Shows
Give and TakeEpisode 293: The Rise of the Not-Left, with William DeresiewiczIn this episode of Give and Take, Scott talks with essayist and cultural critic William Deresiewicz about his provocative piece Post Election, published in Salmagundi magazine. They explore the growing disaffection with the contemporary left among intellectuals, artists, and other traditional allies, and the emergence of what Deresiewicz calls the “not-left.” It's a wide-ranging conversation about politics, culture, class, and what it means to think independently in a polarized age.
You can find Bill's essay here. Special Guest: William Deresiewicz.2025-06-161h 09
Keen On AmericaEpisode 2538: Biden, Harris & the Exhausted Democratic EstablishmentSo why did Harris lose in 2024? For one very big reason, according to the progressive essayist Bill Deresiewicz: “because she represented the exhausted Democratic establishment”. This rotting establishment, Deresiewicz believes, is symbolized by both the collective denial of Biden’s mental decline and by Harris’ pathetically rudderless Presidential campaign. But there’s a much more troubling problem with the Democratic party, he argues. It has become “the party of institutionalized liberalism, which is itself exhausted”. So how to reinvent American liberalism in the 2020’s? How to make the left once again, in Deresiewicz words, “the locus of openness, playfulness, productive content...2025-05-1838 min
Derate The HateThe End of Solitude, Culture, and the Fight for Individuality - DTH Episode 257 with William DeresiewiczSend Wilk a text with your feedback!The End of Solitude, Culture, and the Fight for IndividualityIn this episode of Derate The Hate, host Wilk Wilkinson sits down with award-winning essayist, cultural critic, and author William Deresiewicz for an insightful conversation on solitude, the internet’s impact on society, political polarization, and the importance of civic engagement in an increasingly fragmented world.William Deresiewicz is the author of The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society, a powerful collection that examines how di...2025-04-0239 min
Keen On AmericaEpisode 2476: William Deresiewicz on American Boys & MenFew observers are more insightful than the critic William Deresiewicz at identifying the changing landscape of American culture. In my latest conversation with Deresiewicz, best known for his book Excellent Sheep, we explore how young American men are increasingly drawn to right-wing politics while feeling socially devalued and alienated by progressive rhetoric. Deresiewicz critiques universities for embracing a censorious left-wing ideology that has become intellectually stagnant. He contrasts this with the creative ferment happening on the right, while at the same time rejecting Trump's authoritarian tactics against universities. Deresiewicz argues that art has lost its cultural significance as consumption...2025-03-2446 min
EdUp Provost2. Bridging Ideological Divides in Higher Education: A Conversation with William DeresiewiczIn this episode of EdUp Provost, host Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner engages in a thought-provoking conversation with award-winning essayist and critic Dr. William Deresiewicz. He discusses the growing disconnect between academia and public sentiment and explores the challenges of ideological polarization on college campuses. He critiques the current state of the humanities and the progressive ideological orthodoxy he sees on many campuses while advocating for a renewed commitment to academic freedom amidst political pressures. Dr. Deresiewicz emphasizes the importance of fostering intellectual diversity, cultivating rigorous inquiry, and respecting the lived experiences of students to create a more vibrant and inclusive academic...2025-01-0843 min
EdUp Provost2. Bridging Ideological Divides in Higher Education: A Conversation with William DeresiewiczIn this episode of EdUp Provost, host Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner engages in a thought-provoking conversation with award-winning essayist and critic Dr. William Deresiewicz. He discusses the growing disconnect between academia and public sentiment and explores the challenges of ideological polarization on college campuses. He critiques the current state of the humanities and the progressive ideological orthodoxy he sees on many campuses while advocating for a renewed commitment to academic freedom amidst political pressures. Dr. Deresiewicz emphasizes the importance of fostering intellectual diversity, cultivating rigorous inquiry, and respecting the lived experiences of students to create a more vibrant and inclusive...2025-01-0843 min
dunc tankWilliam Deresiewicz - Solitude in Modern LifeWilliam Deresiewicz is a former English professor at Yale, and the author of numerous books, including "The End of Solitude."
2024-11-121h 06
The Art BizThe Internet Might Be Ruining Artists' Livelihoods with William DeresiewiczA deep discussion about the significant impact of the internet on the arts economy and the evolving role of artists in today's market that is ruled by the internet. Host Alyson Stanfield talks with William Deresiewicz, author of The Death of the Artist: How Creators are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech. Bill discuss the challenges of discoverability and financial instability while emphasizing the importance of community support as artists navigate this changing landscape. Bill offers valuable insights on adapting to new opportunities in the digital era, helping artists feel...2024-09-2646 min
Keen On AmericaEpisode 2168: KEEN ON America featuring William DeresiewiczWilliam Deresiewicz is a leading American writer best known as the author of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. And so, when Bill and I sat down in Portland for a KEEN ON America conversation, we discussed the crisis of a high-end university system that he, as a former professor at Yale, knows all too well. But Bill, a keen conversationalist, also talked about what it means to be both a Jew and an American in a country which simultaneously values personal reinvention and cultural identity. 2024-08-2244 min
Girl Doc Survival GuideEP117: William Deresiewicz on living a life you are excited to wake up toWhat kind of life do you really want to be living? What kind of life has meaning for you? And if you have children, and even, like me, have ones thinkinga about college, what kind of life should they be thinking about? This was a true privilege to speak with William Deresiewicz and hear his thoughts on these questions. William Deresiewicz is an American author and essayist who has written the New York Times bestseller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, published May, 2024 in a 10th-anniversary edition. Some of his...2024-06-0515 min
The Unspeakable PodcastIs Working At Denny’s Better Than Going To College? William Deresiewicz on the zombie apocalypse of elite education.Is college pointless? Is an “elite education” more about networking than learning? Returning guest William Deresiewicz has been pondering these questions for more than a decade. They were the subject of his bestselling 2014 book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. That book has just been reissued in a 10th anniversary edition and in this episode, William talks with Meghan about what’s changed (i.e. what’s gotten worse) and what, if anything, can be done to make things better. They also discuss whether we need affirmative action for men, whether...2024-06-0340 min
Uncertain ThingsThe Indoctrination of Elite Education (w/ Bill Deresiewicz)William Deresiewicz — author of (the newly updated) Excellent Sheep, The Death of the Artist, and The End of Solitude — returns to the pod! This time we dive into one of the institutions we love to hate: elite universities. We dwell on and debate the protests at Columbia (et al.), the reasons why it’s all gone so wrong, and whether or not the solution is just to raze them to the ground. Check out our ‘Uncertainty’ newsletter for updates and rants. To support us and gain access to exclusive content, consider becoming a paid member of Uncertain on Substack...2024-05-221h 30
The SyllabusBill Deresiewicz“The system of elite education, which I can define at greater lengths is making kids miserable, and it's producing an elite class that's wrecking the country,” says best-selling author and essayist Bill Deresiewicz in this week’s episode of The Syllabus. Syllabus host Mark Oppenheimer discusses topics in Deresiewicz’s book Excellent Sheep, including societal pressures to attend elite colleges, overwhelming careerism, admissions competition, and increasing inequality in access to education. Guest Bio: William Deresiewicz is an essayist, critic, speaker, and author of the best-seller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way t...2024-04-1140 min
The SyllabusBill Deresiewicz“The system of elite education, which I can define at greater lengths is making kids miserable, and it's producing an elite class that's wrecking the country,” says best-selling author and essayist Bill Deresiewicz in this week’s episode of The Syllabus. Syllabus host Mark Oppenheimer discusses topics in Deresiewicz’s book Excellent Sheep, including societal pressures to attend elite colleges, overwhelming careerism, admissions competition, and increasing inequality in access to education. Guest Bio: William Deresiewicz is an essayist, critic, speaker, and author of the best-seller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way t...2024-04-1140 min
How My View GrewWilliam Deresiewicz: What News Sources Can I Trust?In this episode of How My View Grew, essayist Bill Deresiewicz describes the moment he stopped trusting his go-to news sources and started listening to "heterodox" perspectives. This is a story about American journalism and culture. It's also a story about the humility and courage it takes to let go of deeply held ideas and create space for something new.**About the guest**Bill Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic and frequent speaker at colleges and high schools. He is the author of five books, including the New York Times's best-seller Excellent Sheep: The...2024-03-2047 min
the Bestsellers SummaryBreaking the Cycle: Excelling Beyond the FlockChapter 1:what is Excellent Sheep book about
"Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life" is a book written by William Deresiewicz.
In this book, Deresiewicz critiques the prevailing education system in the United States, particularly focusing on Ivy League universities and other elite institutions. He argues that these institutions prioritize achievement, conformity, and prestige over meaningful learning and personal growth.
Deresiewicz addresses how students, referred to as "excellent sheep," are often excessively focused on grades, test scores, and extracurricular achievements to gain admission to...2024-01-2913 min
Bookey SummaryUnraveling the Folly of Excellence: Insights from Excellent SheepChapter 1:what is Excellent Sheep book about"Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life" is a book written by William Deresiewicz. In the book, Deresiewicz addresses the state of education and its impact on the lives and careers of students in elite institutions in the United States.Deresiewicz argues that prestigious universities are focused on producing "excellent sheep" – highly accomplished but ultimately conformist individuals. These institutions, he criticizes, emphasize narrow definitions of success and prioritize the acquisition of prestigious jobs rather than fostering intellectual an...2024-01-2913 min
Classically (Un)TrainedAll the Bullsh*t Artists Believe: A Conversation with William Deresiewicz, Author of Death of the ArtistThis is an episode of the old podcast, called Artists on the Verge. I decided to keep these conversations up in the feed because they are, in fact, part of what led me to create Classically (Un)Trained. I have taken down all except the artist interviews - but you can check out an expanded archive here: https://classicallyuntrainedpodcast.com/former-podcast-archive/
Check out the current podcast here: https://classicallyuntrainedpodcast.com/
Video version here: https://youtu.be/v1pvdmWkQ90
A spirited chat with William Deresiewicz, author of /Death...2024-01-2648 min
The Doctor's ArtShaping a Soul, Building a Self | William DeresiewiczAs an English professor at Yale University, essayist and literary critic William Deresiewicz observed a trend across American higher education that troubled him deeply. Instead of learning to think independently, critically, creatively, and courageously, students were increasingly subscribing to a mode of careerism, credentialism, and conformism that focused on climbing the academic or professional ladder. So what is the value of higher education? As Deresiewicz writes in his 2014 book Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, colleges, first and foremost, are supposed to teach you to think, to help y...2024-01-1649 min
Bookey App 30 mins Book Summaries Knowledge Notes and MoreExcellent Sheep: A Critique of Elite Education's ConformityChapter 1 Understand the idea behind Excellent Sheep"Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life" is a book by William Deresiewicz. In this book, Deresiewicz explores the flaws of the modern education system and the pressure placed on students to pursue narrow definitions of success and achievement.Deresiewicz, a former Yale professor, argues that the education system focuses too much on grades, test scores, and prestige, rather than fostering creativity, intellectual curiosity, and a sense of purpose. He criticizes what he calls the "meritocracy" where students are pushed...2023-12-1013 min
Keen On AmericaZero to Zero: William Deresiewicz on what happens when the price of online content is driven down to zeroEPISODE 1835: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks William Deresiewicz, author of THE DEATH OF THE ARTIST, about the fate of the creative artist when , in our digital economy, the price of content has been driven down to zero William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist and critic, a frequent speaker at colleges, high schools, and other venues, and the author of five books including the New York Times bestseller Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life. His latest book is The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and So...2023-11-0142 min
SMARTER RICHER BRAVERGuidance from Gurus: University Unveiled feat. William DeresiewiczFinding Meaning in College and Beyond
College is a significant milestone for many young people, but it can also be a source of stress and uncertainty. The decisions can be overwhelming, from choosing a major to deciding whether to take a gap year or pursue alternative paths. Students and their families must consider each option’s benefits and drawbacks and make informed decisions. While college is still important for many fields, students should recognize that it won’t necessarily be a utopia and that there are alternative paths to consider. Ultimately, students should consider a path that alig...2023-09-2724 min
Cut the CraftEpisode 62: Bill DeresiewiczRecorded June 6, 2023. William Deresiewicz is a non-fiction writer whose work includes The End of Solitude, Excellent Sheep, and A Jane Austin Education. In this episode he speaks with us about his book The Death of the Artist: How Creators are Struggling to Survive in the age of Billionaires and Big Tech. Over the course of our conversation Bill gives us a synopsis of the book and highlights different factors that have resulted in the current marketplace for creatives. He includes the new formation of “parasocial relationships” with fans and customers that are a part of selling creative work...2023-09-261h 22
The Unmistakable Creative PodcastListener Favorites: William Deresiewicz | The Death of the Artist in the Age of Permission-less LeverageFor this episode we are joined by William Deresiewicz, a remarkable author and speaker who's aim is to share the cold truth about the current digital economy's impact on artists all around the world. William talks about the previous 3 paradigms of the arts, the current 4th paradigm shift that is happening right now, and what to expect for the future. Subscribe for ad-free interviews and bonus episodes https://plus.acast.com/s/the-unmistakable-creative-podcast.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-07-211h 05
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc304. What Happened To University Teaching? feat. William DeresiewiczThere has been an undeniable shift in priorities throughout Higher Education during the 21st century. As schooling gets more and more expensive, the pathways to making a good return on that investment grow increasingly steeper so students prioritize prestige and certification over education. At the same time, the competition among universities to recruit the best researchers and achieve the highest rankings marginalizes the importance of teaching.William Deresiewicz is an award-winning essayist, critic, speaker, and the author of several books, including Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, The...2023-07-1253 min
The Unspeakable PodcastIs Art Boring Or Is It Just Us? William Deresiewicz Returns To The PodThis week, The Unspeakable welcomes back William Deresiewicz, who enters the pantheon of three-time guest! Bill was first on the pod in the fall of 2020 talking about his book The Death of the Artist and he came back last year to talk about his book of collected works The End of Solitude. He returns now to discuss some articles he published recently about the state of human creativity and the future of creative output. In an article for Tablet called We’re All Bored Of Culture, Bill explores how and why the arts have seemingly become so lackluster in th...2023-06-121h 18
New Books in Higher EducationEducating for Solitude: A Conversation with William DeresiewiczWhat kind of person is our education system designed to create? Best-selling author and award-winning essayist William Deresiewicz discusses the failures of our higher education system, how it mis-conditions our elite, and fails to value the humanities, as well as his latest collection of essays, The End of Solitude. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2023-06-0149 min
New Books in Politics and PolemicsEducating for Solitude: A Conversation with William DeresiewiczWhat kind of person is our education system designed to create? Best-selling author and award-winning essayist William Deresiewicz discusses the failures of our higher education system, how it mis-conditions our elite, and fails to value the humanities, as well as his latest collection of essays, The End of Solitude. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics2023-06-0149 min
New Books in EducationEducating for Solitude: A Conversation with William DeresiewiczWhat kind of person is our education system designed to create? Best-selling author and award-winning essayist William Deresiewicz discusses the failures of our higher education system, how it mis-conditions our elite, and fails to value the humanities, as well as his latest collection of essays, The End of Solitude. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/education2023-05-3149 min
The McGill International ReviewMIR Meets: William DeresiewiczHost Blaise Brosnan sits down with William Deresiewicz, the author of Excellent Sheep and The Death of the Artist. They discuss the degree of intellectual engagement of the American elite, the postmodern turn in post-war American literature, and the increased proliferation of different forms of art over time.
2023-05-171h 05
Uncertain ThingsWelcome to the Content Age (w/ William Deresiewicz)William Deresiewicz — author of Excellent Sheep, The Death of the Artist, and The End of Solitude — has lived many lives. He’s been an orthodox Jewish boy who lost his faith; a journalism school student unimpressed by the pretensions of the profession; a literature professor who (blasphemously) loved books and teaching. Today, he’s an author, essayist, and nostalgic ex-New Yorker. No matter where he’s been in life, Deresiewicz has often been on the outside looking in, which is maybe why he’s able to see and analyze our culture so clearly. We start off this conversation diving into The Deat...2023-05-081h 39
The Good FightWilliam Deresiewicz on the “Excellent Sheep” of the American EliteWilliam 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.
Please do listen an...2023-05-0658 min
The Good FightWilliam Deresiewicz on the “Excellent Sheep” of the American EliteWilliam 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 ha...2023-05-061h 00
The Nonprofit Insider PodcastNonprofits have a unique working relationshipIn the for-profit space, most businesses work together with money serving as the bridge of connection. In the nonprofit space not so much. In today’s episode, we explore some of the different ways nonprofits work together and the one common goal that tends to be shared between them.In today's news section, we spotlight a Memphis TN nonprofit working to bring down homicides in the city 30% by the year 2026. And I share a personal story of gun violence from my life.Plus, in this episode's section of “Rapid Fire Books” we highlight William Deresiewicz’s book...2023-04-1227 min
Just FriendsInquisitive sheep with William DeresiewiczBest-selling author of Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life and a former professor at Yale University, William Deresiewicz offers powerful insight into the drawbacks of an Ivy League education. From the ceasless compulsion to jump through hoops, to the paradox of possibility becoming limitation, to the vitality of solitude, Jude and Lula compare their experiences at Yale to what Deresiewicz has witnessed for decades. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about higher education!Check out William Deresiewicz and his work!!Web: billderesiewicz.comTwitter: @WDeresiewicz2023-02-121h 00
Heartland Daily PodcastThe End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society (Guest: William Deresiewicz)Heartland’s Tim Benson is joined by award-winning essayist and critic William Deresiewicz to discuss his new book, The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society. They chat about how social media is changing the nature of our interaction with others, addressing West Point plebes about leadership, why he left academia, and why they love essay collections.Get the book here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250858641/the-end-of-solitudeShow Notes:The Chronicle of Higher Education: William Deresiewicz – “The End of Solitude”https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-end-of-solitude/2023-01-191h 15
Ill Literacy: Books with BensonThe End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society (Guest: William Deresiewicz)Heartland’s Tim Benson is joined by award-winning essayist and critic William Deresiewicz to discuss his new book, The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society. They chat about how social media is changing the nature of our interaction with others, addressing West Point plebes about leadership, why he left academia, and why they love essay collections.Get the book here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250858641/the-end-of-solitudeShow Notes:The Chronicle of Higher Education: William Deresiewicz – “The End of Solitude”https://www.chronicle.com/article/the-end-of-solitude/2023-01-191h 15
Madison's NotesEducating for Solitude: A Conversation with William DeresiewiczWhat kind of person is our education system designed to create? Best-selling author and award-winning essayist William Deresiewicz discusses the failures of our higher education system, how it mis-conditions our elite, and fails to value the humanities, as well as his latest collection of essays, The End of Solitude.2023-01-1749 min
The Conversation Art Podcast'The Death of the Artist,' a frank conversation with writer and cultural critic William DeresiewiczWriter and cultural critic William Deresiewicz, author of The Death of the Artist, talks about: His motivations in writing the book, largely motivated by dispelling the myth that this (our current internet/social media era) was the greatest time ever to be an artist, as well as trying to understand how artists (not just visual, artists across all fields- writing, music, film & television) were adapting to making art and surviving in an this world; why he strongly believes that not everyone can be an artist; how and why the monopoly on taste has been broken through a...2023-01-071h 31dunc tankWilliam Deresiewicz - Death of the Artist?William Deresiewicz taught English at Yale University and is the author of Death of the Artist: How Creatives are Struggling to Survive in the Age of Billionaires and Big Tech and most recently, The End of Solitude: Selected Essays on Culture and Society.
2022-12-1255 min
Not An Expert: A Teen's Take On Life, Identity, and PoliticsWilliam Deresiewicz: On Meritocracy, Elite Education, Affirmative Action, Mental Health, and MoreIn Excellent Sheep: The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life, author William Deresciewicz talks about elite college admissions and the effect it has on students before and after starting college, how society tries to trap us in a rat race and what we can do to get out. I talk with him about everything from affirmative action, social media, and NFTs to what it means to be a meritocracy, how students cope with mental health issues and what causes them.2022-11-031h 00