Let's Be Reasonable: A Conservative Case for Liberal Education

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A conservative college professor's compelling defense of liberal education Not so long ago, conservative intellectuals such as William F. Buckley Jr. believed universities were worth fighting for. Today, conservatives seem more inclined to burn them down. In Let's Be Reasonable, conservative political theorist and professor Jonathan Marks finds

Reviews

"One of The Wall Street Journal's Best of the February Bookshelf"
"An engaging apologia for liberal education. . . . [Marks] blends humor with argument as he makes his case for a renewed vision of higher learning."---John J. Miller, Wall Street Journal
"Markss vision of a newly energized liberal education is appealing, and Lets Be Reasonable is an important and timely book. Blending anecdote and theory in a superb accessible style, Marks comes across as the professor we all wish we had: the one who gets students excited about Plato or Rousseau, who challenges them to think more deeply and often gets them to meet that challenge."---Andrew Pessin, Commentary
"Instead of attempting to rule our opponents out of line, we might try reasoning with them. Thankfully [Lets Be Reasonable] explains and models how to do it"---Damon Linker, The Week
"A thoughtful . . . contribution to debates about the value of higher education." * Kirkus Reviews *
"Jonathan Markss Lets Be Reasonable: A Conservative Case for Liberal Education shows what higher education can be at its best. . . . Marks shows why academic freedom is worth fighting for he documents what a liberal education can do."---Kenneth S. Stern, The Times of Israel
"An important and timely book that should interest anyone, left, right, or center, concerned about higher education in general and the campus anti-Israel movement in particular. Lets Be Reasonable is indeed a calming voice of reason amidst the frenetic shouting occurring both on and about campuses. Blending anecdote and theory in a superb and accessible style . . . Marks comes across as the professor we all wish we had."---Andrew Pessin, Times of Israel
"Lets Be Reasonable: A Conservative Case for Liberal Education is, indeed, a reasonable book. . . . Everyone needs to be exposed to his ideas on higher educations ultimate purpose."---Jay Schalin, The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal
"Markss dual status as both a man of the right and a longtime academic positions him well to argue that universities must commit themselves more fully to the task of shaping reasonable people and that, despite their present flaws, all is not lost. Marks can speak both to university insiders and to their outside (often right-leaning) critics."---Thomas Koenig, The Bulwark
"In straddling both sides of the debate, Marks has his work cut out for him. Its a tribute to his wit, good sense, and, indeed, reasonableness that he largely succeeds. . . . Marks hopeful argument is a timely rebuttal to the kind of scorched-earth conservatism now ascendant on the intellectual right."---Richard Aldous, American Purpose
"Lets Be Reasonable offers an incisive analysis of the terrain of the contemporary American university, one that anyone interested in understanding higher education should read."---Jenna Silber Storey, Society
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Marked by good humor, engaging anecdotes, and reassuring evidence that all is not lost in higher education.

Author Bio

Jonathan Marks is professor of politics at Ursinus College and a blogger for Commentary magazine. He is the author of Perfection and Disharmony in the Thought of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and has written on higher education for the Chronicle of Higher Education, the Wall Street Journal, and the Weekly Standard. He lives in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Twitter @marksjo1