David Halberstam called it "A beautiful book of a heroic American struggle." The book has been a regular selection in college courses on American culture, education, sociology and creative writing, and has been a required reading for incoming freshmen at many universities.
Renowned author David Halberstam praised the book as "A magnificent account of an extraordinary American endeavor." The book has been a staple in college curricula covering American culture, education, sociology and creative writing, and is often assigned to first-year students at numerous institutions.