Customer Reviews

The Dialectic of Freedom (John Dewey Series) (John Dewey Lecture)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book is easily the best and most important book that I have read since I started going to graduate school in 1996. It has truly changed my way of seeing certain things. Dr. Green's vision of freedom is presented by examples from books and other media, and makes the subject both understandable and affecting. If a teacher were to follow her vision and her suggestions, his or her classroom would be the most dynamic one in almost any school. If one is a teacher, or if one merely likes good writing, get this book. It is truly visionary.

Required textbook -- tough reading, but I enjoyed it! Greene uses a lot of literary references which the majority of my classmates were unfamiliar with. This book almost requires a degree in English literature to understand what she's getting at.

Maxine Greene is one of the great educators and thinkers of our time. This is the first work of hers I read, and I was hooked. I had the distinct honor of meeting Dr. Greene and she is a humble and curious person, even in her 90s. She is an inspiration and her questions asked through her readings of literature will make you think.

She has valid things to say, but seems more intent on demonstrating her intellegence with grammatical gymnastics. I have to read this for class, and it has been an excruciating experience. Very disorganized thought, poorly edited.

Greene just can't seem to get to the point. Any point. But she does take a long time not getting there. More than any author I have encountered, Greene seems to think that one should never use one or two words when a dozen or two will do the same job. I spent more time rereading Greene's sentences than any other book I can remember with little to show for it. Apparently, Greene feels that filling her book with long rambling quotes, endless lists of examples, arcane terminology, unnecessary adjectives, and run on sentences gives it some gravitas. While it does make it difficult to understand, that doesn't mean that the underlying ideas are deep, just that they are obscured by poor writing.

This book arrived in only a few days. Even though it is a used book, it is in very good condition.

After reading and then re-reading this book, I am impressed only by Ms. Greenes ability to ramble on for 134 pages without making a point.