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These flaws are compounded by reliance on very old public-domain translations which "erect more barriers between reader and text than the original" languages themselves. And, but for Adler's introductory essays (available from Amazon vendors in a popular edition) the Syntopicon is a boondoggle. Great Bookies would do better to buy individual works in recent paperback editions with full critical apparatus. Though exclusionary by race, class, and gender, even in the second edition, the contents are indisputably important. That said, the set's unintroduced, unannotated texts, reproduced in _very_ small type defeat the compilers' purpose.
It's a collection of the great ideas of western civilization, not simply books that encompass only one subject each. It is also a distance-learning program and uses the Socratic method for discussions, which are held by telephone with tutors (what teachers or professors are usually called when using this method of inquiry and discussion). This is the second edition of the compendium of Great Books. "Influence" was not a criterion for selection, otherwise Hitler, Stalin and Lenin would have been incorporated, among other notable authors who were omitted. If you're not in a college program that uses the Great Books in their curriculum, Adler provides a ten year reading plan for the books in "The Great Conversation." Again, not for the faint of heart, but I guarantee if you manage to get through all 60 books you will truly be educated.As an FYI, I'm currently in what seems to be the sole graduate program in the country that uses only the Great Books in their curriculum. These are original works, dating from Homer in 900-800 B.C. Much of it is difficult reading.
Astonishing, when you consider the writing and authors span about 2800 years of western thought.The readings include virtually all of the subjects considered the liberal arts: literature of all kinds; philosophy and theology; mathematics and the natural sciences; history, biography and the social sciences; and economics, sociology and anthropology. Adler and the editors have narrowed what they consider the great ideas of western civilization down to 102.
Be aware, this is not like a set of college textbooks. The general organization of The Great Books is by date written, but there are so many cross-references of the "great ideas" and "great authors" that you can find any subject, idea or author by using the Syntopicon as your guide.
The first volume titled "The Great Conversation" -- updated by the Editor in Chief of The Great Books, Mortimer Adler -- explains why the 60 volume collection is organized as it is and what the three criteria were, established over several years' compilation, for inclusion in the set. If you are looking for such a thing you will not only waste your money and time but you'll be very disappointed and your set will probably end up on eBay.
Check out my Amazon profile for some details. Unless you read "The Great Conversation" and the two volume Syntopicon you will undoubtedly be bewildered about the organizational structure of these books.
through mid-20th century's Samuel Beckett.
The volumes arrived safely and still wrapped in their original plastic, except for two books, which were in excellent shape.Thanks, Amazon. My husband had always wanted this set of books and, thanks to Amazon, I was able to purchase them for almost half the price of new ones.
I'm truly looking forward to re-familiarizing myself with them during this stage of my life.Henry W. I've recently replaced them and was quickly reminded of their importance. Kappel The Great Books played a significant role in my early education process and I have always placed considerable value in what they represent. Over the many years I managed to get separated from my original set.
They teach compassion, reason, understanding, social responsibility, and every other conceivable virtue. Tocqueville, Aristotle, Shakespeare, Tolstoy, et al. When I was 16, my father bought me a set of the Great Books. They changed my life.
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