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William Deresiewicz on the “Excellent Sheep” of the American Elite

William Deresiewicz on the “Excellent Sheep” of the American Elite

The Good Fight

May 6, 20231h 0m

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Show Notes

William Deresiewicz is an American author, essayist, and critic. He taught English at Yale University from 1998 to 2008. He is the author, among other books, of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life.


In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and William Deresiewicz discuss how the intensely meritocratic nature of elite universities prioritizes striving over deep learning; the instrumentalization of traditional pursuits to the detriment of mastery; and how broader cultural transformations frustrate deep immersion in art, friendship, and learning.


This transcript has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.


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Podcast production by John Taylor Williams, and Brendan Ruberry


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