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The Education of a Lifetime
The Education of a Lifetime is a compelling memoir by former Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat. Khayat writes about his childhood days in Moss Point, Mississippi, the state s segregationist policies that prevented his SEC championship baseball team from playing in the College World Series, and the sadness of experiencing his father s arrest and guilty plea. These seemingly disparate events worked to prepare him to battle the vestiges of racial strife that continued to haunt the university s culture as he accepted the honor of becoming the university s 15th chancellor. Khayat s story gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at how a university moved from mediocrity to excellence. We relive, along with Khayat, the courting of an eccentric donor, as well as private conversations with a sitting U.S. President, governors, coaches and celebrities. We also see how a man worked to make amends for past mistakes. The Education of a Lifetime is a funny, touching and insightful memoir. And it is proof that one man a man dedicated to respecting the dignity of every individual can make lasting change.
- GenresMemoirNonfiction
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Robert Khayat
3 books1 followerDr. Robert Conrad Khayat was the 15th Chancellor of the University of Mississippi. He was appointed in 1995. Khayat, a former student of the University of Mississippi, is the only Chancellor of the university to be a member of the Student Hall of Fame there. He has degrees from both the University of Mississippi and Yale University. Khayat played American football in the National Football League as a kicker for the Washington Redskins.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 23, 2025
If you want a fascinating history of Ole Miss (the University of Mississippi), told via a memoir of perhaps its most impactful leader, this is it. I believe this book is required reading in the Honors College at Ole Miss.
It would be hard to understate Khayat's impact on Ole Miss's renaissance, including his successful navigation of race issues at the school in the 20th century. Khayat is an inspiring leader and the tale is told in a straightforward and heartwarming way.
One star removed as the writing quality doesn't blow you away.
It would be hard to understate Khayat's impact on Ole Miss's renaissance, including his successful navigation of race issues at the school in the 20th century. Khayat is an inspiring leader and the tale is told in a straightforward and heartwarming way.
One star removed as the writing quality doesn't blow you away.
July 20, 2023
I'll admit it: I'm biased, so take it for what it is worth. I'm a fan of Chancellor Robert Khayat. He was the Chancellor of Ole Miss during my three years of law school (1997-2000) which were apparently some pretty important years. Prior to attending Ole Miss, I honestly was not that familiar with the school or its history. I quickly realized that my current school was being discussed in the NEW YORK TIMES, on national TV, and by just about everyone else in a pre-internet media, and had been for a few months. Change was afoot at Ole Miss and not everyone was ready for it.
I remember the rebel flags...and the ban on sticks in the stadium. I remember the protests in the Grove. I remember the "free speech zones" (which I still think were dumb.) I remember everyone who had never stepped foot on campus before (much less the state of Mississippi) having an opinion on things happening at my school. I remember reading the DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN every day. I remember lots of arguments in the Law Center and Vaught Hemingway. I remember the FBI being on campus.
Chancellor Khayat's desire to take the school into the 21st century garnered without the vestiges of the latter half of the 20th century weighing it down lost him friends, garnered him death threats, and otherwise thrust him into turmoil...but he survived it and the University excelled because of him and his actions. That is at the crux of this memoir. His desire to see the school succeed and his desire to separate it from the images and associations that so much of America (and Mississippi) connected it to was nothing short of heroic, in my opinion.
Of course, there are tidbits of his life from outside of those years: growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, attending (and playing football and baseball at) Ole Miss, playing in the NFL, his legal career...but the book is essentially about a pre-Khayat Ole Miss and a post-Khayat Ole Miss...from Ross Barnett refusing to allow James Meredith to enroll in 1962, to hosting Barack Obama and John McCain's first presidential debate in 2008. During Khayat's tenure, the University of Mississippi had been awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; a nationally ranked Honors College had been established; a groundbreaking institute for racial reconciliation was launched; a permanent leadership institute was built, and a top international studies program was created. Additionally, Ole Miss increased enrollment by 70% (and minority enrollment by 43%) and the school's operating budget quadrupled to $1.5 billion. He (and the school) raised almost one billion dollars in private donations and brought in R&D grants of over $100 million.
I re-read this book because my daughter will be enrolling as a freshman in the fall (as a member of that previously-mentioned Honors College and that leadership institute) and I wanted her to read it and to understand why I love the university, and why I am so grateful to people like Robert Khayat. I figured that I'd go ahead and give it a re-read. It had been a while. Like I said: I'm biased. Hotty Toddy!
I remember the rebel flags...and the ban on sticks in the stadium. I remember the protests in the Grove. I remember the "free speech zones" (which I still think were dumb.) I remember everyone who had never stepped foot on campus before (much less the state of Mississippi) having an opinion on things happening at my school. I remember reading the DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN every day. I remember lots of arguments in the Law Center and Vaught Hemingway. I remember the FBI being on campus.
Chancellor Khayat's desire to take the school into the 21st century garnered without the vestiges of the latter half of the 20th century weighing it down lost him friends, garnered him death threats, and otherwise thrust him into turmoil...but he survived it and the University excelled because of him and his actions. That is at the crux of this memoir. His desire to see the school succeed and his desire to separate it from the images and associations that so much of America (and Mississippi) connected it to was nothing short of heroic, in my opinion.
Of course, there are tidbits of his life from outside of those years: growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, attending (and playing football and baseball at) Ole Miss, playing in the NFL, his legal career...but the book is essentially about a pre-Khayat Ole Miss and a post-Khayat Ole Miss...from Ross Barnett refusing to allow James Meredith to enroll in 1962, to hosting Barack Obama and John McCain's first presidential debate in 2008. During Khayat's tenure, the University of Mississippi had been awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; a nationally ranked Honors College had been established; a groundbreaking institute for racial reconciliation was launched; a permanent leadership institute was built, and a top international studies program was created. Additionally, Ole Miss increased enrollment by 70% (and minority enrollment by 43%) and the school's operating budget quadrupled to $1.5 billion. He (and the school) raised almost one billion dollars in private donations and brought in R&D grants of over $100 million.
I re-read this book because my daughter will be enrolling as a freshman in the fall (as a member of that previously-mentioned Honors College and that leadership institute) and I wanted her to read it and to understand why I love the university, and why I am so grateful to people like Robert Khayat. I figured that I'd go ahead and give it a re-read. It had been a while. Like I said: I'm biased. Hotty Toddy!
June 25, 2021
This book is really, really good if you're really, really into Ole Miss, specifically if you're an alumnus ages 30+. I want you to stop what you're doing and rank how important Ole Miss and its history are to you right now on a scale from 1-5. Got it? Okay, now whatever you chose is also exactly how you will rank this book. As a very young alumna, I'm giving it a 3. Khayat is a good man who did great, important, future-changing things, but the book can be dry if you aren't previously engaged in the subject matter.
March 23, 2023
This book is easy to love if you love Ole Miss! It was so interesting to see how so many of the things that I enjoy came to be! This book gave me a greater appreciation for the Honors College, Croft Institute, Paris Yates Chapel and beautiful campus I love!
It was really interesting too to see how Robert Khayat was so dedicated to making sure people saw Ole Miss for more than just it’s history/stereotype. I loved his quote that he wrote when it was time to retire “Most importantly, I felt as if the world now had a better picture of the Ole Miss that I knew and loved”.
Loved it!
It was really interesting too to see how Robert Khayat was so dedicated to making sure people saw Ole Miss for more than just it’s history/stereotype. I loved his quote that he wrote when it was time to retire “Most importantly, I felt as if the world now had a better picture of the Ole Miss that I knew and loved”.
Loved it!
January 24, 2024
I love Ole Miss, but if you don’t care about the University and its history this book will not likely move you. The book paints a picture of the school’s evolution from when Khayat attended as a student until his retirement from being chancellor. Khayat’s career is inspirational and makes me a prouder Mississippian.
January 15, 2025
It is easy to look past the simplistic writing in this memoir of the previous challenges facing Ole Miss, and one chancellor's dream to overcome them. In a very touching story that craftily switches between the past and present, Chancellor Khayat weaves the intricacies and legacy of the deep South into a modern novel of how Ole Miss has come to be a community for all today.
June 13, 2023
Simply incredible.
Want to Read
February 4, 2025recommended by Dad. he knew this guy at Ole Miss
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2016
Dr. Robert Khayat, a graduate of Ole Miss and former pro-football player who served as the university’s chancellor from 1995 to 2009, has just come out with a new memoir, The Education of a Lifetime. As someone whose interest in sports is limited to the Alabama-Auburn game every year, I was surprised at how readable it was as a memoir. Intertwining humorous anecdotes from his football career with the challenges he faced during his chancellorship, Khayat chronicles his attempts at tackling opponents (in football and in academia), his efforts to increase university standing, funding, enrollment, and obtain membership with Phi Beta Kappa, the national academic honor society. He also sheds light on his part in Ole Miss’s extremely controversial decision to distance itself from the Confederate flag in 1997, a symbol which some regard as an unofficial symbol of the school. While not all will agree with his decision about the flag, it’s clear that Khayat is someone who cares deeply about his home state, and how it’s viewed by the rest of the country. Overall, it’s an informative, uplifting read, recommended for curious football fans and students of local history.
August 11, 2014
A great book to show the work that Robert Khayat did for Ole Miss. It also talks about his story and how it all connected with the tough decisions he had to make at Ole Miss as chancellor. If you are a Ole Miss graduate, student, or lover of the school, then you should read this book and remember why you fell in love with Ole Miss in the first place.
April 17, 2015
Makes me love Ole Miss even more
Could not put this one down, so much I didn't know and so much meaning behind the beautiful buildings and campus. Proud to have two sons at Ole Miss and two more children on their way to that experience of a lifetime. In love with that place even more now.
Could not put this one down, so much I didn't know and so much meaning behind the beautiful buildings and campus. Proud to have two sons at Ole Miss and two more children on their way to that experience of a lifetime. In love with that place even more now.
May 27, 2014
I absolutely loved this book. I learned so much about Mississippi, Chancellor Khayat, and Ole Miss. Great book.
Won the Silver IPPY award in 2014 for best memoir published by a small press. http://hottytoddy.com/2014/05/19/khay...
Won the Silver IPPY award in 2014 for best memoir published by a small press. http://hottytoddy.com/2014/05/19/khay...
July 26, 2014
Dr. Robert Khayat is such an amazing person. Ole Miss would still be a small none thriving university if not for Khayat's diligence, dedication, & love for the university. I'm thankful that Khayat took the time to share he memories.
May 31, 2016
Fascinating memoir of his life and time as chancellor. Read it in a day because I couldn't put it down. Some of the stories, though, might be hard to follow without an Ole Miss background, and it does ramble occasionally.
December 21, 2015
Well written and very easy to read. Some background history of his upbringing and major life events, especially if they impacted his career. Really good insight into the behind the scenes factors in making some much needed changes at the University to bring it into the 21st Century.
December 30, 2013
Great story and Very easy to read !!!
December 31, 2013
Great read!
January 4, 2014
If you're invested in Ole Miss's future, it's best to its past. Read this account by Chancellor Khayat to get a better understanding of the people who make the university what it is.
April 6, 2014
The book is candid, well written and inspiring. I have hope for Mississippi because of leaders like this.
April 6, 2014
Quick read. Touching. Wonderful insights about the character and integrity of a truly fine man and the leadership and courage needed to run an institution of higher education in contemporary times.
December 31, 2013
Easy to read. Great stories.
May 17, 2018
Ole Miss would never have been where its today if not for Dr.Khayat's dedication and love towards the campus. I should say I am one of the luckiest peoples who get to meet him once in a month at least and he leaves me ineffable every time we start talking- with his kindness, and generousness. He is one of the living legends of Ole Miss.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews