"[5] Michael Dirda of The Washington Post describes the book as "an impassioned critique of Western society, a relentless assault on contemporary complacency, shallowness, competitiveness and self-regard.
"[6] Dirda notes that "Edmundson devotes the first half of 'Self and Soul'[5] to several ancient exemplars of courage, compassion and contemplation, to those who, rejecting a safe and secure passage through life, consecrated themselves to some greater task.
[9] is an examination of "the slow transformation of universities and colleges from being driven by intellectual and cultural betterment to institutions modeled on business, with a complex, and not always successful, emphasis on attracting students and making a profit.
"[16] Michael S. Roth of The New York Times writes, "If I meet any students heading to the University of Virginia, I will tell them to seek out Mark Edmundson, an English professor and the author of a new collection of essays called 'Why Teach?'
"[17] Edmundson's memoirs, Teacher: The One Who Made the Difference (2002),[18] and The Fine Wisdom and Perfect Teachings of the Kings of Rock and Roll (2010),[2] chronicle his early education at Medford High School (Massachusetts) and Bennington College.
"[19] Kirkus Reviews calls The Fine Wisdom and Perfect Teachings of the Kings of Rock and Roll a "near-perfect memoir,"[20] an "erudite, coming-of-age riot,"[20] in which Edmundson describes working as a taxi driver, stage-crew, and a bouncer in New York City.