2min snip

Best of the Spectator cover image

Spectator Out Loud: Philip Womack, Ian Thomson, Silkie Carlo, Francis Young and Rory Sutherland

Best of the Spectator

ADVICE

Resist Student Reading List Complaints

Summary: Resist the urge to reduce reading lists for university students. Learning challenging material builds valuable life skills, and students may not yet understand the long-term benefits of a rigorous education.

Insights:

  • Giving in to student complaints about difficult reading only leads to more demands.
  • Students might not know what they want or need from their education, and educators should guide them towards valuable, potentially challenging material.
  • Graduates frequently express regret for not fully embracing available learning opportunities, not for being challenged.

Proper Nouns:

  • Harry Potter: Used as an example of potentially 'too much' reading, highlighting the absurdity of reducing complex texts to overly simplified versions.
  • TikTok: Referenced as potentially contributing to reduced concentration spans, linking broader cultural trends to educational challenges.
00:00

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode