#351: The Surprising Power of a "Useless" Liberal Arts Education

The Art of Manliness

Society & Culture, Education, Philosophy

4.7 • 14.5K Ratings

🗓️ 26 October 2017

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We’ve all heard the jokes about useless liberal arts degrees, but my guest today argues that in today’s high tech economy, liberal arts degrees can be incredibly useful and even lucrative. His name is George Anders and he’s the author of the book "You Can Do Anything: The Surprising Power of a 'Useless' Liberal Arts Education." We begin our conversation looking at research that suggests that the jobs that pay the most money and are in the most demand today require a liberal arts background, and not necessarily a STEM degree. He then goes on to highlight research that shows how most of the jobs being created today aren’t in computer programming or engineering, but rather in jobs that support those fields like sales, management, and consulting. George then argues that individuals with a liberal arts background are in a killer position to fill those jobs. We then discuss the perils of liberal arts degrees and what individuals who've earned them can do to market themselves and take control of their careers.

Transcript

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0:00.0	[♪ INTRO MUSIC PLAYING [♪
0:13.9	[♪ INTRO MUSIC PLAYING [♪
0:14.7	Brett McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness Podcast.
0:18.1	We've all heard the jokes about useless liberal arts degrees.
0:20.9	You know, it's good for being a barista, whatever.
0:22.8	But my guest today argues that in today's high tech economy,
0:25.4	liberal arts degrees can be incredibly useful and even lucrative.
0:28.3	His name is George Anders, and he's the author of the book,
0:30.4	you can do anything, the surprising power of a useless,
0:33.5	quote-unquote, liberal arts education.
0:35.5	We begin our conversation looking at research that suggests that the jobs that pay
0:38.8	the most money and are in the most demand today require a liberal arts background
0:42.7	and not necessarily a STEM degree.
0:44.8	He then goes on to highlight research that shows that most of the jobs being created
0:48.0	today aren't in computer programming or hard science,
0:50.1	rather in jobs that support those fields like sales,
0:53.0	management, marketing, and consulting.
0:54.8	George then argues that the individuals' liberal arts background are in a killer position
0:58.4	to fill these jobs.
0:59.8	We then discuss the perils of a liberal arts degree
1:01.7	and what individuals who have earned them can do to market themselves and take control of their careers.
1:06.2	As the show's over, check out the show notes at aum.is slash liberal arts.
	...

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