This book presents four major articles and 10 brief book reviews concerning the liberal arts in higher education. An introduction by the editors, "Liberal Education: Initiating the Conversation," precedes the articles. The articles are: (1) "The Classical Liberal Arts Tradition" (Christopher Flannery and Rae Wineland Newstad); (2) "Modern and Postmodern Challenges to Liberal Education" (Dennis A. Sheridan); (3) "Integrating Liberal Arts and Professional Education" (Phillip V. Lewis and Rosemary Liegler); and (4) "Re-imagining a Distinctly Christian Liberal Arts Education" (Richard Slimbach). Also included are reviews of the following books: "The Idea of a University" (John Henry Newman); "The Higher Learning in America" (Robert M. Hutchin); "General Education in a Free Society" (Harvard Committee) and "The Idea and Practice of General Education" (College of the University of Chicago); "The Seven Liberal Arts in the Middle Ages" (David Wagner); "A Quest for Common Learning: The Aims of General Education" (Ernest L. Boyer and Arthur Levine); "The Closing of the American Mind" (Allan Bloom); "The Meaning of General Education" (Gary El Miller); "New Life for the College Curriculum" (Jerry G. Gaff); "Prescribing the Life of the Mind" (Charles Anderson); "Orators and Philosophers" (Bruce Kimball); and "The Condition of American Liberal Education" (Robert Orrill). (Contains approximately 200 references.) (DB)