What should be the role of our institutions of higher education? To promote good moral character? To bring an end to racism, sexism, economic oppression, and other social ills? To foster diversity and democracy and produce responsible citizens?

In Save the World On Your Own Time, Stanley Fish argues that, however laudable these goals might be, there is but one proper role for the academe in society: to advance bodies of knowledge and to equip students for doing the same. When teachers offer themselves as moralists, political activists, or agents of social change rather than as credentialed experts in a particular subject and the methods used to analyze it, they abdicate their true purpose. And yet professors now routinely bring their political views into the classroom and seek to influence the political views of their students. Those who do this will often invoke academic freedom, but Fish argues that academic freedom, correctly understood, is the freedom to do the academic job, not the freedom to do any job that comes into the professor's mind. He insists that a professor's only obligation is "to present the material in the syllabus and introduce students to state-of-the-art methods of analysis. Not to practice politics, but to study it; not to proselytize for or against religious doctrines, but to describe them; not to affirm or condemn Intelligent Design, but to explain what it is and analyze its appeal."

Given that hot-button issues such as Holocaust denial, free speech, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are regularly debated in classrooms across the nation, Save the World On Your Own Time is certain to spark fresh debate-and to incense both liberals and conservatives-about the true purpose of higher education in America.

"Fish's lively polemic skewers the popular perspective that universities have an obligation to foster 'ethical, social, and political virtues,' arguing that academic institutions are best served by admitting to the distinct (and limited) nature of their task: '[to] introduce students to bodies of knowledge and traditions of inquiry... and equip [them] with the analytical skills that will enable them to move confidently within those traditions and to engage in independent research.' To professors using their podium to politically influence or engage with their students, the author chides: 'Do your job,' 'Don't try to do someone else's job' and 'Don't let anyone else do your job' — and offers refreshing takes on Ward Churchill, Bob Newhart and how writing ought to be taught. Despite the repetitive reiteration of initial premises and a few rhetorical inconsistencies, Fish's penultimate chapter shows off his unconventional style in its most personable guise; he lays out a simple strategy by which academics and administrators may fight (not 'work with') those who demand that academia justify itself; he writes, 'The only honest thing to do when someone from outside asks, 'what use is this venture anyway?' is to answer 'none whatsoever.' ' (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Particularly clear and engaging prose--a far-from-common gift in such a high-powered thinker."--Rocky Mountain News

"Fish's lively polemic skewers the popular perspective."--Publishers Weekly

"Is deeply committed to teaching and to higher education and relishes presenting his views with zest and wide-ranging scholarship... is a great debater and is ready to scold all who confuse the issues, including faculty, students, trustees, and members of Congress... this work is recommended for public and academic library readers who enjoy a lively interchange."--Library Journal

"Exhilarating, the thought polished and white hot, this book makes the reader think and often wince, especially teachers like me who have aged out of the intellectual into the easy and congenial. A close reading of Save the World should purge much nonsense from classrooms."--Sam Pickering, author of Letters to a Teacher

"Stanley Fish's new manifesto calls for a major revolution in public education. Many will disagree with this provocative book. None will be wise to ignore its impact."--Richard A. Epstein, Hoover Institution

"This is a passionate defense of "Scholarship as a Calling" like the inspiring lecture of that name by Max Weber. But, of course, Fish is irrepressibly livelier than Max Weber."--E. D. Hirsch, author of The Knowledge Deficit, and The Schools We Need

"In this wise and witty book, Stanley Fish offers thoughtful suggestions for making university teaching more effective and more beneficial for our students. It is a powerful argument for learning and teaching from one of our generation's most provocative academic leaders."--John T. Casteen III, President, University of Virginia

"Exhilarating, the thought polished and white hot, this book makes the reader think and often wince, especially teachers like me who have aged out of the intellectual into the easy and congenial. A close reading of Save the World should purge much nonsense from classrooms."--Sam Pickering, author of Letters to a Teacher

"Hard to put down...and well worth reading."--First Things

"Stanley Fish's new manifesto calls for a major revolution in public education. Many will disagree with this provocative book. None will be wise to ignore its impact."--Richard A. Epstein, Hoover Institution

"Fish offers a vigorous defense of that abstemious understanding of the teacher's task, laced with numerous examples of its egregious violation."--First Things: The Journal of Religion, Culture, and Public Life

"Particularly clear and engaging prose--a far-from-common gift in such a high-powered thinker."--Rocky Mountain News

"Fish's lively polemic skewers the popular perspective."--Publishers Weekly

"Is deeply committed to teaching and to higher education and relishes presenting his views with zest and wide-ranging scholarship... is a great debater and is ready to scold all who confuse the issues, including faculty, students, trustees, and members of Congress... this work is recommended for public and academic library readers who enjoy a lively interchange."--Library Journal

"Exhilarating, the thought polished and white hot, this book makes the reader think and often wince, especially teachers like me who have aged out of the intellectual into the easy and congenial. A close reading of Save the World should purge much nonsense from classrooms."--Sam Pickering, author of Letters to a Teacher

"Stanley Fish's new manifesto calls for a major revolution in public education. Many will disagree with this provocative book. None will be wise to ignore its impact."--Richard A. Epstein, Hoover Institution

"This is a passionate defense of "Scholarship as a Calling" like the inspiring lecture of that name by Max Weber. But, of course, Fish is irrepressibly livelier than Max Weber."--E. D. Hirsch, author of The Knowledge Deficit, and The Schools We Need

"In this wise and witty book, Stanley Fish offers thoughtful suggestions for making university teaching more effective and more beneficial for our students. It is a powerful argument for learning and teaching from one of our generation's most provocative academic leaders."--John T. Casteen III, President, University of Virginia

Introduction

1. The Task of Higher Education

2. Do Your Job

3. Administrative Interlude

4. Don't Try to Do Someone Else's Job

5. Don't Let Anyone Else Do Your Job

6. Higher Education Under Attack

7. A Conclusion and Two Voices from the Other Side

Selected Bibliography

Index