William Deresiewicz's Excellent Sheep has garnered mixed reviews. Critics praise its bold critique of elite education, highlighting the intellectual and emotional deficits it creates in students. However, some feel the arguments are occasionally overgeneralized and paint an overly bleak picture. Overall, it sparks vital conversations about the purpose of higher education.

Readers who enjoyed Excellent Sheep by William Deresiewicz are typically critical thinkers and academics interested in higher education reform and student well-being. Comparable works include Academically Adrift by Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa and The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt.

Excellent Sheep by William Deresiewicz critiques 21st-century elite education in America, particularly Ivy League institutions, revealing their failure to cultivate independent thinking and meaningful lives in students. Divided into four sections—“Sheep,” “Self,” “Schools,” and “Society”—the book explores the stifling conformity among elite students, the purpose of higher education, the importance of the humanities, and the broader societal impacts of an exclusive, stratified educational system.

Informative / Contemplative / Challenging / Emotional / Unnerving

- Excellent Sheep draws from author William Deresiewicz's personal experiences as a Yale professor, where he noticed students were more focused on prestige and success than on genuine learning.
- The book generated significant conversation and debate upon its release for its critical stance on elite educational institutions, prompting responses from various academics and universities.
- Inspired by his observations at Ivy League schools, Deresiewicz argues that the system molds students into "excellent sheep" by prioritizing conformity and achievement over creativity and independent thought.

**William Deresiewicz**  
A former English professor who taught at Columbia and Yale, Deresiewicz uses personal experiences and the voices of various intellectuals to explore themes related to elite education, passion, and guidance.

**George Eliot**  
A renowned 19th-century author who adopted a male pen name for her works, serving as an example of moral courage and authenticity in both her life and literary career.

**Dorothea Brooke**  
A character from George Eliot's "Middlemarch," Dorothea is depicted as someone who takes significant personal risks to follow her ideals and create her own life.

**Mark Edmundson**  
An English professor at the University of Virginia known for his insightful writings on education and literature, Edmundson is cited to support notions of true leadership and the positive impact of transformative teaching.

**Allan Bloom**  
A conservative philosopher and author, whose works critically assess American higher education and emphasize the importance of a traditional educational canon, illustrating broad appeal in educational critiques.

William Deresiewicz

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Overview

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Excellent Sheep Summary and Study Guide

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Sheep”

Introduction-Part 1, Chapter 4

Excellent Sheep Introduction-Part 1, Chapter 4 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Self”

Part 2, Chapters 5-7

Excellent Sheep Part 2, Chapters 5-7 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Schools”

Part 3, Chapters 8-10

Excellent Sheep Part 3, Chapters 8-10 Summary & Analysis

Part 4: “Society”

Part 4, Chapters 11-12

Excellent Sheep Part 4, Chapters 11-12 Summary & Analysis

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Key Figures

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Excellent Sheep Themes

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Excellent Sheep Index of Terms

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Excellent Sheep Important Quotes

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Essay Topics

Excellent Sheep Essay Topics

Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life

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