent Sheep [30:15] (Nat’s Notes) (Nat Chat episode) The Art of Self-directed Learning [51:44] (Blake’s other books) People mentioned: John Taylor Gatto [8:04] William Deresiewicz [30:15] (Nat Chat episode) 1:50 - Intro to Blake, some background on what he does, and some information on his business Unschool Adventures, where he takes unschooled teenagers on international trips. Also, how he figures out which places to take his students and some details on what they learn. 5:50 - Why Blake chose to do these trips for a younger crowd and who these students are. 7:06 - How Blake got involved in the unschooling movement, some of his experiences growing up with it, and his education. 11:23 - What Blake did before he started getting into the unschool movement and his transformational travel experience to South America. Also, how he started his lifestyle business and its beginnings. 16:32 - What made Blake choose to get into unschooling compared to other alternative schooling methods and him discussing some of the homeschooling laws in Germany and in the US. 20:11 - Blake’s thoughts on social integration with unschooling and some in-depth information on the social aspect of unschooling. Also, how it can be really beneficial for sociability. 25:11 - Blake's thoughts on whether it requires a certain type of person for unschooling and on whether it could work for every kid. 28:41 - Wealthy students sometimes having it the worst with going to these top schools and the negative aspects of the social pressure that they face with those schools. Blake’s thoughts on changing the existing school systems or whether it’s okay for a certain type of person. Also, the lack of self-efficacy with these traditional compared to unschooled students. 33:00 - Whether or not Blake was always comfortable figuring things out on his own and some of the things that helped him out the most with self-directed learning. 34:29 - Blake's thoughts on other alternative schooling programs and his thoughts on the practical issue that families interested in unschooling face, which is that the parents working often or that there’s only one parent. Also, which alternative school models Blake recommends the most. 39:19 - Whether or not Blake has thought about starting a center modeled after these other effective self-directed learning centers. Also, some of his future plans within the unschooling space. 42:16 - Blake’s ideas for fixing the education problem at the parental level, some more thoughts on how Blake’s parents helped him out regarding education, how parents can help their children more in regards to education, and where he started when he began questioning the education system. 46:37 - Blake detailing the de-schooling process and talking about the transition phases between mentally demanding periods of life. 49:10 - Some last thoughts from Blake and some thoughts on the extreme social comparison that can be made between unschooled students and regular students. 51:44 - Wrap-up and where to find Blake online. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe at https://nateliason.com/podcast Unrestricted travel, in general, is such a great corollary for self-directed learning for having to figure out who you are and what you want to do, because no one’s going to hold your hand or make it easy for you or if they do, they’re going to charge you a bunch of money.

Bill Deresiewicz, bestselling author of Excellent Sheep, talks about the conversations he had with students that really had an impact when he was teaching at Yale and Columbia. His advice for how to do this with your own teen involves being non-judgmental.

“If you talked about class, you’d have to acknowledge that most of these students are in an extremely privileged class position, and then they would have to see themselves as being part of the problem and not part of the solution.” In this episode I’m joined by William (Bill) Deresiewicz. I reached out to Bill because I loved his book, Excellent Sheep, and thought it provided a fantastic heuristic for college students to evaluate whether or not they’re thinking for themselves. It’s especially relevant now, since the concept of not thinking for oneself and following the flock has spilled over into a lot of the social justice warrior and bigoteering behavior, where students lambast and assault people for their beliefs without taking the time to understand them. We cover a wide range of topics, including: Improving your ability to think for yourself and why you should Tackling the issues with rallying and free speech on campuses How and why certain aspects of college have changed over the years Improvising more when you don’t have a plan after college If college is necessary for those going into trade If you enjoyed our discussion of the problems with the college climate, you’d also enjoy my conversation with Angela Ma about depression on campus and how to manage it. Or if you want more on finding work you’re passionate about, listen to my conversation with Thomas Frank who has helped thousands of students do just that. Find Bill Online: Bill’s website Twitter Wikipedia Mentioned in the show: On Political Correctness (Bill’s article) Middlebury Middlebury Protest Goldman Sachs Khan Academy Code Academy MOOC Carnegie Mellon Thiel Fellowship Books mentioned: Excellent Sheep People mentioned: Larry Summers Peter Thiel Jane Austin 1:10 - Intro to Bill and his thoughts on the protesting against speeches at various universities and him discussing the social justice warriors, political correctness, and privilege in colleges. 6:19 - Bill's thoughts on students latching onto ideas and rallying since they may be lacking that from their studies and work. Also, Bill details why thinking for yourself more often is important. 9:04 - Learning to think for yourself more, Bill’s perspective on this, and how college education has changed. 12:40 - Bill speaking on why college education has changed over the last several decades and him going into detail on the competitive aspect of colleges. 16:15 - How to navigate the college system as a student, and some advice on how to choose the right education and get the most out of that education. 19:38 - Bill’s advice on the problem of not having a plan after graduation and speaking on the importance of learning to improvise more often in your career life. 22:13 - Discussing the issue with your education becoming obsolete within five to ten years or A.I. replacing your job. 25:25 - Bill’s thoughts on the popularity of Khan Academy, other alternative learning sites, and colleges in the future. 28:03 - Advice for those looking to self-educate outside of the classroom and advice for those who feel as though they aren’t learning as much as they should in the classroom. 30:48 - Is college is worth it for those not interested in the typical learning experience and who want to go into the trade field? 35:03 - Bill speaking about the other changes to the education system over the past several decades and his thoughts on the tenure system in colleges. 40:43 - How we should tackle the issue of free-speech and rallying in students, and help them think more for themselves. 43:11 - Bill’s recommendations for students wanting to get better at thinking for themselves and to improve their learning. Wrap up afterward. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe at https://nateliason.com/podcast

William Deresiewicz (http://www.billderesiewicz.com/) is a New York Times Bestselling Author.  His book Excellent Sheep examines the high pressure tug of war between what parents and students think they are getting in an elite college, and in many cases what they are actually getting.   We talk about: How to think more clearly The importance of solitude Why multitasking is so destructive The value of skepticism What is college for? Rising college debt Is food art? Bill's daily habits How Bill writes Follow Bill on Twitter @WDeresiewicz and please share the show with someone who will enjoy it!

There’s a growing feeling amongst Americans that we’re suffering a crisis of leadership in our government, families, and businesses. People seem less independent and autonomous, and more directed by others. What's behind this lackluster leadership and what's the solution? My guest today argues that the problem has to do with the way we're bringing up what he calls "excellent sheep," and that the solution is equal doses of deep solitude and deep friendship. His name is William Deresiewicz and he’s the author of several books and speeches, including A Jane Austen Education, Excellent Sheep, and Solitude and Leadership. Today on the show, William and I discuss what most so-called leaders get wrong about leadership and why learning to be alone with your thoughts helps forge better leaders. We discuss the history of friendship, why friends are so hard to make as an adult, and what you can do to form deeper relationships. William and I also talk about how young people can stop being “excellent sheep,” and jumping through the hoops other people put in front of them in order to start living on their own terms. We cap our conversation with an exploration on why men should give Jane Austen a chance and the life lessons we can get from her novels. This is an eclectic, but wisdom-filled podcast. You're definitely going to hear something you'll end up mentally chewing on for days to come.

42 Minutes 209: William Deresiewicz - The Neoliberal Arts - 12.21.15 Itâ??s the darkest day of the year, so the program considers Class, Education, and Coming of Age with William Deresiewicz, author of the bestselling, Excellent Sheep. Topics Include: Myth, Star Wars, Meaning, Justice, Higher Education, Institutionalized, Spirit & Structure, Wildly Utopian, Oppression, The Matrix, Self, Soul, Victorian. http://billderesiewicz.com

What does friendship mean in the era of social media? what should the ideal college experience look like? what’s the difference between an entrepreneur and an artist? William Deresiewicz and I, Erik Torenberg, talk about these topics as well as his new book, Excellent Sheep, the Miseducation of America’s Elite and the way to a meaningful life. Check out his great book here: http://www.amazon.com/Excellent-Sheep-Miseducation-American-Meaningful/dp/1476702721 Edited by Alex Kontis

William Deresiewicz, author of Excellent Sheep and former English professor at Yale University, talks with host Blake Boles about the reaction to his controversial book, helicopter parenting and overindulgent parenting, the meaning of a “real education,” the benefits of a small liberal arts college experience, how someone who doesn’t go to college might replicate the experience (or not), two lesser-known colleges that are on the right track, and why reforming college admissions policies can improve K-12 schooling.

As a Professor at Yale, William Deresiewicz became concerned by what had happened to America’s education. More than anything, he found that rather than turning out leaders was turning out a bunch of mindless followers. In his book, Excellent Sheep Deresiewicz lays out how the nation’s best universities are miseducating our youth to be so obsessed with achieving success at all costs that we end up with politicians and business leaders who are selfish and complacent. You can find Excellent Sheep on Amazon. You can follow Professor Deresiewicz on twitter at @WDeresiewicz. If you reach out to him, he asks that you call him Bill.

“Don’t Send Your Kid to the Ivy League.”  This was the headline of a recent New Republic article that reverberated across the internet recently, going viral as it was shared over 160 thousands times on Facebook. The author of this piece, Dr. William Deresiewicz, joins the New Books in Education podcast to discuss his new book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life (Free Press 2014), which further elaborates upon his recent viral article and another from 2008,  “The Disadvantages of an Elite Education“. In Excellent Sheep, Deresiewicz draws on his decades of experience at Ivy League institutions; first, at Columbia where he did his undergraduate and graduate degrees, and then later at Yale where he taught for a decade. With an insiders view and a critical lens, he dissects what education at these types of institutions has become. He asserts that the hypercompetitive nature of elite institutions has taken away from self-discovery of students, a key facet to innovation and creativity. Deresiewicz’s book also confronts the social implications of a less meritocratic elite system of education. Particularly, he is concerned by the kind of elites that are being produced by prestigious education in America, with graduates that disproportionally pursue careers in self-serving fields like finance. Like his past viral essays, Excellent Sheep is a thought-provoking look at American society and provides keen insights into the world of elite education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Don’t Send Your Kid to the Ivy League.”  This was the headline of a recent New Republic article that reverberated across the internet recently, going viral as it was shared over 160 thousands times on Facebook. The author of this piece, Dr. William Deresiewicz, joins the New Books in Education podcast to discuss his new book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life (Free Press 2014), which further elaborates upon his recent viral article and another from 2008,  “The Disadvantages of an Elite Education“. In Excellent Sheep, Deresiewicz draws on his decades of experience at Ivy League institutions; first, at Columbia where he did his undergraduate and graduate degrees, and then later at Yale where he taught for a decade. With an insiders view and a critical lens, he dissects what education at these types of institutions has become. He asserts that the hypercompetitive nature of elite institutions has taken away from self-discovery of students, a key facet to innovation and creativity. Deresiewicz’s book also confronts the social implications of a less meritocratic elite system of education. Particularly, he is concerned by the kind of elites that are being produced by prestigious education in America, with graduates that disproportionally pursue careers in self-serving fields like finance. Like his past viral essays, Excellent Sheep is a thought-provoking look at American society and provides keen insights into the world of elite education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Don’t Send Your Kid to the Ivy League.”  This was the headline of a recent New Republic article that reverberated across the internet recently, going viral as it was shared over 160 thousands times on Facebook. The author of this piece, Dr. William Deresiewicz, joins the New Books in Education podcast to discuss his new book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life (Free Press 2014), which further elaborates upon his recent viral article and another from 2008,  “The Disadvantages of an Elite Education“. In Excellent Sheep, Deresiewicz draws on his decades of experience at Ivy League institutions; first, at Columbia where he did his undergraduate and graduate degrees, and then later at Yale where he taught for a decade. With an insiders view and a critical lens, he dissects what education at these types of institutions has become. He asserts that the hypercompetitive nature of elite institutions has taken away from self-discovery of students, a key facet to innovation and creativity. Deresiewicz’s book also confronts the social implications of a less meritocratic elite system of education. Particularly, he is concerned by the kind of elites that are being produced by prestigious education in America, with graduates that disproportionally pursue careers in self-serving fields like finance. Like his past viral essays, Excellent Sheep is a thought-provoking look at American society and provides keen insights into the world of elite education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Don’t Send Your Kid to the Ivy League.”  This was the headline of a recent New Republic article that reverberated across the internet recently, going viral as it was shared over 160 thousands times on Facebook. The author of this piece, Dr. William Deresiewicz, joins the New Books in Education podcast to discuss his new book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life (Free Press 2014), which further elaborates upon his recent viral article and another from 2008,  “The Disadvantages of an Elite Education“. In Excellent Sheep, Deresiewicz draws on his decades of experience at Ivy League institutions; first, at Columbia where he did his undergraduate and graduate degrees, and then later at Yale where he taught for a decade. With an insiders view and a critical lens, he dissects what education at these types of institutions has become. He asserts that the hypercompetitive nature of elite institutions has taken away from self-discovery of students, a key facet to innovation and creativity. Deresiewicz’s book also confronts the social implications of a less meritocratic elite system of education. Particularly, he is concerned by the kind of elites that are being produced by prestigious education in America, with graduates that disproportionally pursue careers in self-serving fields like finance. Like his past viral essays, Excellent Sheep is a thought-provoking look at American society and provides keen insights into the world of elite education. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices