Empires of Ideas

Timelyhe makes a powerful argument about what it takes to be a leading university dedicated to the creation of new knowledgeKirbys book shows how catalytic is the combination of strong nations and universities that advance knowledge and foster critical and creative thinking. Now more, perhaps, than ever. -- Michael S. Roth * Wall Street Journal * Substantive on virtually every page, the author actually understands how universities workAn impressive performance. -- Tyler Cowen * Marginal Revolution * Although Empires of Ideas is nominally about the rise of the research university from its origins in 19th-century Germany though Americas global leadership in the 20th, it will probably be what Kirby has to say about China in the 21st that will generate the most interestRigorous in its arguments, Empires of Ideas is also well-written. -- Peter Gordon * Asian Review of Books * What factors make research universities greatand, conversely, what variables threaten these institutions eminence? [Kirbys] case studies are highly revealing[A] fascinating book. -- Steven Mintz * Inside Higher Ed * Rather than offering an overview of the university landscape, Kirby adopts the case-based approach employed in the curricula of the Harvard Business School. He traces the history of eight institutions whose trajectories he views as exemplaryThere are advantages to Kirbys case study approach. Tracing the history of an individual institution offers the reader a vivid sense of the interplay of historical contingency, policy mandates, and individual actors. -- Robert Frodeman * Issues in Science and Technology * A masterful account of higher education in Germany, the United States, and China. -- Lee Trapanier * University Bookman * Kirby weaves together traditional historical analysis with personal narratives and experiences with German, American, and Chinese higher education systemsOffers a genuine insiders glimpse into the inner workings of these universities. -- Ryan M. Allen * Hansa Review of Books * William Kirbys new book is unique. I know of nothing else on higher education that resembles it in breadth, scope, and sheer comparative information and analysis. He has plotted the rise and evolution of the modern university in three major societiesGermany, the United States, and Chinain a way that illuminates the strengths and weaknesses of each model. Anyone interested in the nature of universities during the past two centuries will want to read this volume. -- Neil L. Rudenstine, President Emeritus, Harvard University Kirby is in a unique position to tell this story, since nobody else can equal his extensive knowledge of the subject. His insights take us behind the scenes and beyond the university rankings. Fascinating and compelling. -- Yingyi Qian, Professor and Dean Emeritus, Tsinghua University This superb and compelling book is both a vast scholarly achievement and an essential guide to the future of universities under conditions of increasing global competitiveness. It places contemporary trends in their historical context and draws on Kirbys unique personal experiences of engagement with some leading universities in three countries. It is essential reading for everyone interested in the future of higher education and research as a global phenomenon. -- Sir Malcolm Grant, Chancellor, University of York This timely and important book by one of the worlds leading historians on global higher education makes the compelling case that the center of innovation and creativity is and always has been moving within the highly competitive global landscape of universities. Kirby cogently argues that in recent decades we witness a shift of the dynamics to China. Government backing and incentives have greatly enhanced Chinas innovation potential in higher education. The growing success of Chinese universities discredits the idea that only the West is amenable to innovation. A must-read! -- Klaus M

William C. Kirby is Spangler Family Professor of Business Administration and T. M. Chang Professor of China Studies at Harvard University, as well as Chair of the Harvard China Fund and Faculty Chair of the Harvard Center Shanghai. His many books include Can China Lead? Reaching the Limits of Power and Growth.