A pair of higher education researchers want to see universities move away from “identity” focused “common reading” books and focus on less political themes.
Heterodox Academy researchers Alex Arnold and Nate Tehundfeld analyzed data on the “common reading programs” from universities spanning 2017 to 2024. These are books all freshmen are asked to read.
They found “a review of readily available information suggests many colleges and universities are choosing nonfiction books that focus on the themes of cultural identity and struggles for justice.”
“Books focusing on ‘lived experiences’ can be a fantastic way to expose readers to new and diverse viewpoints,” the pair wrote for Free the Inquiry, a publication of Heterodox Academy. “However, these kinds of books may not be adequately preparing students to engage with a wider range of viewpoints and discuss complex and controversial topics, both of which are essential to intellectual growth.”
Common themes included “social justice,” “racial justice,” and “progressive values and ideas.”
The pair suggested a different route.
They wrote:
An alternative or supplementary approach to common reading programs could expose students to a variety of viewpoints on a given topic or introduce them to the art of inquiry itself—teaching them how to think about complex questions in a systematic, careful, and reasonable manner.
They provided a list of books about decision making and thinking.
“It’s time for educators, administrators, and higher education stakeholders to reevaluate the goals of common reading programs and consider selections that truly embody the spirit of open inquiry and give students the tools to become lifelong learners.”
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