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W. David Baird

Quest for Distinction: Pepperdine University in the 20th Century Hardcover – September 27, 2016

by W. David Baird (Author)

3.7 5 ratings

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In 1937, Kansas auto parts magnate George Pepperdine founded a small, faith-based college in south central Los Angeles devoted to academic excellence and beautiful Christian living. By the end of the twentieth century, the institution named in his honor would rise above funding problems, accreditation troubles, tragedy, and controversy to become one of the nation's top universities. In this lively, meticulously researched narrative history, renowned historian and Seaver College Dean Emeritus W. David Baird explores Pepperdine's evolution and introduces us to the remarkable men and women behind it. You'll meet such influential figures as Batsell Baxter, the prominent Churches of Christ leader who became Pepperdine's first president; Mr. Pepperdine M. Norvel Young, whose vision transformed Pepperdine from a small liberal arts college to a prestigious university with schools and campuses around the world; William S. Banowsky, the charismatic young preacher who championed the creation of the Malibu campus; and Howard A. White, who reaffirmed the school's commitment to a Christian mission by defending and strengthening its historic connection to the Churches of Christ. Through their stories and others, Baird paints a vivid portrait of the university's quest to distinguish itself academically without sacrificing the Christian principles it was founded on.

Print length

737 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Pepperdine University Press
Publication date

September 27, 2016
ISBN-10

0997700408
ISBN-13

978-0997700404
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Editorial Reviews

Review

David Baird is not only a respected historian, he is a masterstoryteller. Quest for Distinction is a candid and important accountthat leads inexorably to the conclusion that Pepperdine has been blessed time and again through the providence of God. The path is richlytextured, and the journey has sometimes been described as one of themost inspiring in American higher education. My hope is that the readerwill conclude that the quest, described by my friend and colleague, isonly beginning.

--Andrew K. Benton, President, Pepperdine University

The credibility of this book rises from the depth of research and frankness of the story. One will learn a lot about church relations and thechallenges experienced in developing a West Coast Christian-orientedcollege. Quest for Distinction is interesting, revealing, andcompelling.
--Lynn A. McMillon, Distinguished Professor and DeanEmeritus, Oklahoma Christian University, and President, The ChristianChronicle

The consummate historian, Baird recounts PepperdineUniversity's growth to an internationally recognized Christianinstitution of higher learning from a small, inner-city college. Bairdmakes it clear that Pepperdine's achievements, although hard-won, havearisen from visionary leaders committed to academic excellence, American civic values, and Christian faith.

--Cyndia Clegg, Distinguished Professor of English, Pepperdine University

About the Author

Seaver College Dean Emeritus W. David Baird came to Pepperdine as the Howard A. White Professor of History in 1988 and served as Seaver Dean from 1998 to 2008. Baird holds degrees in history and geography and has written or edited 11 books and numerous articles, most on the history of the American West and Native Americans. A native of Oklahoma, Baird and his wife, Jane, have lived in Malibu since 1988.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pepperdine University Press (September 27, 2016)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 737 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0997700408
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0997700404
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.58 pounds

Best Sellers Rank: #3,402,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews:
3.7 5 ratings

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W. David Baird

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Seaver College Dean Emeritus W. David Baird came to Pepperdine as the Howard A. White Professor of History in 1988 and served as Seaver Dean from 1998 to 2008. Baird holds degrees in history and geography and has written or edited 11 books and numerous articles, most on the history of the American West and Native Americans. A native of Oklahoma, Baird and his wife, Jane, have lived in Malibu since 1988.

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Kevin Randolph

A More Apt Name Would Be "Sanitized For Their Protection"

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 20, 2017

Verified Purchase

The book fails on multiple levels including delivering an unfailing boring document based description of the story rather than a character based coherent narrative. It also offers a generous whitewashing of elements of the school's history that are unappealing (Herbert Luft's predilections, Norvel Young's criminal misdeeds, the habit in the 1970's of Pepperdine profs taking up with college coeds at an alarming level and Pepperdine's coziness with the political right as a constructed money grab. The battle for the foul of the university from its inception is actually the morality tale and object lesson this book should be about. Alas, this is what a "history" of an institution reads like when it is authorized by its sitting president and written by a go along/get along employee.

What does come through rather directly is that this is an institution governed not by educational mission and Christian stewardship but, rather, a defining ethos of real politik that frequently worked at cross purposes with its alleged founding.

The book is as dry as a Santa Anna wind and all the fellow teachers who worked with Baird that extolled its virtues don't make it any more legitimate as a genuine history of th school. Did they read the book before praising it? He worked on this for seven years? Seriously? He is a nice guy (pretty dispassionate teacher frankly) but this is dud of a book and genuinely dull story.

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TWSPREACH

The best book on the history of a great university.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 22, 2016

Verified Purchase

Wonderful storytelling with exhaustive documentation of evidence for claims. As a Pepperdine graduate myself, I couldn't put it down. I was particularly fascinated by the history of the Los Angeles campus, as well as the "behind-the-scenes" look into the clockworks of a great institution of higher learning. David Baird deserves the highest commendation for this terrific volume. I'd love to see him cover the Benton years in a future publication.

2 people found this helpful

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Basic Economics

I finished the book this evening, simply fascinating inside ...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 4, 2016

I finished the book this evening, simply fascinating inside look into the myriad of things that makes Pepperdine such a unique University in higher ed.

2 people found this helpful

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