In a time when the value of real estate and other investments has declined in the face of global market pressures, it becomes essential to take stock of what is real, the place where we make our stand. As Marley’s ghost warns in Dickens’ tale, to be about the business of mankind is the ongoing challenge that each of us faces, especially as we seek our place in a globalized world. This course will sample the scope of that challenge as reflected in selected texts and other media and ask students to develop and to value their own reasoned arguments about it. This course is designed to develop students’ reading, writing, and critical thinking skills through understanding, discussing, and writing about a variety of non-fiction books and essays drawn from different academic disciplines and focused on the theme of business and society.
