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In Defense of a Liberal Education

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
New York Times bestselling author of The Post-American World and host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS argues for a renewed commitment to the world's most valuable educational traditions in this fascinating audiobook.
The liberal arts educational system is under attack. Governors in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina have announced that they will not spend taxpayer money subsidizing the liberal arts. Majors like English and History—which were once very popular and highly respected—are in steep decline and President Obama has recently advised students to keep in mind that technical training could be more valuable than a degree in art history, when deciding on an educational path.

In this timely and urgently needed audiobook Fareed Zakaria explains that this turn away from the liberal arts is a mistake. A liberal education provides the foundation for finding your voice, writing, speaking your mind, and ultimately, learning—all immensely valuable skills no matter your profession. Technology and globalization are making these skills even more valuable and necessary as routine mechanical and even computing tasks can be done by machines. More than just a path to a career, Zakaria argues that a liberal education is an exercise in freedom and above all, it feeds the most basic urge of the human spirit—to know.
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    • Publisher's Weekly

      June 29, 2015
      Zakaria provides a profound and well-argued defense of a traditional liberal-arts education, in the face of a large push in the United States to devalue and defund it. He does this in part by examining his own education, in both India and the U.S., while also addressing the assumptions, misinformation, and misunderstandings about the liberal-arts education in general. Zakaria provides a strong, energetic reading for the audio version of his book. His narration also benefits from his sense of emphasis and pacing. The weight of the subject is evident in his voice, and he navigates the complex issues deliberately, helping listeners better understand the text. His light Indian accent also makes the narration feel all the more personal and connected to Zakaria’s experience and knowledge. A Norton hardcover.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrating his own work, the CNN host and WASHINGTON POST columnist warns about the impending death of liberal arts education in the United States. Zakaria's informative, direct message on the necessity of this type of education provides the listeners with a personal connection to the topic as well as factual reports defending the liberal arts. The author's tone is unafraid as he expresses great concern about the changes currently taking place in American education. An intellectual urgency comes across in his detailed account of coming to the United States from India and his discussion of American youth and how they respond to education. This listening experience is both thought provoking and bold. T.E.C. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

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