Chris Palmer’s College Teaching at its Best is a wonderful new book. Wisdom pours out of it like a river. Its brisk and lively chapters urge teachers to keep working to improve themselves in the classroom as they demonstrate concern for their students and demand steadiness and hard work in return. As Palmer says, you’re not teaching if the students aren’t learning. Teachers have to accept responsibility when classes aren’t performing up to their expectations; they have to model the vitality and conscientiousness they expect from their charges. He also dares to take on the question of reforming tenure, a system that in too many cases has become a shelter for classroom mediocrity. I can’t recommend this book too highly and I hope it will catch on widely among faculty members everywhere.

Patrick Allitt, Cahoon Family Professor of American History, Emory University

Chris Palmer's book is one of the most unexpected, intelligent and compassionate guides I have ever read, and that includes guides I have read to just about anything--cooking, golfing, gardening, you name it. One of our nation's greatest and least acknowledged problems is the lousy teaching that goes on in even our best universities. Palmer became a professor late in life, which may be why his book is so good. He had no long-term career ambitions to distract him. He just wanted to help students. He started asking students and other professors how to do that best. The result is a joy to read.

Jay Mathews, Washington Post columnist

In this accessible and personal book you will find insight and utility in equal measure. Chris Palmer writes from varied and well-mined experience about the relational basis to teaching and the importance of connecting to all students with passion and caring. Wise and practical, this is a helpful resource to professors at any stage of their teaching career.

Stephen D. Brookfield, Distinguished University Professor and John Ireland Endowed Chair, University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis-St. Paul