Some readers of this blog already know that I used to be a philosophy professor, but that I'm now an independent scholar. From time to time I receive emails from readers asking me what it's like to be an independent scholar, inquiring about my current projects, and so forth. The easiest way to get an answer to these questions is to read my academic autobiography.
I began this autobiographical essay in 1999, and from time to time I revise and expand it. I updated it recently, adding material about the past several months. It's become fairly long by now — roughly 9500 words. If you're interested in the sad state of academia nowadays, or if you're considering going to graduate school, then you might want to take a look at what I've written. At the very least, though, it will explain to you why I became an independent scholar.
Update - February 17, 2006: If you go to this post, you'll find some autobiographical remarks relating to my time in academia. The post as a whole is dedicated to the issue of whether or not to go to graduate school.