On the whole, Excellent Sheep makes a number of important and persuasive points, namely, that elite universities breed one-dimensional people. The arms race to have resumes the length of one's arm starts with parents, and then continues through and beyond college. Because there is little reflection given to introspection or personal life goals, only a handful of majors, which are likely to be the most lucrative, are chosen. More importantly, students develop blinders, unable to think critically or contribute as effectively to their communities because they have been molded to be doctors, lawyers, financiers, or consultants.

I also agreed with his point that colleges and universities's claim that they 'develop leaders' is overblown. They really don't. What would be far more useful is emphasizing and developing the traits of a good citizen. In abandoning a liberal arts education, an education that's really meant to be independent of major and develops the whole person, elite universities, mostly through peer pressure, squeeze their students into a mold.

Deresiewicz takes a condescending turn when he says that science and art have replaced religion and faith. In other words, people of faith missed the memo that everybody else (thinking people) has moved on from such primitive thinking.

On the whole, though, this book is worth the read and challenges the status quo of elite education in this country.