Barbara Benjamin

2 October 1993

 

Review: John W. Gardner,  Excellent: Can We Be Equal and Excellent Too?  Rev ed.  New York:  Nolton, 1984.

            The essay, Excellence, explains the necessity and difficulties of striving for excellence in a democratic society.  Gardner is "concerned with the social context in which excellence may survive or be smothered. . . .(and) . . . with the fate of excellence in our society. . . . This book is concerned with the difficult, puzzling, delicate, and important business of toning up a whole society, of bringing a whole people to that fine edge of morale and conviction and zest that makes for greatness." (11)  Gardner writes for the general educated reader.

            John Gardner obtained a BA and MA from Stanford University, a PhD in Education from University of California, and holds a law degree.  His work experience covers a vast range:  The military, educational institutions, private business, government appointments, and a citizen's lobby.  His numerous government appointments include the U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; head of the Urban Coalition; a member of President Kennedy's Task Force on Education; Chairman on the U.S. Advisory Task Force on Education; a member of the White House Conference on Education; and a member of the President's Task Force on Private Sector Initiative.  He currently holds a prestigious position at Stanford University.

            Gardner begins by explaining Western civilization's tradition of hereditary privilege whereby one's heritage determined one's status and, thus, one's opportunity for wealth, education, and greatness.  The common individual was sentenced to remain common, uneducated, with no hopes for wealth.  However, the Industrial Revolution forced a major change in that system.  An industrial society could succeed only by the creative efforts of those with exceptional abilities.  Hereditary privilege could not fulfill this need.  Thus began the necessity to reward individual achievement and the need for excellence.

            Gardner maintains that it is crucial for the survival of a democratic society to never lose sight of the need for excellence.  He presents ways to identify, encourage, and cultivate excellence.   By excellence Gardner means that regardless of one's ability or intellect, or place in society, each person has the responsibility to strive ". . .for the highest standards in every phase of life. . . . in all forms" (161).

            In addition to identifying and cultivating excellence, Gardner discusses the dangers and pitfalls to be aware of.  He presents the necessity and problems of testing children and "sorting" them out by intellect and abilities.  He discusses at length the conflicts between rewarding individual performance and desiring equalitarianism (his sub theme); between meritocracy and mediocrity; and between the focus on equality of opportunity or equality of results.  He presents how the zeal to excel can lead to ruthlessness and destroy "cooperative endeavor and can lead to something close to the law of the jungle:  let those who can, survive; let others go under" (35).  He briefly discusses the special problems of large institutions and bureaucracy and the difficulties modern corporate leaders have in seeking to release creativity in their workers.

            Gardner thoroughly covers the spectrum of excellence, as he defines it.  He places emphasis on the role of educational institutions.  The background material he presents on hereditary privilege is tedious and lengthy.  He tends, also, to be redundant in explaining the various ideas.  However, his writing style is fluid and uncomplicated so that fast reading is possible.  His sentences are clean and clear; they don't contain unnecessary or pretentious words, or ambiguities.  His ideas and concepts are easy to understand.  For example, when explaining the scope of his definition of excellence he says, "there is excellence in art, in music, in craftsmanship, in human relations, in technical work, in leadership, in parental responsibilities.  There are those who perform great deeds and those who make it possible for others to perform great deeds. . ." (116) and so on.

            His attitude is positive and confident.  The authoritative and no-nonsense manner in which he writes is effective in gaining the reader's confidence, although what he says is mostly subjective.  He frequently quotes other authors or dignitaries, thus making what he says seem more factual and believable. 

            Gardner presents his information in a logical flow, beginning with the background and history, then introduces the subject.  He then shows how past and present methods conflict, describing various problems within our society that have the potential to hinder the pursuit of excellence. 

            Concluding, Gardner reminds the reader of the aims of free people in a democratic society and stresses the responsibility of each individual to pursue excellence.  He says the danger "is that many individuals today no longer have a compelling feeling for the mutual dependence of the individual and the . . .family, community, and nation. . . .(and) a free people. . . must take pains to insure that their shared purposes do not disintegrate." (154, 156)

            Not much of Gardner's material is new or Earth shaking, but he takes many familiar ideas which most of us know, either instinctively or factually, and presents them in a light that no one else has.  He ties together bits and pieces of vague ideas in a way that makes sense.  Even the term excellence tends to be vague, but he has given it a solid meaning in a universal way.  He spends too much time, however, on the history and background, too much time enumerating the problems, and not enough time on the solutions.  I don't feel wholly satisfied that I can do much as an individual and that there are still far too many obstacles in my way to pursue excellence.  The fact that he wrote this book in 1984 and the first one in 1961, and that things haven't changed much since then, it doesn't give me much hope that they will.