While it's always fun to complain, it's important to note the positive trends we've discovered. Reading academic journals such as The Chronicle of Higher Education, we’ve seen that even hard-core leftist professors have begun to be embarrassed by the emptiness of so much they’ve been pursuing in their research, and the mediocrity of their teaching. They’re mocking the arcane rhetoric that pervades their academic prose, growing weary of the incessantly political tone which has turned scholarly life into a second-rate socialist debating society. No less an authority on the trendy left than The Village Voice, in its 2004 Education Supplement (entitled “Porn Studies 101”) reported that English professors at major, secular universities are rediscovering the value of looking to literary texts for religious lessons, as a starting point for ethical and existential debates about life and its meaning. They’re discovering that students, presented with literature classes that degrade the great texts assigned into cheap political pamphlets—hold on here, a big surprise is coming—blow them off and major in business, or marketing. Spurred by this student revolt, these professors are rediscovering the reasons that they themselves started reading the Great Books, so many years ago.

That’s the best news we’ve heard in years, and here’s some more: Nestled amidst the ruins at most universities, it’s still possible to find excellent courses, dedicated professors, like-minded and idealistic fellow-students, and most of the subjects once taught as part of the invaluable “core curriculum.” Usually, there’s enough solid fare to nourish you for at least four years. You just have to search it out. In our guide, we list such professors and courses—though we’d be glad to hear about your own happy discoveries (write me at JohnZmirak@yahoo.com). Looking with a sharp critical eye, we’ve been astounded at how much solid learning it is still possible for a brave, devoted student to acquire at even the most mediocre American university. But that student is going to have to guide his own education, to make intelligent choices, to speak up loudly and fearlessly (even in class, to a hostile professor) when his values are thoughtlessly dismissed. (Believe it or not, this is safer than trying to fly beneath the radar—that radar is extremely sensitive, and cowards die a thousand deaths.)

We recommend that every young scholar who wants a serious education search out and choose at least eight specific subject areas, and make a point of studying them—regardless of what the school requires. (For our rationale, please read Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s Student’s Guide to the Core Curriculum, available free online at www.collegeguide.org). These courses are: Greek or Roman literature in translation; a history of philosophy; the Bible (Old or New Testament); medieval or early Christian history; Shakespeare (comedies or tragedies, we’re not picky); U.S. history to 1865; early modern political philosophy; and 19th century intellectual history.

That’s not an onerous program—in fact, it’s a lot of fun. It leaves plenty of room for completing a serious major, and preparing for a career. What such a course of self-directed study does provide is a strong foundation, a citizen’s solid grasp of the culture we live in, which is spreading across the world through globalization, which terrorists and fundamentalists of every stripe are trying to combat, and which our soldiers and spies are dying to defend. Students are cheating themselves if they waste the only four years they’ll probably ever have to learn all this glorious stuff. Right now, as they begin their intellectual quests, we’d like to remind them: You only live once—if that.

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