Dr. Arthur Brooks '94 speaks to graduates at the University's 41st Commencement in 2013.
Dr. Arthur C. Brooks ’94, president of the American Enterprise Institute, relates his experience as a speaker at Thomas Edison State University’s 2013 Commencement in his new book, The Conservative Heart, which was released in July.
Brooks writes in the book that his participation in the 2013 ceremony taught his son, Carlos, who also attended the event, valuable lessons that are important for the country.
“These people -- my fellow Edison graduates -- taught Carlos a more succinct lesson than I could ever hope to. These people, whom I had never met, were the embodiment of the values my wife, Ester, and I have tried to impart,” he writes in The Conservative Heart. “They refused to take their environment as a given. There was no privilege or elitism. There was just hope, hard work, earned success -- and fierce dedication to building their own lives in their own way. We need to empower many more to share in that success. We need to help more Americans find affordable and meaningful ways to sharpen their talents and build better lives."
In his 2013 speech at Commencement, Brooks spoke about the importance of earned success and what impact Thomas Edison State University had in his life.
“Without this college, I would not have gotten a PhD. Without this college, I would not have taught at Syracuse. I would not be the president of an institution in Washington. Obviously, I would not be standing here talking to you today. This made the American dream real for me,” he told graduates and guests at the 2013 Commencement.
Brooks, who earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University in 1994, received an honorary degree at the 2013 Commencement. His columns have appeared in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Brooks has also written Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth about Compassionate Conservatism (2006); Gross National Happiness: Why Happiness Matters for America - And How We Can Get More of It (2008); The Battle: How the Fight Between Free Enterprise and Big Government Will Shape America's Future (2010); and the New York Times best-seller, The Road to Freedom: How to Win the Fight for Free Enterprise (2012).
To learn more, visit arthurbrooks.com.
Toni M. Terry, BA