Book review: reassessing the humanities and our universities: how much are they worth?

At a time when governments are being forced to make savings in public expenditure, why should they continue to invest public money funding research into ancient Greek tragedy, literary value, philosophical conundrums or the aesthetics of design? Does such research deliver ‘value for money’ and ‘public benefit’? Dave O’Brien finds Jonathan Bate’s recent thought-provoking collection to be essential reading for public, policy-maker, practitioner and academic alike. The Public Value of the Humanities. Jonathan Bate. Bloomsbury Academic. January 2011.