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A review by tim_ohearn
The Company He Keeps: A History of White College Fraternities by Nicholas L. Syrett
3.0
Thoroughly researched; thoroughly dry. The introductory chapter lead me to believe that the 'history' would extend to the present. On one hand, many of the significant events of the 21st century have occurred between 2009 and 2015, but, on the other hand, it's unfair to aggregate post-WWII to 2009 into one chapter.
Far into the book, the author's fix on homosexuality and ridiculous hazing stories presented as fact erode his legitimacy as a Greek historian and paint him more as a Greek opponent who you would find in the comments section of an anti-fraternity news article. General negativity is compounded in the latter portion of the book and I believe the author missed a major opportunity to analyze Greek life's rapidly-changing role in college life, as well as in society in general.
Far into the book, the author's fix on homosexuality and ridiculous hazing stories presented as fact erode his legitimacy as a Greek historian and paint him more as a Greek opponent who you would find in the comments section of an anti-fraternity news article. General negativity is compounded in the latter portion of the book and I believe the author missed a major opportunity to analyze Greek life's rapidly-changing role in college life, as well as in society in general.