America’s Culture of Professionalism

"A vigorous argument urging rethinking the relation of expertise or professionalism and democracy, including the human and political resources of local communities."

-Thomas Bender, University Professor of the Humanities and Professor of History, New York University

"Many of us are training students for lives as professionals without much thought as to what that means for them or society. David Brown unpacks the history, cultural assumptions, and misplaced thinking that currently shapes the professions. In doing so, he develops a new way of preparing students as future professionals who might lead more meaningful lives in ways that contribute to the creation of healthy communities and broader societal goals."

-Adam Weinberg, President, Dennison University

"David Brown understands that the professional power of academe is the result of commodifying knowledge so that it can become a scarce resource. This professional idea is a contradiction in a democratic society where the abundance of knowledge is necessary to inform citizen action. In this unusual book, Brown outlines practices that reconcile coded knowledge and community knowing. It is wonderful guide for academics who wish to explore their place in the terrain of democracy."

-John McKnight, Professor (Emeritus), Communication Studies, Northwestern University