Bright College Years: Inside the American College Today

by Anne Matthews

As the price of higher education escalates and the number of Americans seeking a college degree steadily rises, it is now more important then ever to think about higher education in a different way. In Bright College Years , Anne Matthews paints a provocative yet evenhanded portrait of the American campus. With each chapter dedicated to sections of the academic year, Matthews puts students, professors, and administrators under the magnifying glass. She conducts her investigation in four-year universities all across the country, from enormous state schools like the University of Texas to specialized colleges like Cal Tech. Bright College Years is a fascinating look at the changing face of the American university that will be of interest to prospective students, their parents, and anyone interested in higher education.

"Matthews writes with sympathy and substantial understanding of the dilemmas colleges face these days."—Tara Fitzpatrick, Chicago Tribune

"A wide-ranging, well-written and lively account of contemporary academia."—Christian Wiman, Dallas Morning News

"Notable Book of the Year." New York Times

"An eye-opening, startling exposé;. . . . Matthews' energetic and well-written report provides a dismal yet concise insider portrait of college life."— Booklist

Genres: Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 1997

Reviews

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting book about college life in the late 90's. The culture (of both students and staff), the history, the bureacracy, the "business" of colleges and a lot about what modern college students go through.

[Barbara Mader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of dated now; was published in 1997. Mildly interesting book about the reality behind the facade of college and university life. Reading it, I kept thinking, "I could do something like this, and do it better."

[Jerry Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent, funny, sad, extremely well researched. Will someday be recognized as a classic of nonfiction.

[Kilkee20 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sophisticated, informed, complex, ambitious literary fiction, which sadly is a dying art. This is a fine example, and deserves to be much better known.