Highly relevant and topical book. It’s a must read and I fell in love with it. I recommend this book for everyone. Where is a safe space? Is there such thing as one? Do we need one? Read and find out what we should be doing with them.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mr. Roth begins at the argument that higher education is beneficial and desired, that the purpose of higher education is to not only educate a person for a career path, but also to teach students reasoning skills, help them grow as people and community members, and expose them to diversity of thought and experience. Any criticism of higher education, or suggestion that higher education is not in all cases a positive aspiration, he argues, stem from misunderstanding, envy of achievement and access, political bias and fearmongering. Roth then delves into the most vocal criticisms against higher education that are found today, explaining why all those criticisms are invalid.

I was very intrigued by the concept of this book. Earlier this year I read Heather MacDonald’s The Diversity Delusion, and felt that this volume would provide a nice inside-the-system counterpoint to her decidedly critical volume. Unfortunately, though Roth’s espoused philosophy was quite utopian and very appealing, after finishing the book I was simply more convinced about the truth found in MacDonald’s volume. Rather than dismantling the criticisms expressed against higher education, Roth found a way to explain and (in his point of view) validate the reasons behind the controversial aspects of higher education he examines. His belief seems to be that the reason people don’t agree with all the changes to higher education are that they don’t actually understand the reasoning or politics of the changes – or how it is to really be a college student in today’s world, facing today’s challenges – and that this book, and his explanations, should clear up any lingering confusion or hostility to what are clearly the best, most benevolent, most open-minded, nurturing of spirit and emotionally healthy policies that are being developed to help educational establishments adjust to a changing, complicated, modern world.

I do feel that the positive, uplifting experience Roth insists he and others in administrative positions are building ignores issues that have been documented to occur on campuses across the U.S., but Roth’s perspective of why changes to curricula have been made and his accounting of how higher education is adapting to new concepts of what ‘education’ should mean, are well-explained. Roth’s desire and determination to do right by students, faculty, and facilities is unquestionable. Unfortunately, his beliefs about what is ‘right’ aren’t necessarily ones that all would agree with – and at some point, it’s not a matter of not understanding!
Structurally, the book has a tendency to wander as Roth explores history, current events, political and judicial arguments and published theories and articles before he folds that knowledge into how he believes a topic affects campus life and policy. While the narrative seems a bit far-ranging occasionally, the breadth of exploration is actually intriguing and educational. Politically, Roth makes no bones about his dislike of President Trump and the policies inferred and espoused by his administration, and that does color the text and clearly inform his thinking. I, personally, would have preferred a less politically charged approach to the issues examined.

In the end, while I still maintain a skepticism of whether modern higher education is worth the price tag that it carries these days, I will recommend this book. Safe Enough Spaces, especially in the first section on Affirmative Action in education, is worth a read for those who are interested in the thinking behind policy in colleges and universities today.

Very good book. I wish I had read this book before my son started college 2 years ago. It may have helped both of us keep him in school. He and I are struggling with a difference of opinion what influence higher education has on
an individual’s belief system. He has a strong interest in free speech. I do not personally recall higher education contributing to my own views but I’m sure my parents may disagree. It makes sense that all individuals pursuing a higher education should be able to obtain that education with limited bias but higher education should also challenge pre-conceptions, ideas also maybe not true in fact I plan to buy a copy for my son. Thank you for allowing me to review an advanced copy.

The author's painstaking research and attention to detail is obvious in the writing of this book. The author laid out the information in a manner that allowed the reader to form their own opinion.

I do not read or review books that are not available on my Kindle. I selected this book in error since it only comes in a PDF version.

I wanted to read this book because I went to a University, pursued a Bachelors degree-graduated, and the feeling of having been there and experienced the culture in the university I attended, made me relate to this book. My Mom often asks "how free is free?" And in the second part of this book the author delves into political correctness and then after that goes next into free speech and safe spaces.
I was intrigued by some insights in this book; one was that I had no idea that Kurt Lewin was the person behind the idea of safe spaces. In the title alone, my perception of safe spaces was more practical given that I've worked as a Counselor and engaged in community development projects under a PEPFAR funded program here in Kenya called DREAMS- where the idea of safe spaces relates more to working towards making girls less vulnerable to HIV/Aids. So, I had a rough idea of what the author meant when he talked about the need for institutions of higher learning to create these safe spaces whilst also encouraging thinking and expression of diverse ideas.
This is a book I'd recommend to anyone in higher learning, but not just that category of people, those graduating from high school would do well reading this because I believe it'd help them better understand the next level of their academic endeavor.
Inasmuch as the author focuses on American institutions and draws from his experience in academics, anyone in an institution of higher learning in the world can relate to it, because just like the institutions mentioned here, they too have a culture, policies and every year or semester have new students.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.