Out of Our Minds

In this new edition of a book first published in 2001, British narrator John Lee captures the intellectual richness, if not the energy and humor, in this splendid broadside on how to help educational institutions nourish creative expression. Though his serious reading is flawless and enjoyable, a lighter approach might have made Ken Robinson's populist thinking even more accessible. The author, an entertaining educational philosopher and activist, provides a fascinating historical account of why societies have favored verbal and numerical rationality over the arts. Fear that our children won't become economically productive is just part of the picture. Yet today's rapid changes and relentless administrative challenges cry out for creative leaders and a flexible workforce. With many inspirational vignettes and critical arguments that are well documented but never tedious or judgmental, this is a compassionate invitation to re-examine our personal values and institutional habits. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine