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In the Basement of the Ivory Tower

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In the Basement of the Ivory Tower
AuthorProfessor X
PublisherViking Adult
Publication date
2011
ISBN978-0-670-02256-4

In the Basement of the Ivory Tower: Confessions of an Accidental Academic is a 2011 book by an adjunct professor of English, who writes under the pen name Professor X. It is based on an Atlantic Monthly article of the same title.[1] "Professor X teaches at a private college and at a community college in the northeastern United States"[2] and argues that "The idea that a university education is for everyone is a destructive myth."[1]

Reception

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The Christian Science Monitor praised Professor X, saying "the man can write", but criticized the book as "padded" from "a powerful essay".[3] The New York Times praised the book as "a clear-eyed report from what the author calls 'the college of last resort'” but also criticizes its length.[4] The New Yorker wrote of the author that "he’s smart and he’s generally good company", but criticized his personal details as "too vague to be engaging."[5] In 2011 the Atlantic posted a follow-up essay from Professor X, in which he responded to feedback on his ideas but not criticism of his book.[6]

Reviews

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "In the Basement of the Ivory Tower - Magazine". The Atlantic. June 2008. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  2. ^ "Professor X - Authors". The Atlantic. 2011-03-31. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
  3. ^ a b "In the Basement of the Ivory Tower". CSMonitor.com. 2011-03-24. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  4. ^ a b Garner, Dwight (April 5, 2011). "An Academic Hit Man Brings More Bad News". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  5. ^ a b Menand, Louis (30 May 2011). "Live And Learn". The New Yorker.
  6. ^ X, Professor (March 31, 2011). "An Anti-College Backlash?". The Atlantic.
  7. ^ Crain, Caleb (April 29, 2011). "Lost in the Meritocracy". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  8. ^ ""In the Basement of the Ivory Tower," by Professor X, is about the current state of American higher education". The Washington Post. 2011-04-22. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  9. ^ "Book Review: 'In the Basement of the Ivory Tower' by Professor X". Los Angeles Times. April 17, 2011.
  10. ^ "Our Growing Higher Ed Crisis: Making Myths In the Basement of the Ivory Tower". The Millions. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-05-18.