The Creation of the Future: Puzzles of American Democracy

Frank Rhodes was a distinguished leader of higher education when he led Cornell. He set standards of excellence for institutions but equally he set standards that other presidents should follow - without personal agrandizement. He argues that this book is addressed to the AAU (American Association of Universities - the 50 top research universities) members - but that is not accurate. What he does in a concise and readable text is explain two things. First, he explains several issues that higher education rarely is able to explain in clear terms. Yet, he does it with grace and elegance. Second he offers a list of changes that would make higher education an even more important resource.If you are interested in higher education governance or finances or the contributions of research from universities - this is a good book for you. If you want to understand the role of the faculty, again this is a good resource. Steve Sample's book on Contrarian Leadership - is also excellent but focussed more on the leader. This covers, both leaders and institutions, without flinching from the tradition of shared governance. Compared to the post presidential books like Derek Bok's book on Affirmative Action or Jim Duderstadt's book on leadership - Rhodes book is much more useful and much more concise.

Frank Rhodes' book should be purchased by every educator concerned about the future of higher education in this nation. This book cuts through 200 hundred years of ivory tower mentality and reminds educators that if higher education is not revolutionized soon, it will be replaced. Rhodes quotes noneother than the prescient Peter Drucker, who believes that, "Thirty years from now the big university campuses will be relics...Universities won't survive. It's as large a change as when we first got the printed book...Already we are beginning to deliver more lectures and classes off-campus via satellite or two-way video as a fraction of the cost. The college won't survive as a residential institution. Today's buidlings are hopelessly unsuited and totally unneeded...I consider the American research university of the last 40 years to be a failure. The great educational needs of tomorrow are not on the research side, but on the learning side." To back up what he believes, Rhodes examined 125 major research universities and offers a blueprint for a future where learning is truly universal and useable. This is a profound book that is a must replacement to the 40 year-old, The American College and University: A History, a tome that has been used to train higher education administrators. Rhodes' views, while controversial, are refreshingly presented in a fast-paced and delightful book.