Why You Shouldn't Read the Introduction of a Book Many of us have grown far too comfortable with our prescribed role as “learner.” In a school setting, our concept of learning becomes dependent on what “teacher” says. Teacher becomes a crunch, a reference point. Teacher is the responsible one. Transitioning to a more self-determining model [...]

Overview In Podcast #34, Scott and Karl consider the role of art and of literature in furnishing a fuller, truer model of human personality. In doing so, the duo explores Iris Murdoch’s essay, “Against Dryness.” Murdoch writes, “We have been left with far too shallow and flimsy an idea of human personality… [The Anglo-Saxon] conception [...]

OGB Podcast #33 – The Loss of the Creature Overview How is that it that in prosperous times, people can be so miserable? Walker Percy’s essay "The Loss of the Creature" delves into how preconceived ideas about experiences cause us to overlook their essence. We are constantly overlooking the joy in things. In the essay, [...]

By Karl Schudt, Seminar Host Here at Online Great Books, we are very happy to have attracted some highly credentialed people. It is a good thing that they have achieved much in the realm of academia because it shows something about their character and perseverance. To you all, welcome! But, on the other hand, academic […]

OGB Podcast #39: Scott and Karl Discuss Emerson's "Self-Reliance" By Katie King Overview You've got to go out and read the essay that brings our Reader-In-Chief to tears every time. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Self-Reliance” is foundational in Scott's life and crucial to our mission at Online Great Books. For Emerson, authentic, unmediated thought has some [...]

Why Read the Great Books? By Karl Schudt, OGB Seminar Host When you begin reading the Great Books, family and friends may be puzzled. They will see you toting around huge books, taking notes, and gazing off thoughtfully into the void. It might even look like school. Why would you do this? Why would you [...]

How To Raise A Lover of The Great Books Given that we no longer live in colonial America, our children are no longer expected to be able to speak Latin and have knowledge of New Testament Greek by the 3rd grade.  No more reading the Latin historians Tacticus and Livy, or the Greek historians Herodotus [...]

Logic 3, The Second Law, The Law of Noncontradiction By Scott Hambrick, Reader-In-Chief Originally posted on scotthambrick.com.  In the first two articles I wrote about being, and the first Law of thought, The Law of Identity. Go check those out before you jump into this one. This second law, the Law of Noncontradiction, and the Third law [...]

Why Read Great Books? By Mortimer Adler, Ph.D. Why Read Great Books? by Mortimer Adler, Ph.D.   I would like to share with you a letter that I recently received and my answer to it: Dear Dr. Adler, Why should we read great books that deal with the problems and concerns of bygone eras? Our [...]

How To Start Your Own Home Book Group How many close friends can you confide in? For many adults, it may feel like there’s a steady decline of friendships as we get older. After leaving high school or college, we lose the shared experience so we lose touch. A report published in the Royal Society [...]