Attacking the Elites

“People have lost faith, trust and confidence [in higher education]. Anyone wanting to understand why even the best American universities are in such a state will learn a lot by reading [these] reflections.”—Leslie Lenkowsky, Wall Street Journal“Bok is a distinguished scholar and teacher and one of the great university presidents of our time. No one is in a better position to make the case for elite education—wisely, calmly and with respect for all the arguments pro and con.”—Anthony Kronman, professor of law and former dean, Yale Law School“Derek Bok provides a calm, reasoned take on the hottest-button issues in American higher education. All of this will provoke controversy; all of it is worth the attention of the leaders of our leading universities.”—Nancy Weiss Malkiel, author of Changing the Game: William G. Bowen and the Challenges of American Higher Education“What is the role of leading universities today? What are their responsibilities beyond educating leaders and generating knowledge? Derek Bok brings a lifetime’s worth of experience to answering these questions; his response should be read by leaders of institutions, educational and otherwise, across the globe.”—Luis Ubiñas, former president, Ford Foundation“Derek Bok’s Attacking the Elites contains exactly what you’d expect: judicious insights, thoughtful arguments, and a balanced appraisal of diverse points of view. This defender of higher education knows we can improve it still further.”—Michael S. Roth, author of The Student: A Short History“People have lost faith, trust and confidence [in higher education]. Anyone wanting to understand why even the best American universities are in such a state will learn a lot by reading [these] reflections.”—Leslie Lenkowsky, Wall Street Journal“Bok is a distinguished scholar and teacher and one of the great university presidents of our time. No one is in a better position to make the case for elite education—wisely, calmly and with respect for all the arguments pro and con.”—Anthony Kronman, professor of law and former dean, Yale Law School“Derek Bok provides a calm, reasoned take on the hottest-button issues in American higher education. All of this will provoke controversy; all of it is worth the attention of the leaders of our leading universities.”—Nancy Weiss Malkiel, author of Changing the Game: William G. Bowen and the Challenges of American Higher Education“What is the role of leading universities today? What are their responsibilities beyond educating leaders and generating knowledge? Derek Bok brings a lifetime’s worth of experience to answering these questions; his response should be read by leaders of institutions, educational and otherwise, across the globe.”—Luis Ubiñas, former president, Ford Foundation“Derek Bok’s Attacking the Elites contains exactly what you’d expect: judicious insights, thoughtful arguments, and a balanced appraisal of diverse points of view. This defender of higher education knows we can improve it still further.”—Michael S. Roth, author of The Student: A Short History

Derek Bok was president of Harvard University from 1971 to 1991, and again in 2006 and 2007. He is the author of numerous books, including Higher Education in America. He lives in Cambridge, MA.