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bakerdphd.bsky.social • 54 days ago

Lol so no one?

Now that I've got more time wondering if I should finally read Burdened, a book on student loans. It got the full court publicity press in September and it's on the New Yorker's top books of the year list, but I haven't seen any ed policy people's thoughts to know if I might like it. Anyone read it?

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econroy.bsky.social•54 days ago

Hadn’t heard about it until now. The top lines make it sound like a re-treading of pretty well worn ground.
Origins of student loans, Reagan bad, problems of the FFEL program etc.

bakerdphd.bsky.social•54 days ago

I had heard about it but I also get asked about writing a book on loans fairly often. To be fair to the book, those are not well worn ground in books (it is in policy circles). The closest is Shermer's Indentured Students which is very history and not really for a general audience.

econroy.bsky.social•54 days ago

That’s reasonable

shermandorn.com•54 days ago

bakerdphd.bsky.social•54 days ago

Oh you know I love reading history. I'm using that phrasing the same way I do when I say Bourdieu's Distinction is very sociology. It's something written in a way that likely adheres to the rhythm of the profession that was not really written for a non-specialist to follow.

shermandorn.com•54 days ago

Ah… argument-bricoleur monograph style

bakerdphd.bsky.social•54 days ago

Lol the amount of internet searching I had to do to know what these words meant. I mean that it's not a bad book but it likely works best for academic historians given the syntax, diction/jargon, pacing decisions, etc.

carolotta.me•54 days ago

how do academics view general non fiction?

bakerdphd.bsky.social•54 days ago

The average academic? It depends. But lots of folks do read widely on their subject matter. And a book like this, which had reviews in all the major outlets, would definitely rise to our notice.

cantb.bsky.social•54 days ago

I think that tells you what you need to know?

bakerdphd.bsky.social•54 days ago

That's why I'm trying to check at different times of day just to make sure. I didn't want to over read the signs I was getting.

jamesdeanward.bsky.social•54 days ago

It’s on my list. But, honestly, pretty far down that list, partly because I haven’t heard much about it. The Chicago public library has 9 copies, all in use, with 13 additional holds. So I guess someone is reading it

bakerdphd.bsky.social•54 days ago

Ok that's actually useful info. So general members of the public may be reading it.

robertkelchen.com•54 days ago

Nope. I haven't read it, and I don't know other researchers who have read it.

bakerdphd.bsky.social•54 days ago

Well, at least I'm not alone! I'll probably do a library checkout.

chelseamdo.bsky.social•54 days ago

Seems like you volunteered to read it and tell us all about it!

bakerdphd.bsky.social•54 days ago

Haha it's just wild to me because I should know someone who has read this book

chelseamdo.bsky.social•54 days ago

When I'm posting about the articles or books I'm reading, I often get replies that they are on other people's TBRs. That might be the case here?

bakerdphd.bsky.social•54 days ago

But I haven't even gotten that. And I'm not saying I'm the authority on student loan policy in the US but uhhh I am one of the 20 to 30 people who would likely be considered a foremost expert on the topic.

chelseamdo.bsky.social•54 days ago

Interesting. I know I've at least heard of the book, and I agree that it is surprising how little interest/engagement you've gotten. Weird.

Maybe it's a terrible book?

bakerdphd.bsky.social•54 days ago

That's why I've been trying to check in at different times of day because I don't want to see signal where there's noise

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