1837: the year the oldest women's college in the US was founded.

1881: the year the oldest historically black college ("HBC") for women was founded.

And, at some point, who was at the helm of these venerable institutions? This author who holds the distinction of occupying multiple roles as a psychologist, college administrator and faculty professor. Her experiences coupled with her analysis makes this read now more than ever important.

In this fraught socio-political climate, whether you have children on the cusp of attending college, or are yourself are an administrator /faculty member trying to make sense of what the future holds for colleges and universities financially and their longevity, read this book.

Perhaps you are an avid reader who is neither. Maybe you seek to comprehend how the Israel-Hamas tensions that arose on college campuses in 2023 spilled into the US Congress' political spaces. Or, perhaps understand how established precedents via the US Supreme Court have upended and the results that have followed.

All of this is woven into this remarkable, eye opening book.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Basic Books, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a timely look at important issues that are facing higher education right now. Tatum has the experience to tell us how to meet this moment and protect the values that colleges are supposed to promote in our students.