Writing
Books
Why Boredom Matters: Education and the Quest for a Meaningful Life (2022, Cambridge University Press)
Boredom is an enduring problem that we tend to respond to in one of two ways. First and foremost, we seek to avoid it, embracing what Walker Percy describes as a "boredom avoidance scheme," keeping ourselves constantly amused. If this strategy fails, we resign ourselves to it, accepting boring situations as an inevitable part of life. Both strategies avoid serious reflection on this universal and troubling state of mind. Steering clear of the extremes of avoidance or resignation, Kevin charts a middle way, guiding readers in how to discover internal resources that equip them to find worthwhile activities and practices to transform boredom into a more productive state of mind.
"I think Gary ultimately has it right: The cure for existential boredom must be a certain kind of liberal or “freeing” education, which simultaneously liberates us from the compulsive seeking of pleasure and achievement and shows us the beauty of contemplation."
- Elizabeth C. Corey, First Things
Moral Education in the 21st Century, written with Douglas W. Yacek and Mark E. Jonas (Cambridge University Press, 2023)
Moral education is an enduring concern for societies committed to the value of justice and the wellbeing of children. What kind of moral guidance do young people need to navigate the social world today? Which theories, perspectives, values, and ideals are best suited for the task? This volume offers educators insight into both the challenges and promises of moral education from a variety of ethical perspectives. It introduces and analyzes several important developments in ethics and moral psychology and discusses how some key moral problems can be addressed in contemporary classrooms.
A History of Western Philosophy of Education in The Middle Ages and Renaissance (500-1550), editor of Volume 2 in the series A History of Western Philosophy of Education (Bloomsbury Academic, 2021)
A History of Western Philosophy of Education is the first comprehensive overview of philosophy of education from ancient times to the present day. Each of the five volumes covers the major thinkers and schools of thought for each historical period and pays particular attention to the following themes: philosophical anthropology; ethics; social and political philosophy; epistemology; aesthetics; pedagogy, schooling and education; philosophy of psychology and the social sciences. The volumes also include timelines showing the major historical events of the period including educational initiatives and the publication of noteworthy philosophical works.
Articles
“To the Bored All Things Are Boring,” Comment Magazine, 2023.
“On Boredom,” Gerald R. Ford Leadership Forum, 2023.
“Cultivating Moral Epiphanies,” co-authored with Drew Chambers, Educational Theory, 2021.
“Pragmatic Standards versus Saturated Phenomenon: Cultivating a Love of Learning,” Journal of Philosophy of Education, 2019.
“Boredom, Contemplation, and Liberation,” Philosophy of Education, 2013.
“Leisure, Freedom, and Liberal Education,” Educational Theory, 2006.