[1] "Professor X teaches at a private college and at a community college in the northeastern United States"[2] and argues that "The idea that a university education is for everyone is a destructive myth.

"[1] The Christian Science Monitor praised Professor X, saying "the man can write", but criticized the book as "padded" from "a powerful essay".

[3] The New York Times praised the book as "a clear-eyed report from what the author calls 'the college of last resort'” but also criticizes its length.

[4] The New Yorker wrote of the author that "he’s smart and he’s generally good company", but criticized his personal details as "too vague to be engaging.

"[5] In 2011 the Atlantic posted a follow-up essay from Professor X, in which he responded to feedback on his ideas but not criticism of his book.