Click the image to see this book on Amazon (affiliate link)

How about this for a tough gig. I have been asked by the editor of Schools Week to review this book. Now, I already have my own views about university these days, formed from having spoken to people who have recently attended university, the attempts by students, and even staff, to silence views they disagree with (if the stories in the media are to be believed) and my doubts about the efficacy of the funding model.

So what makes this gig tough?

Firstly, I imagine that I’m expected to write my review in the context of Matt Goodwin’s wider views, which some people label as right wing.

Secondly, I have my existing views.

When I review a book I review it as it is, by which I mean not taking into account other work by the same author. Obviously, some people disagree with this approach. I was reading about an editor of, I think, a social science journal who charged his reviewers with writing quite an extensive survey of an author’s previous works in order to place the present one in some sort of context.

And a couple of years ago someone took me to task on Twitter (as it was then), when I failed to state that the book in question was the best thing since sliced bread. He said something to the effect of: “Isn’t Terry Freedman aware of all the great stuff [author] has done?

Yes I am, but I wasn’t reviewing all the other stuff, just this book!

So there’s that, plus needing to read this in a state of tabular rasa. Can I do it? Yes of course! But I think it’s good to acknowledge the challenges in advance.

Goodwin covers the reasons he left academia, scholars, students and the system. Then he proposes some solutions.

I haven’t read enough of it yet to begin forming some opinions, but once I’ve reviewed Bad Education for Schools Week, and it’s been published, I’ll publish the review here a couple of weeks after that.