In Robert Nielsen's essay "The Closing of the (North) American Mind", a popular book written by American philosopher Allan Bloom is discussed. The essay discusses the erosion of North American society due to the failing education system. The evidence presented by the author makes it hard to think otherwise. His discussion of the "Futile Propaganda", the fact that students are often ill-prepared for higher education during their public and high school lives. The author then discusses "Delusive Openness", student's inability to make the distinction between good and bad stems from the general tolerance of their behavior during their university years. The last point discussed in the essay is how society has become a bunch of "Ignorant Shepherds" shaping our society by using fragments of other once great civilizations. The idea of our society's shortcomings is well expressed in this essay, as well as all of the ideas being well proven with examples to current and past trends. .
The fact that students are ill-prepared for higher education is no secret. It is very easy for students to "fall through the cracks" and not have their literary inabilities noticed by the end of public school. When they get to high school, students often take courses that are more long-winded rather than academic. These courses often deal with topics that are hard, if not impossible for such young minds to comprehend. As well, the author discusses how values are no longer reinforced at home. Parents today are more concerned with economic success and focus less and less on their children's morality, values and beliefs. The author claims that people no longer read or instill older books because they believe that they no longer contain the truth. This point is criticized by the author, however, these books were written at a time when society had different beliefs and that is why books written at different times contain different "truths".