Book Review: The Universal University by Chris Highland

A lightly edited version of this review was published in PDF form in the March–April 2025 issue of the Freethought Society’s newsletter.

As I write this review, we are less than a month into the “Trump–Musk co-presidency,” as some are calling it. Despite being warned of what would happen, many of us are shocked and dismayed by the damage already done and the utter stupidity of those behind it. Some of our allies are just starting to realize what’s ahead in the fight for our democracy, while some of us are already longing for a break. Just a little breather—a chance to recharge our batteries and reflect on what we’re doing and why—before returning to the fray.

Chris Highland’s new book may be just what we need.

Highland is a former minister and chaplain, now a freethinking humanist, and also a writer and educator. The Universal University: Notes From the Greatest Classroom is a collection of columns previously published in the Asheville Citizen-Times. As one might expect from the title, the loose theme is what one might learn from nature, including thinking critically about it and ourselves.

His topics are wide-ranging and include: musings on perceiving and perspective; holidays and holy days; freedom and faith; critical thinking; atheism, secularism, and humanism; science and reason; afterlife issues; and effective communication. With 50 essays in The Universal University, some subjects get repeat attention, yet Highland’s approach is fresh each time. As the very first essay (“Lessons From the Treetops”) makes clear, it’s a worthwhile investment to seek out new perspectives… sometimes literally.

The Universal University is clear and easy to read. While that means that one could breeze through it in an extended sitting, I don’t recommend that. With each column, Highland provides the reader a starting point and invites them to consider some ideas and feelings from it. Investing some time in thinking would be quite rewarding. Choosing one column a day to read, almost as a homily, would be a good pace, especially for those who like to journal their thoughts and reactions to such pieces.

The columns appear to be unorganized: if they’re organized chronologically, there’s no context to make that clear. One column uses British spellings, which was a bit jarring for this editor. Including the date and its original publication source under each column title would be very helpful to the reader at little cost to the author. Having someone with fresh eyes check the manuscript before publication would be helpful too. There are a few inconsistencies that most readers might overlook, but one column contains two incomplete sentences that close their respective paragraphs; it’s frustrating to be left guessing what Highland meant. [March 31 update: Highland told me that these errors were corrected in the book’s next printing.] That said, these are minor quibbles for what is overall a very good book.

I’ll admit to having some trepidation about reading The Universal University. My experiences with formerly religious people have been mixed at best, with both of us usually being responsible for the failure to break through our stereotypes and suspicions so that we could talk honestly. If he had been one of those people, the chip on my shoulder would have melted faster. Highland does throw a couple of jabs, but in fairness, they are well deserved, and he targets both communities. In one column, he mentions his desire to “thaw the frozen ground between believers and nonbelievers,” and the book’s sincere tone bolsters that claim.

As we enter another period that is trying our souls, I wish I could be more optimistic that Chris Highland’s efforts will continue to make progress toward that goal. With interfaith tolerance and cooperation declining (as he points out), progress requires mutual respect and good-faith effort from all parties involved. Without the former, the latter is impossible … a closed fist cannot open to grasp an offered helping hand. I hope we secular humanists have the sense and discernment to communicate with those in faith communities who are similarly equipped.

This Wiki list of independent booksellers is a great resource for selecting a company to buy Highland’s book from. I highly recommend The Book Loft in Columbus, Ohio.