Other professors, however, don't place much stock in humor.
Harvey C. Mansfield Jr.'53, Kenan Jr. professor of government, says "My style is somewhat formal...[though] now and then I'll formally tell a joke."
Mansfield cautions against humor for the sake of being adored by students.
"Above all, don't try to be popular. If it happens, let it happen. If you try to be popular, the students will see through you," he says.
Martin S. Feldstein'61, Baker professor of economics and teacher of Harvard's largest class, the 802 person Social Analysis 10, "Introduction to Economics," also doesn't put much stock in the CUE Guide, which gave him a 3 out of 5 for the class in its last book.
"I've heard from a lot of students who like [the class]," he said.
As to humor in his lectures, while Feldstein says he "occasionally quotes jokes," he adds a lot of humor is "just not my style," he says.
Read more in News
Wharton To Open San Francisco BranchRecommended Articles
-
Seltzer: Making An Impact in C.S.This afternoon, most Harvard students will log into the personal computers in their dorm rooms at least once to check
-
Faculty Swamped by Letters of RecommendationYour heart is set on law school. You've worked hard, earned the grades, spent summers filing briefs at your hometown
-
In Search of the Perfect ElectiveThere are hundreds of courses in the catalog and only six days to shop. We've whittled the field down to
-
The Lampoon's Loss is Harvard's GainHarvard Tri-Captain Lynley Ogilvie is one of the leading scorers on the Harvard women's water polo team this year. In
-
A 75-Year-Old JokeW HAT GOES on inside the funny little Castle that has stood in its spot now for three-fourths of a
-
Mather Jokers Vow To Embarrass Administrators If NecessaryHunter A. Maats ’04 and John Paul M. Fox ’04 recognize that other candidates running for the Undergraduate Council presidency