I did not really enjoy this book and had to force myself to finish it. The book is a somewhat pedestrian survey of the historic and current trends in Christian higher education with suggestions for how to bring coherence and theology back to the center of these institutions. For the book’s thesis, too many irrelevant lines of thought are pursued, clouding the possible positive elements of the book. Many statements are made without evidence to support them: eg “Students don’t like rules.”

The suggestions for improvement are not evidence-based, nor are they strongly practical—they seem little more than the authors’ opinion of what might be a good direction. The readings of Scripture follow an approach that basically encourages the reader to “be like Daniel” or “be like Nehemiah” without taking into account what these texts likely communicated in their ancient contexts.

I think this book could have been 1/2 the size. I would have probably enjoyed it then.

The accolades on the back jacket are not misplaced. “Restoring the Soul of the University” is thought-provoking and convicting. As a student development professional, I have not always thought about all of my student’s identities and my responsibility to help them live excellently and bring glory to God in those identities.

I highly recommend this read to anyone who had a heart for the University and desires it’s redemption for the Kingdom.