Young academicians are serious scholars and voracious readers who are perennially in search of practical and inspiring advice about their vocation. Their tenure-driven neuroses, combined with an inherent competitive streak and an understanding of the importance of public service, engender their quest for advice about life in the academy. In Letters to a Young Academic: Seeking Teachable Moments, Guy R. McPherson feeds a sophisticated audience hungry for practical, inspirational, and witty advice. He begins by answering the question, 'Why choose academia?,' then addresses the fundamental nature of the 'life of mind' before addressing questions that deal with the 'how' and 'what' of teaching. Finally, McPherson turns to issues of career advancement and professional service. Each topics is described in a series of personal letters. This book is a quick read that will evoke laughter, reflection, and contemplation for all young scholars.

"Letters to a Young Academic is nonetheless an excellent book because it is honest and personal....It is compelling, contemporary, and caring, and readers can surely relate to the joys and sorrows it describes....Read it with appreciation, with caution, with humor, and with the grain of salt that the author would expect from any credible student or colleague." - Journal of Higher Education

"McPherson gives young academicians practical advice about why they are choosing what is in essence an alternative lifestyle, what they will learn, what they will face as the concepts behind higher education change, and how to be as honest with oneself as possible." - Reference and Research Book News