Category Archives: reviews

The Deluge: notes on a leading climate fiction novel

Posted on July 16, 2023 by Bryan Alexander

How might we imagine the unfolding climate crisis through the creative arts? I’ve been studying climate fiction (please don’t say “cli-fi”) for several years now, and wanted to share some notes on what strikes me as a leading example. The … Continue reading →

Posted in book club, climatechange, reviews | 4 Comments

Noted in The Nation

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Bryan Alexander

Last week The Nation published a review article by Columbia University professor Andrew Delbanco.  The piece surveys a range of books about higher education in the present, along with some futures work.  Happily, it all starts with my Academia Next: … Continue reading →

Posted in reviews | 3 Comments

The dead won’t shut up: on Star Wars, The Rise of Skywalker

Posted on December 26, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

The movie theater showing Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker began by screening 35 minutes of trailers.  At first I thought this was because they had us trapped.  Then, once I saw The Rise of Skywalker, I realized it was … Continue reading →

Posted in reviews, technology | 2 Comments

Following the human tide

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

Demographics again?  Yes, I keep honing this powerful tool in the futurist’s toolbox.  Demographic analysis sheds a lot of light on the future of society in general, and of education in particular. Today I’ll touch on a recently published book … Continue reading →

Posted in demographics, reviews | 2 Comments

Humanity’s next century: an Empty Planet for education?

Posted on June 5, 2019 by Bryan Alexander

Where is the human race headed for the next few generations?  What is in store for higher ed if the population bomb turns out to be a dud? Demographics, demographics, demographics: my audiences know I harp on this topic as … Continue reading →

Posted in demographics, reviews | 7 Comments

That bloated administration: a look back at The Fall of the Faculty

Posted on August 29, 2018 by Bryan Alexander

In 2011 Benjamin Ginsberg published The Fall of the Faculty, a passionate argument that American higher education was being taken over by a cadre of administrators (publisher; my book store).  These administrators, most especially deans and deanlets, were sapping the faculty’s roles, … Continue reading →

Posted in reviews | 5 Comments

On global economic inequality: a vital book for education

Posted on March 9, 2018 by Bryan Alexander

I wanted to share some thoughts about a recent book, as it bears strongly on the future of education. Branko Milanović’s Global Inequality A New Approach for the Age of Globalization (2016: Amazon) is a major work in current events, forecasting, and economics. … Continue reading →

Posted in book club, reviews | 1 Comment

The most important book about American higher education in 2018

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Bryan Alexander

Over the past two weeks I’ve read a book about the future of American higher ed, and want to recommend it very highly.  It might be the most important book on the subject published this year. The title is Demographics … Continue reading →

Posted in demographics, Future Trends Forum, reviews | 6 Comments

Generations: thoughts on Blade Runner 2049

Posted on October 10, 2017 by Bryan Alexander

We watched Blade Runner 2049 last night and were mystified.  It was hard to pin down our overall reactions.  Yes, the film was gorgeous, my children and I agreed, but was it any good?  What was it getting at?  What … Continue reading →

Posted in reviews | 8 Comments

How not to write about public education

Posted on September 5, 2017 by Bryan Alexander

Public higher education is the largest chunk of American academia.  That makes bad writing about it especially annoying. Today’s case study is entitled “Halting the Erosion of State Support for Higher Education”, written by Sheldon H. Jacobson (University of Illinois … Continue reading →

Posted in reviews | 5 Comments