The Independent Scholar's Handbook

by Ronald Gross

This book is, without question, the most valuable work around for those who pursue an interest in a serious, systematic way. Completely revised and updated by the author, the handbook points to resources, organizations, and people, and helps the reader to understand the development and use of such expertise.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Reference

261 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

Reviews

[Semi-Academic Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eric Hoffer's Passionate Philosophizing, starting on page 31, drew my interest. Although I do not need the whorehouse or the tobacco that that Mr. Hoffer relied upon, I found his passion for learning very stimulating. Some of his methodology, as described in this book, I have found useful. However, some of it seems a bit sloppy and may have contributed to some errors in his writing, of which I am dimly aware. Even though I am named after him, and two other Erics, I have never quite gotten into his writing. My father had read a few of his books and obviously appreciated him enough to name his son, partly, after the guy. However, I have grown to not respect much of my dad's thinking as he is sloppy and irrational much of the time. He also seems to get boxed in by his own pride interwoven with the thoughts he is so proud of developing. So, by association, I have probably discounted Mr. Hoffer unfairly. Maybe there is some irony in that.

I did find the description of Eric Hoffer by Ronald Gross so engaging, in fact, that I have almost decided to read one of Hoffer's works sometime soon. However, I find myself more interested in this author of the book I am now reading, and his other book, Peak Learning. I hope to learn from the golden nuggets that he might have unearthed from the muddy thinking of that other author and others like him.

[Lexington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, only the first few chapters are currently relevant. The book was revised in 1993, but without mention of the Internet it struggles to be useful.

That being said, I did get a few good ideas. For example, I hadn't considered getting special permission to access the journals at the local university library. However, the book will not teach you how to do research.

Also, the e-book format has disappeared. I did manage to find a copy, but the author did not get back to me when I requested help, nor did the university that is supposed to be hosting the pdf file on their site.

[Whoisabishag · Rating 5 out of 5]

"IF You Think, THEN Read This Book, AND THEN Read John Taylor Gatto's The Underground History Of American Education : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... "!"

[Rod Zinkel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the second edition, published in 1993, Gross offers a number of profiles of successful independent scholars and entrepreneurs, and their efforts to publish, to speak, and to organize research and researchers. Gross is practical about the obstacles for the independent scholar, who is defined as the scholar without a school affiliation. There are obstacles the affiliated scholar may not have, such as access to collections, the self-funded sabbatical, the expenses of copying and printing, the need to prove oneself without the reputation of a university backing you. Gross gives a lot of information that could be resourceful, but this is the problem in reading the book now, twenty-some years later. Much of it is dated. The book is written before the most common method of research was common; there is no mention of websites. But you can find some of the organizations mentioned are still around and have websites. P.S. I found the “Pitfalls of Research” especially useful, as Gross writes of the mistakes someone outside the academe may make.

[Malcolm Schmitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

So. Hm. I'm not quite sure what I think of this one.

On the one hand, it's definitely... inspired. Mr. Gross has a vision of a world where people can pursue scholarship whenever they want, coming together to do so when necessary, without having to be tied to an institution. He shows that it's possible, that it can be done. He does so from a leftist perspective, which is nice- a lot of books out there on Getting One's Own Education are geared at more 'conservative' types, and weeding through the bible quotes and dodgy misinterpretations of classical Greek society can get tiresome. And he offers various plans and resources that would be helpful for an independent scholar... who's stuck in 1993.

That's the biggest problem with this book: it's heavily out of date. He mentions usenet boards as the cutting edge of internet research and has a lot of (paper/institutional) resources that are just plain nonexistent. It's also possibly a bit too... hopeful? ... about our society's slow decline into corporocratic nonsense.

The other thing I'm not sure about is the ... let's call it credulousness given to people who are definitely "mavericks". I'm pretty anti-establishment, but there's a certain kind of anti-establishment rhetoric that quacks use to hide the fact that they're quacks (especially in alternative medicine) and some of the people Gross used as case studies reeked of that kind of rhetoric. Some of the people he cited are still pretty respected thinkers, though, so YMMV.

Overall- great aspirational piece, flawed execution (especially if you're reading this in 2018, jeepers). If you're looking for inspiration on how to become an independent learner and/or scholar, I'd still recommend picking this up. But if you're looking for concrete advice- or roll your eyes at the dodgy kind of leftism- this is probably not the book for you.

[Abner Rosenweig · Rating 3 out of 5]

I purchased this to refine my own process as an independent scholar, and in that respect it comes up short, particularly because it is so dated. However, I still enjoyed the book in spirit--it's encouraging and serves as a wonderful motivator to pursue independent work.

The accounts of other successful independent scholars are still relevant today, and it was helpful to read about their struggles and successes. I was especially inspired by the stories of Eric Hoffer, Hazel Henderson, William Irwin Thompson.

We all have independent interests. This book validates the idea that scholarship is not just for academics and encourages us to honor our interests by formalizing our studies as independent scholars. It helps the reader realize that, with a little extra work, we can synthesize our ideas and produce meaningful work that can contribute to the ongoing human conversation.

A beautiful premise, I only wish the book offered more, and more current, practical ideas on how to follow through.

[Hom Sack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the recommended research techniques are dated (my copy is copyrighted 1982), i.e., before the advent of the widely use of the Internet, the book is instructive and inspiring. The author points to the success of individuals such as Barbara Tuchman, Alvin Toffler, Betty Friedan, Eric Hoffer as well as many of the less well known. The most inspiring for me is that of Buckminster Fuller, rising from poverty and on the verge of suicide in his thirties.

[Quentin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hopelessly outdated.

But the first few chapters should be inspiring to those interested in making contributions to science outside academia or research positions in the industry.

[Raymond Yee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, the life of an independent scholar! This is one of my favorite books ever, a book I first read as a teenager growing up in northern Ontario. People have justifiable quibbles about the book -- but it really turned me onto the life of the institutionally unaffiliated scholar.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts of it are a bit dated by now, but these parts aside, it's still a really good read.