By Daniel Clausen, Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies, Nagasaki, Japan

Zakaria, F. (2015). In defense of a liberal education. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.

In a world constantly in flux -- where new technologies disrupt entire industries and reshape human relations -- an approach to education that emphasizes a broad foundation for critical thinking and exploration of the world would seem to hold great promise, especially in the field of English language education. In the future, one could easily imagine the tedious tasks of vocabulary and grammar acquisition being taken over by smart algorithms, leaving English language instructors more time to focus on meaningful content-based classes that inspire the imagination and deepen students’ curiosity. In other words, English language education can become a bridge to a more liberal education. Yet, “liberal education” seemingly has more detractors in the information age than ever before. Skeptics note that the soft skills of a liberal education are hard to quantify and may stunt valuable training that leads to a defined career path.

What better time, then, to return to a defense of liberal education. Fareed Zakaria’s In Defense of Liberal Education is just that, an examination of the history, benefits, and controversy of liberal education, but also a defense. Though the book was written in 2015, its themes still resonate today. The book contains excellent background information, history, data, and analysis. At its best it is personal and provocative. However, its relative brevity also means that you will likely be left wanting more by the end.

The first chapter of the book, entitled “Coming to America,” recounts the author’s own experience with America’s much more liberal approach to education after coming from a background in India that emphasized memorization, tests, and the practical nature of study. I found this section of the book the most riveting. Most of us who have stayed in education have had some experience with education that left us in awe or wonder. Hearing Zakaria recount his own experiences was thrilling.

The second chapter, “A Brief History of Liberal Education,” is a fine summary of the ancient roots of liberal education. The chapter covers two thousands years of educational history competently enough, but left me wanting more. Luckily, the notes section of the book has great suggestions for where to find other sources.

The third chapter, “Learning to Think,” is a spirited argument for the liberal education skills of writing, speaking, and learning (but, especially writing). The chapter scores some easy points by describing how some of the big names in business and technology (Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg) have harnessed the power of psychology and clear writing to improve their businesses. Though this chapter addresses some important issues, I felt there was a larger story to be told regarding how liberal arts graduates fare on the job market.

The fourth chapter, “The Natural Aristocracy,” examines liberal education in the context of American history and its role in spreading the value of democracy. Though the chapter is again lacking depth, it is a good starting point for examining how liberal education can instill civic virtue. The most important point made in this chapter is that liberal education was seen by the founding fathers as a bulwark against tyranny. It also begins to grapple with problems that now seem more poignant today: the rise of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) and their value relative to face-to-face classes.

The fifth chapter, “Knowledge and Power,” examines humanity’s thirst for knowledge and the evolution of enlightenment ideals. Drawing on a wide range of sources, Zakaria demonstrates how enlightenment ideals such as reason, science, humanism, and progress have led to a general improvement in the quality of life of all humans on the planet. This chapter is a brief introduction that can lead readers to more comprehensive studies such as Steven Pinker’s Better Angels of Our Nature and Matt Ridley’s The Rational Optimist.

The sixth chapter, “In Defense of Today’s Youth,” is a chapter that seems to belong to a different book. It examines the common complaints about millennial students and pulls them apart one-by-one. Though Zakaria agrees with critics that millennials (in America) are less engaged with big questions than before, they are nonetheless deeply curious and ready to tackle the grand problems of the world. He concludes that a broad liberal education can help them do just that.

Woven throughout the book are several provocative questions that remain with us today. Should education provide us with just job skills or should it make us better people and citizens? To what degree is the pursuit of knowledge a virtue in and of itself? And does a liberal education really handicap students relative to those with more focused technical and professional degrees?

All of these questions remain relevant in the 21st century and are perhaps even more relevant than when the book was written in 2015. As humanity grapples with disruptive new technologies such artificial intelligence and the troubling realities of the post-truth cultures, so too must educators consider what education is, should be, and how it can help create a better future.

In a world where more work is automated and more people have access to education, liberal education should be at the forefront of promoting enlightenment ideals of reason, science, humanism, and progress. Liberal education should also serve as a correction to engineers and entrepreneurs who push the technological envelope without answering deeper questions about the meaning and purpose of progress and technology.

If a more liberal approach to education can help us adjust to new realities of work, human-technology relationships, and help us resist new forms of tyranny, then it is our duty as educators to understand how to defend liberal education and adopt its best practices. This book, though not complete, is a good starting point.