Overview

A damning expose of how the university system ingrains privilege and injustice at every level of American society. 'Indelible and extraordinary, a powerful reckoning with just how far we've allowed reality to drift from our ideals.' Tara Westover, New York Times Book Review We're told that universities are our greatest driver of social mobility. But it's a lie. The Inequality Machine is a damning expose of how the university system ingrains injustice at every level of American society. Paul Tough, bestselling author of How Children Succeed, exposes a world where small-town colleges go bust, while the most prestigious raise billions every year; where overstretched admissions officers are forced to pick rich candidates over smart ones; where black and working-class students are left to sink or swim on uncaring campuses. Along the way, he uncovers cutting-edge research from the academics leading the way to a new kind of university - one where students succeed not because of their background, but because of the quality of their minds. The result is a call-to-arms for universities that work for everyone, and a manual for how we can make it happen. 'Humanizes the process of higher education . . . Fascinating stories about efforts to remediate class disparities in higher education' New Yorker

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9781784756376

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Reviews

[A] readable kiss-and-tell study . . . Tough finds that higher education, which has the potential to increase upward mobility, has become an obstacle that perpetuates social rigidity. The poor remain poor and the rich get richer . . . this study is laced with deep anger * Times Higher Education * In this fascinating study, education journalist Tough argues persuasively that access to an elite college education, which in the US is popularly believed to be a meritocratically distributed social equalizer, is in fact distributed in ways that reinforce existing economic divisions . . . This well-written and persuasive book is likely to make a splash. * Publishers Weekly * [An] important new book on the broken promises of higher education . . . heart-rending. * New York Times * Indelible and extraordinary, a powerful reckoning with just how far we've allowed reality to drift from our ideals. It's difficult to overstate the importance of higher education to the present moment. * Tara Westover, New York Times Book Review *

A readable kiss-and-tell study . . . Tough finds that higher education, which has the potential to increase upward mobility, has become an obstacle that perpetuates social rigidity. The poor remain poor and the rich get richer . . . this study is laced with deep anger. * Times Higher Education * Humanizes the process of higher education . . . Fascinating stories about efforts to remediate class disparities in higher education * New Yorker * [Tough] writes movingly about students who are trying to navigate the confounding, expensive, and intimidating process of getting into and staying in college. * WIRED * Important . . . Among his book's many vital contributions are its portraits of schools and programs that model a better way. * New York Times * Paul Tough is a beautiful reporter and writer and a deeply moral guide to understanding the situation of children in our heartless meritocracy . . . A great book that should start a necessary conversation. -- George Packer, author of THE UNWINDING

Important . . . Among his book's many vital contributions are its portraits of schools and programs that model a better way. * New York Times * [Tough] writes movingly about students who are trying to navigate the confounding, expensive, and intimidating process of getting into and staying in college. * WIRED * In this fascinating study, education journalist Tough argues persuasively that access to an elite college education, which in the US is popularly believed to be a meritocratically distributed social equalizer, is in fact distributed in ways that reinforce existing economic divisions . . . This well-written and persuasive book is likely to make a splash. * Publishers Weekly * Humanizes the process of higher education . . . Fascinating stories about efforts to remediate class disparities in higher education * New Yorker * Indelible and extraordinary, a powerful reckoning with just how far we've allowed reality to drift from our ideals. It's difficult to overstate the importance of higher education to the present moment. * Tara Westover, New York Times Book Review *

Author Information

Paul Tough's previous book, How Children Succeed, spent more than a year on the New York Times hardcover and paperback bestseller lists and was translated into 27 lan-guages. He is a contributing writ-er to the New York Times Magazine and a reg-ular contributor to the public-radio programme This American Life. You can learn more about his work at paultough.com and follow him on Twitter- @paultough.

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