College? what's it all about?

My new favorite book is Jeffrey J. Selingo's College (Un) Bound (New Harvest), subtitled "The Future of Higher Education and What It Means for Students." The publisher should have added "for Parents and Taxpayers."

In case you haven't been paying attention, college is in a state of chaos, to say the least. Money and a complete lack of focus are at the heart of the matter. What's college for and why does it cost so much?

Selingo, editor at large for The Chronicle of Higher Education, addresses these questions as honestly as anyone, and the book is highly readable.