“Patrick will definitely be enrolling in the class again for next year. He absolutely loves it, and I can see in my conversations with him that it is enormously beneficial to him. This class has been – by far – the highlight of his first two years in high school. (And I think he enjoys the discussions with the other students after class almost as much as the actual class time. They’re an interesting and varied bunch of young people, aren’t they?).”

Below you will find the four year reading list for our Great Books Program for the current academic year, beginning with the Greek year of the program.  In addition to the readings and two-hour discussions each week, the students write essay papers which are evaluated, marked, and returned to them.  For students on our high school track the papers are generally about 800 words in length and there are two assigned each semester.  Reading and discussing great works is tremendously helpful to students in the development of their ability to speak well.

Steve Bertucci

Letter from One of Our Great Books Students
Dear Steve Bertucci,

You were the best teacher I have ever had and the only one who has been very important in my intellectual growth. You filled my head with questions, while others tried to fill my head with answers and those questions have allowed me to find the real answers.

Ever since I took your class, I approach every learning experience, even mathematics, asking the question “why?” as many times as necessary until I get the root of the reason for something. That method of learning is what I learned from your class and I am thankful for it.

I have done well for myself in the years since taking your Great Books course. I am graduating near the top of my class as the National Merit Scholar and will be attending the University of Alabama in the fall on a scholarship that more than covers all my expenses. My highest career aspiration in life is to one day publish something that is taught long after I am dead in a Great Books course. Right now I am shooting a bit high as I just submitted some poetry to the New Yorker on the off chance that they like it.

I have to say, a couple hours a week for one year, your class has been an important factor in me becoming who I am.

Thank you, Stephen A.