A couple years ago, I noticed that Feiler had written a book about a year doing a master's degree at Cambridge during the time period just after he had gotten back from Japan (and written Learning to Bow, the other book of his that I've read). At that point, I decided I'd track it down at some point, and once I found it for cheap enough, I picked it up. I'm generally pleased with it, although I think the previous book was better.

Feiler definitely has a good grasp of language and flow, and you do get a sense of what it was like for him to be there. The system of education he describes sounds awful to me; no direction, very limited interaction with other students academically, and no real checks on progress for months at a time makes me wonder what you get from being there that you couldn't get from studying on your own, besides the imprimatur of the university. That counts for a lot, I know, but academically, I'm not seeing it.

This book had a lot more romance in it, since many of the students were interested in that, but still some descriptions and critiques of the society, including some interesting comparisons between there and Japan. Those parts tended to be the best, I thought. The descriptions of the other students were interesting but fairly one-note, and they don't really get developed. Maybe that's the way to bring them out most easily in this sort of setting, when there isn't really a plot for them to develop in, but it is noticeable.

Anyway, it's a fun and fast read, if you feel like some reading about British higher education from an American point of view. Probably I'd start with one of his other books, though. ( )