City of Intellect: The Uses and Abuses of the University

Nicholas B. Dirks, the tenth Chancellor of Berkeley from 2013-17, faced challenging crises and offers a thoughtful insider's account of the febrile politics of his time in office. He reflects on the university's true meaning and proposes structural changes in higher education to address urgent questions such as free speech, campus safe spaces, the humanities' contested future, and the real cost and value of liberal arts learning. His visionary intervention is a passionate call for significant and profound structural changes in higher education.

Format: Hardback
Length: 275 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Nicholas B. Dirks, the tenth Chancellor of Berkeley from 2013 to 2017, faced crises that were arguably more challenging than those faced by any other college administrator in the contemporary period. This insightful and candid book, which emerged from deep reflection on his turbulent time in office, offers not just a gripping insider's account of the febrile politics of his time as Berkeley's leader, but also decades of nuanced reflection on the university's true meaning (at its best, to be an aspirational city of intellect). Dirks grapples with some of the most urgent questions with which educational leaders are presently having to engage, including topics such as free speech and campus safe spaces, the humanities' contested future, and the real cost and value of liberal arts learning. His visionary intervention, part autobiography, part practical manifesto, is a passionate cry for structural changes in higher education that are both significant and profound.

During his four years as the tenth Chancellor of Berkeley (2013–17), Nicholas B. Dirks was confronted by crises arguably more challenging than those faced by any other college administrator in the contemporary period. This thoughtfully candid book, emerging from deep reflection on his turbulent time in office, offers not just a gripping insider's account of the febrile politics of his time as Berkeley's leader, but also decades of nuanced reflection on the university's true meaning (at its best, to be an aspirational city of intellect). Dirks grapples with some of the most urgent questions with which educational leaders are presently having to engage, including topics such as free speech and campus safe spaces, the humanities' contested future, and the real cost and value of liberal arts learning. His visionary intervention, part autobiography, part practical manifesto, is a passionate cry for structural changes in higher education that are both significant and profound.

Weight: 604g
Dimension: 149 x 224 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009394468