Excellence and Equity

Examining the National Endowment for the Humanities, this study delves into its origins, achievements, and the criticisms it faces. Stephen Miller highlights the disconnect between academic advocates and congressional supporters, leading to a muddled mandate. Critics argue the Endowment is either too elitist or too populist, questioning its value to taxpayers. The book evaluates NEH's impact across research, teaching, preservation, and public programs, concluding with recommendations for restructuring and improving its operations to better support humanistic scholarship.