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A review by sondosia
Lost in the Meritocracy: The Undereducation of an Overachiever by Walter Kirn
5.0
People who don't like this book probably just don't get it.
Yes, I found myself frustrated and even angry at Walter sometimes. Yes, he can be whiny, braggy, and immature. But aren't we all sometimes?
I go to Northwestern, which is a tier down from the Ivies, but I can't say I've never met people like Walter. In fact, if I didn't love learning so much, I'd be a lot like him, too. Truth is, though, he would probably be unhappy just about anywhere, because he is an unhappy person. It took him a long time to learn to appreciate his gifts rather than using them as vehicles for hedonism.
I think everyone who is young and gifted (or remembers being young and gifted) can identify with this book. Intelligence can be both a blessing and a curse, and it's not easy to learn how to appreciate it as the former.
Yes, I found myself frustrated and even angry at Walter sometimes. Yes, he can be whiny, braggy, and immature. But aren't we all sometimes?
I go to Northwestern, which is a tier down from the Ivies, but I can't say I've never met people like Walter. In fact, if I didn't love learning so much, I'd be a lot like him, too. Truth is, though, he would probably be unhappy just about anywhere, because he is an unhappy person. It took him a long time to learn to appreciate his gifts rather than using them as vehicles for hedonism.
I think everyone who is young and gifted (or remembers being young and gifted) can identify with this book. Intelligence can be both a blessing and a curse, and it's not easy to learn how to appreciate it as the former.