Sheldon Greaves earned a Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley while living and working in Silicon Valley before the dot.com bust. Pursuing his doctorate on a shoestring and divergent interests led him to develop a different approach to intellectual work. Throughout his long and varied career, Sheldon has used the tools of “guerrilla scholarship” to do interesting intellectual work outside of academia.
Since his graduation his intellectual life has included founding a university for intelligence professionals, publishing articles on puns in ancient Mesopotamian omen texts, a podcast on the Old Testament, and working in cybersecurity for a major financial corporation.
Dr. Greaves is extremely articulate and expressing his views in a matter that is understandable by the general public. Given the current, on going turmoil in the American government and its negative effects on science, this kind of book is needed now more than ever.
This book is an extremely helpful and accessible guide to anyone. While not identifying myself as a “scholarly” person, I can’t put this book down. . . The Introduction and the first chapter are so engaging, truthful, and thoughtful, it’s like reading a thriller. Perhaps I’m so captivated because, as Sheldon reiterates, learning is fueled by curiosity. And, if nothing else, I do self-identify as a curious person. In “everyday language”, Sheldon affirms our ability to keep learning throughout our lives and the benefits – physical, mental, and spiritual, of doing so. I encourage you to “take a taste” of this readable, helpful, and encouraging book. Cammie B.
Most of the handbooks I’ve read have been deadly dull encyclopedic reference works. This one is so amiable and packed with interesting details, it’s hard to put down. Equal parts practical guide, philosophical reflection, and personal memoir, it’s an entertaining DIY guide to scholarship outside of traditional academia’s fold. Dr. Greaves presents several strategies for conducting serious research, wrestling with complex ideas, and publishing one’s work. Of interest to individuals who haven’t found a place in traditional academia and who still enjoy the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake, the book explains with considerable charm how intellectual work can thrive in unofficial and unconventional spaces.
In 1982 I wrote “The Independent Scholar’s Handbook” as a guide to pursuing scholarship outside academia, and to make the point that much of our best intellectual thinking is happening among independent scholars and thinkers. Sheldon Greaves’ “The Guerrilla Scholar’s Handbook” is a welcome continuation of that theme. It is a passionate and useful guide to a life of the mind for individual enjoyment and enhancing our communities. But it is also an urgent call to revive the love of learning at a time when the very idea of education as a public good is under threat.
The language of the book is very accessible. Each chapter stands more or less on its own, so they can be read in any order. The book is filled with useful tricks and tips for independent learning, from acquiring the disciplines needed to do good work to real-world practical advice. The reader will also find interesting and inspiring examples of other scholars who use creative and unconventional ways to conduct their research on a variety of subjects. Just as important is the book’s emphasis on forming communities where learners and teachers can develop new ideas and create positive change. This is a book for our time. Highly recommended!