The University Delusion
Dear Magicians,
It’s back to school season and so I want to discuss something that should be obvious but apparently isn’t: we have constructed the most elaborate and expensive cargo cult in human history, and we call it “higher education.”
Consider the psychopathology here.
Parents like those caught in the “Varsity Blues” scandal literally committed felonies—bribing coaches, fabricating test scores, photoshopping their children’s faces onto athletes’ bodies—for the privilege of purchasing a $300,000 piece of paper.
This isn’t education; it’s performance art about education, directed by people who’ve never questioned whether the performance has any relationship to reality.
These aren’t “golden calves”—golden calves at least had the decency to be made of actual gold. Universities are cardboard calves spray-painted yellow, worshipped by people who’ve forgotten what gold looks like.
That’s why I found Jeffrey Selingo’s recent Wall Street Journal piece so important. Selingo—whose new book, Dream School—cites research that shows elite graduates earn about the same as state-school grads on average, but are 60% more likely to reach the top 1%.
In his hands, higher ed looks less like a guaranteed passport and more like a lottery ticket: elite colleges may give you an extra ticket, but you’re still playing the same game.
I find that framing both fair and sobering. It aligns with my own claim that academia is too often structured as a finite game—a “hunger games” stretching from high school to emeritus professor—rather than as an infinite game of discovery and wisdom.
The tragedy Selingo highlights isn’t that elite colleges provide only marginal advantages—it’s that our most gifted young people spend their most energetic years in institutional holding patterns rather than directly tackling the world’s important problems.
This shouldn’t be controversial. It’s common sense. Yet too many of my fellow professors have knowledge but little wisdom. Ask yourself: which would you prefer in surplus?
As both a parent of a high-schooler and a professor, I’m grateful for Selingo’s work. He’s asking the right questions. And I, for one, am eager to see the answers in his new book.Until next time, have a M.A.G.I.C. Week,
Brian
Appearance
In my most recent conversation with Jordan Peterson, we explored the deep connections between science, ethics, and religion. I shared my belief that science cannot exist without an ethical framework and that the pursuit of truth and beauty must ultimately serve humanity.
Dr. Peterson offered fascinating critiques of postmodernism, agreeing that we see the world through stories but rejecting power as the primary lens. We also discussed the Drake Equation, materialist atheism as its own belief system, and the foundational role of voluntary self-sacrifice in building community. It was a meaningful exploration of how narrative shapes our understanding of existence. Enjoy!
Genius
Who knew the best way to escape Jackson Hole’s light pollution was hiding in plain sight? This observatory setup transforms summer downtime into astronomical uptime—riders ascend through darkness to find themselves closer to infinity. Pure mountain engineering meets cosmic curiosity. Sometimes the most brilliant innovations are just existing infrastructure viewed from a different angle (literally, in this case, 45 degrees upward).
Image
Speaking of astronomical observations, enjoy some of my latest cosmic creations here!
Conversation
I sit down with the always-controversial yet widely followed Ben Shapiro—author, commentator, podcaster, and, as he jokingly admits, a “magnificently handsome gentleman.” Ben opens up about his multifaceted identity, discussing everything from his responsibilities as a husband and father to his lifelong enthusiasm for learning and debate.
The conversation also takes a deep dive into Ben’s latest book, “How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps,” and examines the forces—cultural, political, and intellectual—shaping modern America. From the influence of Howard Zinn and the 1619 Project to the role of Hollywood, science fiction, and education, nothing is off-limits.
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By popular demand, and for my mental health 😲, I am starting a paid “Office Hours” where you all can connect with me for the low price of $19.99 per hour. I get a lot of requests for coffee, to meet with folks one on one, to read people’s Theories of Everything etc. Due to extreme work overload, I’m only able to engage directly with supporters who show an ongoing commitment to dialogue—which is why I host a monthly Zoom session exclusively for patrons in the $19.99/month tier.
It’s also available for paid Members of my Youtube channel at the Cosmic Office Hours level (also $19.99/month). Join here and see you in my office hours!We had our August Office Hour last week — it was great!
Catch the replay here.