Buchanan's Journal of Man, November 1887 Volume 1, Number 10

In this late‑Victorian collection, a fervent observer turns a critical eye toward the colleges and universities that dominate public life. He argues that many institutions cling to outdated doctrines, stifling genuine inquiry and leaving students adrift in a whirlpool of misinformation. The essays open with a call to recognize the slow but steady triumph of truth over entrenched authority.

He surveys a wide range of subjects—from the decline of classical languages and the fight for women’s higher education to debates over homeopathy, astronomy, and the emerging field of psychometry. The writer condemns the financial and political forces that keep curricula rigid, while praising experimental schools such as the Eclectic Medical Institute that dare to break the mold. Readers encounter vivid critiques of Sunday‑school textbooks, monopolistic practices, and the stubborn refusal to acknowledge new scientific methods.

The tone remains plain yet passionate, inviting listeners to weigh the cost of intellectual complacency against the promise of progress. Though rooted in the concerns of 1887, the reflections resonate with today’s own debates about curriculum relevance and scientific freedom. It is a compelling auditory journey for anyone interested in the history of ideas and the ongoing struggle to keep education alive and evolving.