I recently rediscovered the “Great Books” through a site on X and have started reading Plato. I have found this quiet time rewarding, and a much better use of my time than iPad scrolling. There are many resources that can make reading the classics an educational and fun experience.

The most notable list of the “Great Books” was originally compiled by the philosopher Mortimer Adler and Robert Hutchins at the University of Chicago. The Great Books of the Western World series was published by Encyclopedia Britannica in 1952. The series consisted of 517 works by 130 authors in 54 volumes. The series focused on the foundational texts of Western civilization, literature, philosophy, science, and history. 

Revised in 1990, the collection is organized chronologically from ancient Greece to the 20^th century. It is accompanied by the Syntopicon, an index of 102 “Great Ideas” to help cross-reference themes across texts.

Other institutions like St. John’s College, Columbia University, and the Great Books Foundation have curated lists that they have developed for their curriculums.

The concept of the “Great Books” as a curated collection of foundational Western texts has roots in early 20th-century educational reforms aimed at revitalizing liberal arts education. John Erskine, a professor at Columbia University, developed an adult education program for U.S. soldiers after World War I, introducing a “round table” seminar approach to discussing classic works. This program evolved into a formal course at Columbia in 1921, emphasizing direct engagement with primary texts to address perceived deficiencies in undergraduate education and foster intellectual growth among students.

At the University of Chicago under Robert Maynard Hutchins, the university’s president, and philosopher Mortimer J. Adler sought to reform higher education by focusing on timeless ideas rather than vocational training. Adler and Hutchins collaborated to promote the study of Great Books and Great Ideas. They extended the Columbia model, adapting it for broader audiences using the discussion-based learning model. In 1947, the Great Books Foundation was established to coordinate adult reading groups across the United States.

There are a number of undergraduate universities that have designed their undergraduate curriculum around the Great Books. A few schools of note are St. John’s College (Annapolis, MD; Santa Fe, NM), Thomas Aquinas College, University of Chicago, Columbia University, University of Dallas, and Pepperdine University.

Here are some podcasts that focus on the “Great Books”.

1. The Great Books, hosted by John J. Miller, Hillsdale College professor and National Review correspondent. (podcast, 371 episodes)
2. Ascend The Great Books Podcast
3. The Great Books of Literature Podcast

I am enjoying quieting my mind and spending time with Plato. Check out and explore a Great Book.

Ralph Broadwater, M.D., CFP®

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