MY PROFESSIONAL LIFE HAS BEEN SPENT TEACHING PHILOSOPHY AT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND IN SERVICE AS AN ACADEMIC ADMINISTRATOR. THIS BOOK ABOUT UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IS THE PRODUCT OF BOTH ASPECTS OF THIS BACKGROUND. FROM THE PURSUIT OF PHILOSOPHY, IT DERIVES THE REFLECTIVE ATTITUDE THAT DOESNT LET ONE JUST DO SOMETHING BUT INSISTS ON ONES THINKING AND COMMENTIGN ABOUT IT.