Mark William Roche is the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Professor of German Language and Literature and Concurrent Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame. From 1997 to 2008, Roche served as dean of Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters. His books include Why Literature Matters in the 21st Century and The Intellectual Appeal of Catholicism and the Idea of a Catholic University (University of Notre Dame Press, 2003).
“A wise and inspiring meditation on the value of an education in
the liberal arts, one that is informed by long experience, enriched
by mature reflection, and not neglectful of commonsense
practicalities. It beckons as a kindly light amid the encircling
gloom of so much contemporary commentary on American higher
education.” —Francis Oakley, President Emeritus, Williams
College
“In a resistant country in a resistant age, Mark Roche dares to
make the case for education in the liberal arts in terms both broad
and deep. He makes forcefully the obligatory case for the practical
value of a liberal arts education as a preparation for whatever
profession—a case that must continue to be made, especially in
these times. But on the basis of wide reading and long experience
as a scholar, teacher, and administrator in institutions large and
small, he straightforwardly makes the case for the inherent value
of study in the liberal arts and for the intimate relationship
between that study and what life might actually be about. He
foregrounds the truly big questions that are so often avoided in
pursuit of the professional by both students and faculty. Unlike so
many commentators, he is not a scold. He is a thoughtful advocate
for an education in which young and old alike explore together what
it means to be a human being and how one might be a better one.”
—Don Michael Randel, President, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
“I love this book. Mark Roche lays out a fascinating and accurate
case for the liberal arts.” —Donald R. Keough, Former President of
The Coca-Cola Company
“With grace and passion, Mark Roche makes the compelling case—as
timeless as the Greek poets and as timely as tomorrow’s
headlines—for studying the liberal arts.” —Mark Shields, Columnist
and Commentator, PBS NewsHour
“Explaining the value of a liberal arts education to someone who
does not have one can be difficult. First, one must explain what
liberal arts education means and then explain its value. Roche does
an admirable job of explaining both. . . . The book is clearly
written, nicely crafted into four thematically organized chapters,
well argued in a reasonable and balanced manner, and convincingly
supported by a substantial body of research. It will prove valuable
reading for anyone concerned with the state of the modern
university and the future of the liberal arts.” —Choice
“Writing with students, parents, faculty members, and
administrators in mind, Roche argues for the importance of a
liberal arts education and outlines its three important values:
intrinsic, practical, and idealist. He shows how this education is
valuable for learning for its own sake, cultivates intellectual
virtues necessary for success beyond college, and has a formative
influence on character and the development of a sense of higher
purpose and vocation.” —Book News Inc.
“Can a liberal arts education be defended in a time of economic
decline? Mark William Roche thinks so and that’s what he explores
in this book. . . . Roche includes personal reflections to
illustrate and personalize his points on the enduring value of a
liberal arts education.” —Catholic Library World
“Why Choose the Liberal Arts? argues for the essential importance
of a liberal arts education—beyond the practical value of a degree
as the gateway to employment after graduation. . . . The
Association of American Colleges and Universities recently named
Roche . . . the winner of the 2012 Frederic W. Ness Book Award. . .
. given to the book that best illuminates the goals and practices
of a contemporary liberal education.” —ND Works
“Roche has written a very thoughtful and fair apologia for the
liberal arts that speaks to many contemporary challenges. Not only
prospective students but current faculty can richly benefit from
the author’s extensive administrative and teaching experience. The
creative teaching methods he cites as examples throughout the book
can serve as valuable models for teachers in almost any field.”
—Anglican and Episcopal History
“Mark William Roche contends in Why Choose the Liberal Arts? that
holistic education, vibrant residential community, and ardent
engagement with great questions are the enduring traits of liberal
arts learning. . . . The liberal arts indeed have pragmatic
benefits, more so now than ever. Roche taps into survey data to
show that the very intellectual and practical virtues prized by
liberal arts proponents are also esteemed by most employers. . . .”
—Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies
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