How to Build a Life in the Humanities: Meditations on the Academic Work-Life Balance

by Anthony Grafton

Foreword; Anthony Grafton Introduction; Greg Colón Semenza and Garrett A. Sullivan, Jr. PART PROFESSIONAL LIFE 1. Life in a Liberal Arts College; William Pannapacker 2. Life in a Community College; Rob Jenkins 3. Life in a Research University; Barry V. Qualls 4. Teaching; Garrett A. Sullivan, Jr. 5. Grading; Karen J. Renner 6. Departmental and University Citizenship; Claire Bond Potter 7. Research and the Public; Brendan Kane PART PERSONAL LIFE 8. Imposter Phenomenon; Natalie M. Houston 9. Academic Guilt; Giuseppina Iacono Lobo 10. Depression; Greg Colón Semenza 11. Downtime; Christina M. Fitzgerald 12. Maternity; Kristen Ghodsee 13. Life with Children; Michael Bérubé 14. Life without Children; Sean Grass and Iris Rivero 15. Aging; Eric Lorentzen PART DIVERSE LIVES 16. Class; Simon Yarrow 17. Religion; Kristin Poole 18. Race/Ethnicity; Cathy Schlund-Vials 19. Gender; Claudia Calhoun 20. Disability; Brenda Brueggemann and Stephanie Kerschbaum 21. Sexual Orientation; Margaret Breen PART LIFE OFF THE TENURE TRACK 22. Life as an Adjunct; Joe Fruscione 23. Life as a Graduate Student; Alex Galarza 24. Life after Retirement; Valerie Wayne and Linda Woodbridge 25. Life after Academe; Anne Trubek

Genres: Nonfiction, Academia, Grad School

264 pages, Paperback

First published April 16, 2015

About the author

Anthony Thomas Grafton is an American historian of early modern Europe and the Henry Putnam University Professor of History at Princeton University, where he is also the Director the Program in European Cultural Studies. He is also a corresponding fellow of the British Academy and a recipient of the Balzan Prize. From January 2011 to January 2012, he served as the President of the American Historical Association. From 2006 to 2020, Grafton was co-executive editor of the Journal of the History of Ideas.

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved many of the essays (on Teaching, Grading, Dept. Citizenship), and many on personal issues, but others bugged me. The sole contributor on "Life in a Community College" described a life that only a semi disengaged senior professor might lead at a cc with little resemblance to the two I've taught in for over 20 years. But, clearly, the editors chose folks with some name recognition who write for IHE or the Chronicle, or other places to represent "life in the humanities". 3.5 stars.

[ػᶈᶏϾӗ]

Pretty good follow-up to Semenza's previous book. Lots of informative stuff on diverse lives in the Humanities. It manages to not all be depressing, either. We identified many sections we would like to see added: Politics, Sex, Substance Abuse, Conferences, Friendships. Something on unionizing for graduate students would be nice too. I would love to see this expanded into another edition.

[Liz De Coster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend browsing; some essays just weren't relevant to me, and I assume other people. Still a good resource overall for perspectives on lives in the humanities in and around the academy.