Dr. Michael Edmondson continues his successful series of Business Expert books with a fresh look at the Humanities in The Relevance of the Humanities in the 21st Century. This book is an eye opener for the world of education and business to realize that the Humanities plays a major part in academia, business, and the ever changing world in which we live in.
As Michael states in The Relevance of the Humanities in the 21st Century it “provides a blueprint to help resolve the various disconnects that exist between higher education and the general public.” Reading this book will help provide guidance to both parents and students on their academic journey, which at times appears confusing and disconnected. It also provides a blueprint for the business community to rethink their current impression that only a business degree is necessary for success.
My journey from Wall Street to the world of academia started after I had already achieved both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Business. Tools to success were far between and most of the learning was based upon trial and error, thus having the tools available through Michael’s book would have made my journey smoother and faster to the eventual senior position that I achieved. Then when I felt it was a time for “Plan B” during the volatile debt crisis era—I obtained my doctoral degree in business and transitioned over to higher education as a business professor. Again, having the tools to success would have also made it an easier transition. Then while I was the Chair of the Management Department I met a bright young man who had a vision—his name was Dr. Michael Edmondson.
Michael, to state a cliché, thinks “out of the box” and looks at everything from an alternative perspective. His advice on achieving success and the tools needed are clearly presented in this book, The Relevance of the Humanities in the 21st Century. He presents a new view and the relevance in today’s society on an old topic—Humanities. As Michael states, “Senior executives who graduated with a humanities degree will routinely proclaim that their major taught them how to think critically, communicate clearly, analyze and solve complex problems, appreciate others, understand the physical world, and prepared them to learn continuously in order to work with others and on their own to meet the challenges of the future.” Therefore, this small bit of advice pays large returns in the business community.
Michael has a very strong background in both business and academia—having been on the consulting side of business, the faculty side of academia, and now a Dean at a higher academic institution in New Jersey. His insights and first-hand knowledge of these topics are extremely helpful and relevant. His clear and concise views of the humanities is best summed up in a single sentence, as Michael stated: “This book provided an outline of strategies higher education institutions can use to help maintain the relevance of the humanities to the 21st century workplace.” I trust you will enjoy this book as much as I have.
John Donnellan, DPS, MBA
Associate Professor and Chair, Management Department
NJCU School of Business