The Abundant University

I’ll admit: I rolled my eyes at first. Another book about ‘broken higher ed’? But *The Abundant University* surprised me by sidestepping the usual doom-scrolling to ask: *What if we built a system that actually worked for learners?* Smith’s background—leading ed-tech initiatives at Carnegie Mellon—gives him credibility, but it’s his willingness to name names (looking at you, bloated administrative budgets) that makes this feel urgent. The audiobook’s strength lies in its specificity: Smith doesn’t just praise MOOCs; he dissects why Coursera’s early promise fizzled and how blockchain *might* (emphasis on *might*) fix credentialing. Bill Anciaux’s narration is a masterclass in balancing authority and approachability. His tone dips into dry humor when Smith skewers academia’s absurdities (e.g., the ‘country club’ amenities arms race) but stays grounded during the wonkier sections on adaptive learning algorithms. My two quibbles: First, the final chapter’s utopian vision feels rushed—Smith’s solutions deserve more than a 20-minute sprint. Second, Anciaux’s cadence occasionally verges on *too* polished, sanding off some of Smith’s sharper edges. Still, this is one of the few education audiobooks that left me scribbling notes *and* laughing out loud. If you’ve ever wondered why your alma mater’s endowment grows while adjuncts live on food stamps, this is your audiobook. Just don’t expect it to play nice with the status quo.