Lee Benson Books

Exploring the concept of personal significance, this book challenges readers to identify and understand their most important number, which can represent various aspects of life such as goals, values, or achievements. Through engaging anecdotes and thought-provoking insights, it encourages self-reflection and offers practical strategies for leveraging this number to enhance personal growth and decision-making. The narrative invites readers to discover how a single figure can encapsulate their identity and aspirations.

Focusing on New York during the Jacksonian period, the book challenges the conventional understanding of Jacksonian Democracy by analyzing the state's voting cycles, party composition, and social, ethnic, and religious dynamics. Lee Benson argues that the established concept of Jacksonian Democracy does not accurately reflect the historical realities of New York, offering a nuanced perspective that diverges from the broader narrative of American history.

The book offers a fresh interpretation of John Dewey's educational philosophy, emphasizing its relevance to contemporary issues in participatory democracy and higher education. It serves as both a tribute and a critical assessment, proposing practical strategies for community engagement in educational settings. The authors advocate for a democratic manifesto that intertwines theory and practice, aiming to inspire collaborative problem-solving in academia. Through a focus on community school partnerships, the work highlights the importance of civic engagement in education and its historical context.

The book offers a fresh perspective on John Dewey's educational philosophy, emphasizing its relevance to contemporary democratic practices in education. It serves as both a tribute and a critical analysis, presenting practical strategies for fostering community engagement and participatory democracy through education. The authors advocate for a renewed progressive agenda, drawing on their experiences with community school partnerships. By intertwining theory and practice, they aim to inspire educators and administrators to rethink their roles in promoting civic engagement and knowledge generation.

Lee Benson, a distinguished historian and Professor Emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, made significant contributions to the field of education reform. His co-authorship of "Dewey’s Dream: Universities and Democracies in an Age of Education Reform" highlights his commitment to exploring the intersection of higher education and democratic values. His work reflects a deep engagement with historical perspectives on educational practices and their implications for society.

The book explores the interconnected roles of merchants, farmers, and railroads in shaping economic development and community dynamics. It delves into how these entities influenced trade, agriculture, and transportation, highlighting their impact on regional growth and societal changes. Through historical context, it examines the relationships and tensions among these groups, offering insights into the evolution of commerce and industry.

Employing history, social theory, and a detailed contemporary case study, Knowledge for Social Change argues for fundamentally reshaping research universities to function as democratic, civic, and community-engaged institutions dedicated to advancing learning and knowledge for social change. The authors focus on significant contributions to learning made by Francis Bacon, Benjamin Franklin, Seth Low, Jane Addams, William Rainey Harper, and John Dewey—as well as their own work at Penn’s Netter Center for Community Partnerships—to help create and sustain democratically-engaged colleges and universities for the public good. Knowledge for Social Change highlights university-assisted community schools to effect a thoroughgoing change of research universities that will contribute to more democratic schools, communities, and societies. The authors also call on democratic-minded academics to create and sustain a global movement dedicated to advancing learning for the “relief of man’s estate”—an iconic phrase by Francis Bacon that emphasized the continued betterment of the human condition—and to realize Dewey’s vision of an organic “Great Community” composed of participatory, democratic, collaborative, and interdependent societies.