Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows.
$12.02 with 52 percent savings
List Price: $24.95
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE delivery October 26 - November 12 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery October 26 - November 11
$$12.02 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$12.02
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
FREE 30-day refund/replacement
FREE 30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

The Career Arts by Ben WildavskyPrinceton University Press
  • 2 VIDEOS

Follow the author

Ben Wildavsky
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Career Arts: Making the Most of College, Credentials, and Connections (Skills for Scholars) Hardcover – November 14, 2023

by Ben Wildavsky (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 10 ratings
Get 3 for the price of 2 Shop items
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$12.02","priceAmount":12.02,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"12","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"02","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"Xp7oeQzuV4cOrgFeJhzbApcpVBtYAVBS1qHZqTuXJPFIjTuUk68foE4n%2BMpIwWeKMDwNYQx19AlwkL0YaOgxwOcyuQt8tsdp7MWRV2mMdpHsv5mfHnQ9joey%2FDVFLbRqT5ERco5TpYooQWM%2FKrxugw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

A persuasive case for building career success through broad education, targeted skills, and social capital

Young people coming out of high school today can expect to hold many jobs over the course of their lives, which is why they need a range of essential skills. The Career Arts provides a corrective to the widespread and misleading notion that there is a direct trade-off between going to college and acquiring practical job skills. Ben Wildavsky cuts through the noise and anxiety surrounding this issue to offer sensible, clear-eyed guidance for anyone who is making decisions about education and career preparation with a view to getting ahead in the workforce.

Drawing on evidence-based research, illuminating case studies, and in-depth interviews, Wildavsky shares the most vital lessons of what he calls the career arts, which include cultivating a mix of broad and targeted skills, taking advantage of employer-funded education benefits, and preparing for the world as it is, not as you wish it could be. He explains why college remains the gold standard of credentials, and presents the most promising high-quality supplements and alternatives to college that can help learners combine general and job-specific skills. He shows how building social capital is also critical to success, particularly for disadvantaged students.

An invaluable guidebook for students, parents, counselors, and educators, The Career Arts reveals why college education and job preparation are not either-or propositions and identifies the blend of education and networking needed to support real-world career aspirations.

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    176 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Princeton University Press
  4. Publication date
    November 14, 2023
  5. Reading age
    16 years and up
  6. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.75 x 8 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0691239797
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0691239798
Next slide of product details
The%20Amazon%20Book%20Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Page 1 of 1 Start over
Previous set of slides
Next set of slides

From the Publisher

The Career Arts Making the most of College, credentials, and connections

The eight Career Arts

Go to college (yes, it's a good idea)

Find the best kind of college and program

Complete college

If pursing nondegree options, purposefully build education, skills, and networks

See a both and combination of broad and targeted skills

Take advantage of employer-funded education benefits

Find effective ways to build social capital

Prepare for the world as it is, not as you wish it were

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A level-headed discussion of the abiding value of a college degree and why earning one is compatible with acquiring the practical skills valued in the workplace."---Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes

"Readers will learn eight essential skills for career success, such as completing college or looking for educational options that give them a mix of broad and targeted skills, taking advantage of employer educational benefits, and most importantly, preparing for the world as it is. . . . [The Career Arts's] positive tone and clear writing will appeal to students, parents, and educators." ― Library Journal

"One of the clearest assessments of the need to blend higher education and workforce development I’ve read in years. Well-documented and positive in presentation. Great takeaways that can be of great use with governing boards, legislators, and others. I genuinely recommend."---Bennett Boggs, Commissioner of Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development

"

The Career Arts offers readers—whether working in the higher education sector already, advising prospective students, or students making decisions for themselves—several arguments based on economic data to combat misperceptions about a college degree’s waning relevance in the labor market. . . . [and] provides an overview of promising directions that could help drive positive student postsecondary outcomes and examples of programmatic initiatives that could inspire action by campus leaders to change the status quo and better meet student needs.

"---Caroline Tucker, Harvard Educational Review

"At a time when the value and role of a college degree is being questioned by so many, Ben [Wildavsky]'s book provides key insights and lessons from innovators around the country."---Maria Flynn, President and CEO of Jobs for the Future; Forbes 50 Over 50

"The Career Arts is slim (pack it in your tote!), practical (a great gift for parents!) and compelling (with deep insights into the value of college, credentials, and - especially for those not born with rich social capital -connections)."---Joellen Perry, Global VP at SAP

"The Career Arts [is] a refreshingly clear survey of today’s many educational paths toward better careers. . . . [it] is upbeat about the rise of fast-paced skills training, while still supporting an important role for the slower, deeper tempos of a classic four-year college degree."---George Anders, LinkedIn

"

We’ve long known that a sound education should fill a resume and feed the soul. Ben Wildavsky certainly thinks so, and he lays out an excellent case in The Career Arts.

"---Eric Johnson, Public Ed Works

"

This short and timely book is aimed at ‘anybody seeking to understand how to get ahead’. . . . Much of the evidence brought skillfully together by the author Ben Wildavsky promotes familiar lessons - for example that so-called soft skills can be just as important as job-specific ones. . . . [The Career Arts] makes it abundantly clear that those headlines claiming degrees are no longer as helpful as they once were are often flat out wrong.

"---Nick Hillman, HEPI

"An invaluable guidebook for students, parents, counselors and educators on navigating career development." ― Polytechnics Canada

"For too long, our debates on post-secondary education have taken a binary form: either 'college for everyone' or 'learn a trade'. . . . [Wildavsky] puts adaptability front and center in his recent book The Career Arts. In doing so, he helps to fight back against the false dichotomies that riddle discussions about post-secondary education."---Brent Orrell and David Veldran, The Dispatch

"[A]n excellent guide to the literature on the benefits of an undergraduate degree, and specifically debunks many of the irritating ‘higher education is no longer worth it’ screeds that are (inaccurately) popping up everywhere."---Alex Usher, President of Higher Education Strategy Associates

"Thoughtful, useful, accessible--and short!"---Bryan Alexander, Host of Future Trends Forum

Review

“In a time of extraordinary change in postsecondary education and the workforce, this book posits that there is no single way to prepare for a meaningful career. It also highlights how social capital, rather than occupying its historic role of perpetuating inequality, must be repurposed for the next generation as we work toward a more inclusive workforce.”—Angel Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling

“Wildavsky shows how students from disadvantaged backgrounds have the most to gain from the knowledge, skills, and critical career networks that degrees offer, but also sees a place for high-quality alternative pathways. Essential reading for policy experts as well as guidance counselors, teachers, parents, and students, this nuanced and timely book bridges the debate over the value of college versus nondegree credentials, enabling both sides of the argument to think more clearly.”—Brent Orrell, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former Acting US Assistant Secretary of Labor

“From its powerful, clearly written opening to its compelling reporting and up-to-date synthesis of research, The Career Arts is an excellent, practical guide for all those considering postsecondary education and other career-related learning pathways. A great read and a wonderful resource.”—Sean Gallagher, executive director of Northeastern University’s Center for the Future of Higher Education and Talent Strategy

“This accessible book will help students, families, and advisers understand that much of today’s public debate about college versus job skills is badly flawed. It will also be useful to college and university leaders as they work to improve their students’ transition to the labor market, a role they are expected to take on more than ever.”—Catharine Bond Hill, managing director of Ithaka S+R and former president of Vassar College

“Ben Wildavsky challenges us to see the supposed dichotomies between education and training, degrees and certificates, and learning and careers as what they are: false choices that hide the broad ground where each contributes to the other. This is a must-read for learners of all ages.”—Ted Mitchell, president of the American Council on Education and former US Under Secretary of Education

“Wildavsky’s much-needed advice is founded on a carefully balanced and comprehensive understanding of how and why the economic walls have been coming down between training, education, and old-fashioned work experience. The Career Arts is required reading.”—Anthony P. Carnevale, director of the Center on Education and the Workforce, Georgetown University

“Wildavsky has produced something truly valuable, offering clear, consistent, and coherent principles for anybody trying to make sense of the cacophony of advice about navigating education and career decisions. The book is especially useful for all those students without the advantages of networks and resources.”—Margaret Gardner, former president and vice chancellor of Monash University

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 14, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 176 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691239797
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691239798
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 16 years and up
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.75 x 8 inches
  • Best Sellers Rank: #1,025,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 10 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Ben Wildavsky

Ben Wildavsky

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Ben Wildavsky is a veteran higher education writer, speaker, and convener who hosts the Higher Ed Spotlight podcast. His journalism and education policy experience includes leadership roles at Strada Education Network, the College Board, and U.S. News & World Report. He is currently a visiting fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His latest book, The Career Arts: Making the Most of College, Credentials, and Connections, was published by Princeton University Press in November 2023. He is the award-winning author of The Great Brain Race and coeditor of Reinventing Higher Education and Measuring Success, with bylines in publications including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlantic, and the Washington Post. He is a former scholar at the Brookings Institution, the Rockefeller Institute of Government, and the Kauffman Foundation. He has spoken in 16 U.S. states and 10 foreign countries, including events at Google, the World Bank, the OECD in Paris, and the London School of Economics.

Related books

Page 1 of 1Start Over
Sponsored
Previous page
  1. Shop the Store on Amazon ›
    Practical Career Planning for Ambitious Teens: A Simple, Step-By-Step Guide to Finding Your Passion, Exploring Careers, and Taking Action Toward Your Future — Including Real Life Examples (Teen Life)
    Practical Career Planning for Ambitious Teens: A Simple, Step-By-Step Guide to Finding Your Passion, Exploring Careers, and Taking Action Toward Your Future — Including Real Life Examples (Teen Life)
    4.94.9 out of 5 stars159
    $14.99
  2. Shop the Store on Amazon ›
    The Career Masterclass for Women: Staying Marketable and Succeeding in a Changing Business World
    The Career Masterclass for Women: Staying Marketable and Succeeding in a Changing Business World
    5.05.0 out of 5 stars33
    $17.99
  3. Shop the Store on Amazon ›
    Solutions Architect's Handbook: Kick-start your career with architecture design principles, strategies, and generative AI techniques
    Solutions Architect's Handbook: Kick-start your career with architecture design principles, strategies, and generative AI techniques
    4.44.4 out of 5 stars141
    $59.99
  4. Shop the Store on Amazon ›
    Estate Planning & Living Trusts Blueprint: The Complete and Easy-to-Follow Guide to Protecting Your Assets, Safeguarding the Future of Your Loved Ones, Optimizing Costs, & Creating a Lasting Legacy
    Estate Planning & Living Trusts Blueprint: The Complete and Easy-to-Follow Guide to Protecting Your Assets, Safeguarding the Future of Your Loved Ones, Optimizing Costs, & Creating a Lasting Legacy
    4.74.7 out of 5 stars1,266
    $25.83 List:$29.35
  5. Shop the Store on Amazon ›
    Career Planning for Teens: How to Understand Your Identity, Cultivate Your Skills, Find Your Dream Job, and Turn That Into a Successful Career (Life Skill Handbooks)
    Career Planning for Teens: How to Understand Your Identity, Cultivate Your Skills, Find Your Dream Job, and Turn That Into a Successful Career (Life Skill Handbooks)
    4.74.7 out of 5 stars129
    $14.22 List:$16.97
Next page

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
10 global ratings
Is college worth it?
5 out of 5 stars
Is college worth it?
I finally got around to reading my friend Ben Wildavsky's new book, "The Career Arts" (sorry it took me so long, Ben!) and oh my gosh you guys, it's so good! He lays out very dispassionately the economic case for the value of college (yes, it's worth it) as well as the nuance of the debate (spoiler alert: the value of college depends on the specific college and program, as well as if the learner completes their intended program or not). But, as we all know, it's a "both/and" conversation...and he discusses the case for targeted skills through a variety of non-degree approaches, as well as the critical importance of employer-funded education benefits programs and opportunities for social capital building. What I found most compelling though were the case studies and examples throughout the book....or as he often encouraged me, "show, don't tell". Highly recommend giving it a read! (I read the whole thing on one flight to and from Oklahoma!)
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • 2006
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must- read for those involved in post- secondary learning and young people!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Wildavsky’s book The Career Arts outlines the essentials in the post secondary school life and learning path. I chair a community organization which raises funds and provides mentors for local youth heading to university, college, apprenticeship or the trades. Ben’s research and wise words are invaluable to parents , students , educators and all involved with young people at this stage in their lives. The stakes have never been higher that we raise and educate our youth to be reach their full potential in whatever learning they pursue!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Beloit College Entrepreneurs
    5.0 out of 5 stars High impact read!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2024
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This book consolidates and shares all the best data and insights about maximizing a student’s education options. It’s a must read for those trying to sort out the value and means of education in our society.
    Helpful
     Report
  • ghostmonkey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Is college worth it?
    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2024
    Format: Hardcover
    I finally got around to reading my friend Ben Wildavsky's new book, "The Career Arts" (sorry it took me so long, Ben!) and oh my gosh you guys, it's so good!

    He lays out very dispassionately the economic case for the value of college (yes, it's worth it) as well as the nuance of the debate (spoiler alert: the value of college depends on the specific college and program, as well as if the learner completes their intended program or not).

    But, as we all know, it's a "both/and" conversation...and he discusses the case for targeted skills through a variety of non-degree approaches, as well as the critical importance of employer-funded education benefits programs and opportunities for social capital building.

    What I found most compelling though were the case studies and examples throughout the book....or as he often encouraged me, "show, don't tell".

    Highly recommend giving it a read! (I read the whole thing on one flight to and from Oklahoma!)
    Customer image
    ghostmonkey
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Is college worth it?

    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2024
    I finally got around to reading my friend Ben Wildavsky's new book, "The Career Arts" (sorry it took me so long, Ben!) and oh my gosh you guys, it's so good!

    He lays out very dispassionately the economic case for the value of college (yes, it's worth it) as well as the nuance of the debate (spoiler alert: the value of college depends on the specific college and program, as well as if the learner completes their intended program or not).

    But, as we all know, it's a "both/and" conversation...and he discusses the case for targeted skills through a variety of non-degree approaches, as well as the critical importance of employer-funded education benefits programs and opportunities for social capital building.

    What I found most compelling though were the case studies and examples throughout the book....or as he often encouraged me, "show, don't tell".

    Highly recommend giving it a read! (I read the whole thing on one flight to and from Oklahoma!)
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Helpful
     Report
  • Carrie Matsuo
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Resource
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2024
    Format: Hardcover
    I highly recommend this book because it has the right amount of information, presented clearly and with receipts, to help practitioners address young people's needs and climb the first real steps out of high school. "What do you want to be when you grow up" is a simple question that carries the world's weight! The young people feel it and don't need links and advice from all over, but info and facts and a bit of empathy. I liked how the author used concise examples to surround the challenge of info overload and practical advice.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Benjamin D Brand
    5.0 out of 5 stars How to build sustainable, rewarding careers
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2023
    Format: Hardcover
    Ben Wildavsky's The Career Arts is a concise and engaging book arguing for a three-pronged approach to sustainable, rewarding careers:

    💡A traditional undergraduate degree, which furnishes a broad education with foundational knowledge and soft skills for a lifetime of career success.

    💡Building social capital, by which students learn to develop and mobilize relationships and networks to advance their careers.

    💡Earning alternative credentials, which help traditional students and adult learners quickly build market-ready career and technical skills.

    The power of Wildavsky's book lies in its synthesis of lively case studies and original research into a positive and timely vision for higher education. I highly recommend it!
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report