The College Scam by Charlie Kirk

Why read the book?

Charlie Kirk’s The College Scam: How America's Universities Are Bankrupting and Brainwashing Away the Future of America's Youth challenges the value of traditional college education, arguing it burdens students with debt while promoting progressive ideologies.

As founder of Turning Point USA, Kirk uses data and anecdotes to highlight soaring tuition costs, useless degrees, and campus environments he sees as hostile to conservative values. He critiques universities like Harvard, with its $41.9 billion endowment, for prioritising profit over education and offers alternatives like trade schools or entrepreneurship. This book is a wake-up call for students and parents questioning the worth of a degree.

Favourite quote

College has become a racket, selling degrees that cost a fortune and deliver little.

What I Loved

The College Scam grabs attention with its bold critique of higher education’s financial and cultural flaws. Kirk’s use of statistics, like the trillion-dollar student debt crisis, pairs with stories of graduates struggling to find jobs, making the case compelling.

His ten-count indictment of academia’s failures, from speech suppression to indoctrination, is structured clearly, urging readers to rethink college as the default path. The book’s practical advice, like exploring vocational training or starting businesses, empowers readers to consider alternative routes to success.

Key Takeaway

Question the necessity of college and seek paths that align with financial freedom and personal values.