For those of us who work in the liberal arts--specifically arts, humanities, and social sciences--we constantly hear how both education and the workplace have drastically moved toward business and hard science, with STEM fields receiving the majority of attention. However, those of us who actually teach liberal arts skills every day know better. We know that liberal arts learning makes students more marketable once they graduate. We also know that students who take lots of liberal arts courses tend to be better financially in the long run (though not in the short run) than those in other fields. And we know that the purpose of college is not for technical training--there are trade schools for that--but rather to develop capable citizens.
Even though teachers relate these messages to students all across America, many are not convinced. But a new book by George Anders puts the study of liberal arts in a new light. You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a "Useless" Liberal Arts Education reframes the debate about what students should be studying and offers a helpful glimpse into a world of possibility for those who pursue liberal arts fields.
The best aspect of Anders's book is his use of testimonies from successful employees with backgrounds in the liberal arts. Instead of citing broad statistics, he allows real people to tell their real stories. English, history, philosophy, psychology, art design, and other majors are found in some unlikely places. Major tech firms like Facebook and Google hire these majors. Entrepreneurs on the cutting edge of business practices have these majors. Politicians, socially conscious leaders, and non-profit CEOs have these majors. Studying theater or ancient Greek culture or Russian novels is not a death sentence to obscurity in academia. These fields and countless others lead many people to six-figure careers in business, computer science, and more.
What emerges as a consistent theme in the book--and it's a message I drill into my students--is that many companies are excited to use employees' liberal arts skills because they offer creative ways of solving problems, building teams, and communicating with colleagues and clients. The ability to think, read, and write will never go out of style. And even though tech companies or financial firms seem like places only for computer engineers or economists, Anders show us that it's not surprising at all for those industries to be actively looking for a daring philosophy or English major who really knows how to connect with people.
Give the book a close look and take off the blinders that have you stumbling zombie-like into a major you "think" you need for the working world. Employers want smart people who are teachable, regardless of your major. Be more open-minded to what your personal interests are and what your future potential may be. Check out You Can Do Anything today.
Even though teachers relate these messages to students all across America, many are not convinced. But a new book by George Anders puts the study of liberal arts in a new light. You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a "Useless" Liberal Arts Education reframes the debate about what students should be studying and offers a helpful glimpse into a world of possibility for those who pursue liberal arts fields.
The best aspect of Anders's book is his use of testimonies from successful employees with backgrounds in the liberal arts. Instead of citing broad statistics, he allows real people to tell their real stories. English, history, philosophy, psychology, art design, and other majors are found in some unlikely places. Major tech firms like Facebook and Google hire these majors. Entrepreneurs on the cutting edge of business practices have these majors. Politicians, socially conscious leaders, and non-profit CEOs have these majors. Studying theater or ancient Greek culture or Russian novels is not a death sentence to obscurity in academia. These fields and countless others lead many people to six-figure careers in business, computer science, and more.
What emerges as a consistent theme in the book--and it's a message I drill into my students--is that many companies are excited to use employees' liberal arts skills because they offer creative ways of solving problems, building teams, and communicating with colleagues and clients. The ability to think, read, and write will never go out of style. And even though tech companies or financial firms seem like places only for computer engineers or economists, Anders show us that it's not surprising at all for those industries to be actively looking for a daring philosophy or English major who really knows how to connect with people.
Give the book a close look and take off the blinders that have you stumbling zombie-like into a major you "think" you need for the working world. Employers want smart people who are teachable, regardless of your major. Be more open-minded to what your personal interests are and what your future potential may be. Check out You Can Do Anything today.