Academia Next

I’ll admit: I approached *Academia Next* expecting another dry policy slog, but Alexander’s mix of sharp analysis and dark humor kept me hooked. The book’s strongest sections tackle the ‘zombie ideas’ propping up failing institutions—like the myth that prestige alone will save liberal arts colleges, or the delusion that online education is a panacea rather than a tool. Sarris’s narration elevates the material; his delivery is crisp, with a hint of wry amusement when Alexander skewers sacred cows (the chapter on ‘administrative bloat’ had me laughing out loud). That said, the audiobook isn’t flawless. Alexander’s futurist scenarios sometimes veer into speculative overload—do we *really* need a 20-minute deep dive on blockchain credentials?—and the latter third drags when he pivots to overly optimistic ‘reinvention’ case studies. The production is clean, though I docked half a star for the occasional awkward pause between sections, as if the editor hesitated over how grim to let the tone get. Still, for anyone in higher ed (or paying tuition), this is required listening. It’s the rare book that’s both a wake-up call and a lifeline—just don’t expect to finish it feeling cozy about the future.