History Prof's Book Does Not Score High Marks
February 16, 2009 at 9:05 am
Penn had a good weekend if we're measuring in terms of NYT namedrops. After weeks of drought, Penn finally showed up in the Times's wedding section, thanks to this undergrad-M.B.A. one-two punch. Elsewhere in the Sunday paper, Penn professor Mary Frances Berry scored a nicely sized review for her new book, And Justice For All. Frances teaches in the history department, occasionally moonlights as a cable news commentator, and her fancy new book focuses on the United States Commission on Civil Rights, which she served on from 1980 to 2004.
Unfortunately, the Times found the book only passable. According to reviewer Samuel G. Freedman, the book suffers from an "awkwardly divided personality." The horror!
We are somewhat miffed that the NYT had the nerve to give such a middling review to one of our most eminent professors -- now whenever she gives out a B-, students can counter, "I may not have used Chicago style properly, but at least the Times didn't say my paper was full of 'two-dimensional caricatures.'" Whatever, Samuel G. Freedman, Berry has 32 honorary degrees, how many do you have?