In the latter half of the 20th century, American education became a focal point of intense scrutiny, as reflected by the emergence of pivotal works like Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind and E. D. Hirsch’s Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know. These books argue that the U.S. education system has strayed from a once-common core of learning, suggesting that there was a time when graduates across colleges shared a similar educational foundation. Though critics have questioned the extent of this shared experience, many educational institutions have responded by reintroducing a prescribed canon of classical works to rebuild a cohesive curriculum.

The Closing of the American Mind stands out not only for its critique but also for its bestseller status, a rare achievement for a book authored by a professor. This echoes the impact of Paul Goodman’s Growing Up Absurd: Problems of Youth in the Organized System from 1960, which also scrutinized American education. Despite Goodman and Bloom's opposing perspectives—Goodman embracing the relativism that Bloom critiques—their works converge in advocating for transformative changes within the educational landscape, underscoring education’s unique capacity to influence society.

Allan Bloom, a distinguished academic, brought his comprehensive scholarly background to bear on his critique. He was well-versed in the works of philosophical giants like Plato and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, having translated and edited their seminal texts, such as The Republic and Emile: Ou, De l’education. His expertise extended to analyzing the politics of William Shakespeare, and he was an influential member of the University of Chicago's Committee on Social Thought. These credentials reflect Bloom’s eclectic and somewhat unconventional scholarly interests, which he channeled into his book.

The urgency with which Bloom addresses the challenges in American education is matched by his provocative style aimed at a broad audience. This approach, coupled with his authoritative voice, likely contributed to the book's unexpected commercial success. Published by Simon and Schuster, The Closing of the American Mind captured the public's attention, possibly due to Bloom's unabashed presentation of his ideas and his ambitious title, which boldly examines the concept of "the American mind." Such confidence is rare among academics, as noted by contemporary author Saul Bellow, who highlighted Bloom’s willingness to engage with grand themes and resist the academic norm of cautious intellectualism.