Summary Of David Brooks

David Brooks’ essay is a critique on the current state of American universities, specifically on what they have lost during their evolution from spiritual and moral institutions to ones based in academic research and career training. This shift came as a result of the greater religious diversity in student populations and pressure from parents to focus on preparing their children for their future careers. In Brooks’ opinion, what university students have gained in professional know-how they have lost in their moral and emotional development.
As far as how to remedy this situation, David Brooks has a few suggestions. He believes that universities should take responsibility in teaching students the great moral traditions that have so inspired western civilization. From the honor and glory of ancient Greek civilization to the Jewish tradition of law and justice, students have a great wealth of philosophical teachings to benefit from and choose to live by. He also suggests that universities should try to foster the kinds of experiences students will take with them long after graduation. Whether that be from years spent concentrating on poetry, music, or taking time away to
Students should be asked to reflect on what it is in life that they love, whether that be people, places, or activities, and then to be shown new things they may fall in love with during their years of higher education. To quote David Brooks, “College is about exposing students to many things and creating an aphrodisiac atmosphere so that they may fall in lifelong love with a few”. Brooks’ final suggestion to American universities concerns the humanities. He suggests a greater role for the humanities in students’ schedules, but that rather than courses focusing on an academic concept itself, they could revolve around the challenges that students face soon after graduation while incorporating those lessons from ancient philosophy and