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  • I Hate the Ivy League

  • Riffs and Rants on Elite Education
  • Written by: Malcolm Gladwell
  • Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell
  • Length: 5 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (69 ratings)

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I Hate the Ivy League

Written by: Malcolm Gladwell
Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell
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Publisher's Summary

From Malcolm Gladwell’s hit podcast Revisionist History comes a compendium about one of his greatest obsessions: education.

Malcolm Gladwell has long relished the opportunity to skewer the upper echelons of higher education, from the institution of U.S. News & World Report’s Best College rankings to the LSATs to the luxe Bowdoin College cafeteria. I Hate the Ivy League: Riffs and Rants on Elite Education, upends the traditional thinking around how education should work and tries to get to the bottom of why we often reward the wrong people. The higher education system follows a hierarchy that was created to primarily benefit top-tier, elite, well-off students, but Gladwell wants to find out how we can do a better job at educating the middle and make education more affordable, fair, and open to all.

Why is Gladwell so obsessed with American education? The foreword and afterword of I Hate the Ivy League explains, framing this carefully curated selection of Revisionist History episodes. If you’ve never listened to Revisionist History, this collection is a thoughtful introduction to the long-running podcast, and if you’re already a fan, it allows for careful re-examination of the important issues at hand: how do we really determine what matters most when it comes to educating our children?

Please note: This collection includes content that has been released in the podcast series.

©2021 Malcolm Gladwell (P)2021 Pushkin Industries

What listeners say about I Hate the Ivy League

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Gladwell does it again

This is such an insightful look at how becoming the “most educated” take privilege. He breaks down education and it’s accessibility to the oppressed and poor. Speaks on black community’s and how they have a harder chance of making top school listings and they are more likely to drop STEM degrees after getting into Ivy League schools due to stubbles at home in life and less support. I wish it was longer and more in depth I could listen to him for hours. The points are so effectively layer out and both sides are represented.

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Great stuff!

This book contains mostly recycled material from Mr. Gladwell’s revisionist history podcast, which I had already listened to. Despite this, I enjoyed hearing them again and having them combined in one piece is helpful. Some very good discussions about bias (both intended and unintended), privilege, and how we can make education more fair and available to all. My ranking of this book is also biased as I am a Canadian who went through our educational system. It has also been my observation that where you go to school has much less importance in Canada on your chances for success (at least in the field of engineering, which is what I do)

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Relevant and informative

Perpetual privilege where is stems from and what needs to shift for equal opportunity. Fascinating!!!

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It's Gladwell...

If you are a fan of the ponderings of Malcolm Gladwell, then you will like this audiobook. Be aware that it is an assemblage of some of his podcast material so if you are a subscriber of 'Revisionist History' then much of this content will not be new to you. As a fan of Gladwells' work this was still an enjoyable listen in my book.

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Open minds only need apply….

Fascinating review of higher education & democratic process…especially the rainmakers…. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone….

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Excellent Story and Performance

I have listen to this several times and each time something really stuck with me.

Great interviews, smooth transitions, very informative, eye opening, and such a pleasant delivery of content.

Another gem from MG.

I'll probably listen to this a few more times.

I highly recommend listening to this one along with every other book Malcolm has put out.

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More people need to hear this book!

The American education system needs an overhaul. Malcolm Gladwell shows the listener how specifically this can be done. This audiobook shows that the American education system is elitist however, it is correctable.

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Malcolm never disappoints.

Great book to listen to, I always enjoy his material and insights. I only wish there were more. Thanks Malcolm

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