<p>I received the book today and I just finished reading the first one! I love Chicago for sending this kind of stuff and look forward to reading all of the other speeches. Has anyone else gotten it/thoughts on the essays?</p>
<p>I got it today - I am impressed with Chicago for the multitude of gifts they keep sending us.</p>
<p>I probably won’t have time to read it in the near future, though.</p>
<p>I didn’t take the time to read through the whole thing, but I skimmed a lot of it. It’s making me more and more excited to start this fall… like everything else I read about the school.</p>
<p>For those who didn’t get the book in the mail, this aims speech is a must-read. It’s long, but it’s excellent and it even talks about sex. Scouts honor.</p>
<p>[The</a> Aims of Education Address (for the class of 2006)](<a href=“http://www.ditext.com/abbott/abbott_aims.html]The”>The Aims of Education Address (for the class of 2006))</p>
<p>Here is the abridged version. Great for the relatives: [The</a> University of Chicago Magazine: October 2003](<a href=“http://magazine.uchicago.edu/0310/features/zen.shtml]The”>The University of Chicago Magazine: October 2003)</p>
<p>It’s a great, though long, speech. I love the idea that education is the aim, not the means to a an end. It’s interesting that he sees education as a way to expand and enrich experiences. This is not what I necessarily considered education, but he makes some good points.</p>
<p>So far I’ve only read the one by Abbott (only halfway through too, I guess), but I really like it so far. It really captures the “pure academic” mentality of Chicago, although I have to say that I don’t agree with him entirely about not being able to apply ANY skills a student picks up in college in his or her profession. I’m pretty sure, for instance, that analytic skills and even high level mathematics is used in many quantitative professions.</p>
<p>Just finished the Abbott essay. It is AMAZING. I hope the others are just as good as this one.</p>
<p>I received mine today. Sooooo cool!</p>
<p>The Abbott essay blew my mind.</p>
<p>I’m glad y’all enjoyed the Abbott piece. I can’t begin to explain how much the piece has influenced me-- if I had my druthers, I’d make Abbott required high school reading, right next to The Catcher in the Rye and all that jazz.</p>
<p>I send it to friends whose kids are beginning the college search. I suggest they and their offspring read it. Sometimes parents need to read it more than does their child.</p>
<p>I received a copy on the 16th. I have set it aside for now but I will return to it. I truly appreciate Chicago’s generosity!</p>