I was homeschooled/unschooled and my entire curriculum was just this set and then discussing via the Socratic method with my father. So thankful to have had that experience (he passed last year).
I am very curious about this. What age did you start going through them with him and do you feel it was beneficial and worth it? I eventually would like to do the same with my kids. Truly sorry to hear your father passed. Losing my old man was one of the toughest days. Thanks so much for watching and have a blessed New Years!
@warriordx5520 I'm not sure if you're sarcastic or not, but in case you aren't, this means his/her father died. Saying "he passed" is a shortened form of saying "he passed away" which of course also means dying.
As a soon to be retired philosophy professor who has come to despair of the traditional classroom's ability to teach real wisdom I find this video and Rob's approach refreshing, not only for his desire to learn despite his weak education but also for his passion. Kudos, Rob.
I truly appreciate the kind words professor! I never dreamed when I started this channel that "professors" would be tuning in. TH-cam is really an amazing world. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your classes and have a joyful retirement when that time comes. Stay blessed my friend!
I too often lament the wasted years of my youth. After college I decided I was going to educate myself. I started the journey for my children because I wanted more for them. After 20 years of homeschooling, reading the classics together, learning Latin, studying Greek, I can say with great confidence that “climbing parnassus” is worth every bit of effort you put into it, and the richness it will bring into your life is immeasurable.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I am in the beginning stages of educating my young ones and comments like this are so refreshing. I looked up the book Climbing Parnassus and I am going to have to buy a copy and check it out. Truly appreciate you watching and have a blessed new year!
@@The_Cause Please do a video on Climbing Parnassus after you read it! I can not recommend it enough! And God bless you in your journey educating your own little ones. Happy New Year!
I'm currently a freshman in college and am doing something similar. Even though I took AP classes throughout high school, it felt like I learned nothing, or at least, I felt like I learned nothing that really caught my interest. In general, you leave high school knowing virtually nothing about the world, how to view it, what to make of it, how it works, etc. It's a bit cliché, but "out of the pan and into the fire" is essentially what school to life feels like. However, I suppose the leap is to be expected in a world that is this complex and, at times, convoluted. I've been reading through a decent amount of history, novels in Spanish, and plan to start reading philosophy and religious-related subjects because neither of those topics were even touched upon, save certain situations like John Locke. Public schooling in the US fucking *blows*. No one wants to be there and all of the material seems (at the time) completely arbitrary and useless. It nearly killed any interest I had in reading and learning in general, and I am most likely one of the lucky ones to have recuperated it. Coupled with my attention span being reduced to a fine powder, I really have an uphill battle to fight in the coming months or even years in an attempt to counterbalance the years of soul-sucking that public school had induced upon me. It's nice to see your comment and to know that I can have an education much further beyond the limited scope that we are offered in public education. I have been also considering learning Latin as well, partly because it seems cool and partly because much of what was written in Latin is so influential in contemporary thought and literature.
@bonniebrown1566 Hey! Just letting you know! I bought and can’t wait to start it. Just received it yesterday. Got a few in the queue ahead of it but will definitely do a video on it soon.
When libraries were founded, people were hoping that everyone, regardless of class, could get this kind of education. When the internet was first founded there was a similar notion of "civic technology", of using the internet to help everyone get access to this type of education. Feel free to skim! Sometimes you need to skim things and come back to them later. Repetition is key to rewiring your brain. You have a great attitude about "I'm going to go give myself the opportunities I didn't have"! That attitude is something that cannot be taught. Great job.
Truly appreciate the kind words and agree. I think this entire series is available for $1.99 on Kindle. What use to be so expensive to obtain can be downloaded in a few seconds. But I agree, what have we done with all this amazing tech? Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed!
OMG. My intellectual life has followed a path similar to yours. In my early twenties, I realized that my earlier "education" was criminally deficient. I have been trying to make up for it ever since. 62 years old now and still studying.
As an English teacher, I 1000% agree with this. Anecdotally, my students are more engaged when doing the likes of Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Dante, than when we do something more modern that lacks the depth. Love the channel!
That is so cool to hear. I wish we would have been introduced to Marcus Aurelius or Dante. I think I would have been more apt to listen as well. Very cool that you are even touching on any of these. I feel there is hope! lol I truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed my friend!
Reading tip: keep a mechanical pencil at hand and when you find a passage you like put a small mark in the margin and every 50 pages you read go back and catalogue the dots in the margin in a notebook or better yet a searchable computer file. I find it’s the best way to hang on to parts you would otherwise forget while also not having to constantly stop and start during the reading process.
In college, At first, this was a no-no because of money, but as soon as I could afford to keep them, I started writing in the margins. I still use those old books and love my notes. I still write in the margin, but I use software now, LOL. I was not allowed to use a calculator but we could use a slide rule, LOL what a different world we live in today.
That is a great idea. I do mark them up pretty heavy and fortunate because I am putting these books in video form all my notes get recorded on my computer. I am eventually going to switch them over to blog post and attach the video as supplement. But.. all in good time. Truly appreciate the advice and thanks I much for watching. Stay blessed my friend!
@@asneeded4pain you'll have a spreadsheet for a specific book. if there's a dot on page 5 in the spreadsheet you put "5" and then next to it write "funny anecdote about a squirrel eating cheese". the anecdote in the book might be super long but instead of typing it out you just have your note and years later you can look through your catalogue and go back to the book for the full passage. life is way too short to constantly be stopping to take notes. the dot system allows you to mark passages you like without having to stop the flow of the reading. and the upside of a spreadsheet vs a notebook is that a spreadsheet is searchable.
I really admire your effort and words. My grandmother, who taught English waaay back in the day (like the 1940s) swore by those books. When she died, I inherited her set and for thirty years I’ve lugged those books around with me, but never read any of them. I was an aerospace engineer for forty years and never thought there was much worth in reading works of fiction. But then, I retired and began reading them. My biggest regret is, I didn’t read them back when I was your age, because I missed out on all that wisdom that my Grandmother was trying to tell me about. Good luck in your quest and Thank You! Liked and Subscribed!
Wow! I truly appreciate you sharing that with me. It is motivating to hear others getting value from them. I have been truly enjoying making this series and I thought just like you for a long time. I really haven’t read fiction since I graduated high school. But it is nice to slow down and pick some nice books up and put down these cell phones. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed my friend!
Taking responsibility for your own education is the most powerful realization one can have. Then choosing a “Classical” curriculum is a second incredible insight. You have begun the journey that will last the rest of your life. Lifelong learning is the key to joy and fulfillment- I wish you all the best.
This is a great idea! I did read some parts of the classics during my undergrad but I would like to do a deeper dive so this series sounds like it would be helpful for that!
I have enjoyed going through these old books. Some are obviously more rewarding than others but the ones I would have skipped or passed over have been some of the modest enjoyable. Would highly recommend going through this series and reading deeper into the classics. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
That’s is refreshing to hear as we are elbows deep in the beginning stages of the homeschool journey. Curious to know which classical universities they went to and where they satisfied with them?
@@The_Cause I have many, many friends who treasured their experience at a small, liberal arts school called Benedictine College, located an hour outside of Kansas City. Beautiful campus, too! I went to a D-2 state school in Missouri, and if I could do it over, I probably would've attended BC.
I inherited my mother’s complete collection of Harvard Classics. I, however, had a stellar education. My aforementioned mother was a teacher and I went to the best schools. I got my degree in English Literature. I consider this set to be one of my treasures. That said, I have not read them yet. I am very well read but there are so many wonderful things to read and I am excited to join on this journey.
Well welcome aboard! I truly hope you enjoy going through these old books as much as I do. I suspect if you are well read then you may find some of the translations not as good as some more modern versions. I have heard that from some more educated people than myself but I find them rather easy to read so far. Haven’t gotten to Chaucer yet. Lol I truly appreciate you watching and for sharing your comment. Stay blessed and happy reading!
That’s a good one. I have not read Thoreau much but I am looking forward to getting to his section in the Harvard classics. If he could only see the tools we have now and what they have turned us into. Thanks for watching my friend!
I have all the Harvard Classics and all the Great Books of the Western World and I've read all of them but it took me about 30 years to do it but it was worth it. Btw I'm from Louisiana too
Nice!! The Great Books are the next set I want to go through! I have been looking for a set but I can’t find anyone local selling one yet. Not in a rush though as it will probably take a couple years to get through Harvard classics with these videos. Looking back, do you think it was time well spent reading through these sets of books? Also, what part of Louisiana are you from? I live near Baton Rouge.
@The_Cause I grew up in Bienville Parish but I have family in NOLA, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Monroe and Shreveport and more in Mississippi. My grandmother was a college professor and I inherited my books from her and yes it was well worth the effort. It's just not easy especially if you have to work. Btw I live in Tulsa Oklahoma now but I still have most of my library Here's an old video of it I've added more shelves since this was made th-cam.com/video/AysjFL4I4As/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5p-pC91MHC1RICvq
@The_Cause the thing about the Harvard Classics and the Great Books of the Western World and other sets like them is they cover the entire spectrum of human thought because that's the way the world is so you get a broad general education. So that's the concept I built my library around
That makes sense. I and definitely looking forward to getting through these and learning more. Just wish I had more time in the day to read but such is life! Stay blessed my friend and hit me up if you are ever driving through Baton Rouge and maybe we can catch some coffee.
I’ve had the Harvard Classics sitting on my shelves for several years now and I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t read a single one. I love and agree with everything you said in this video; thank you. You’ve inspired me to actually open these books up and read them, and to gain an intimate and personal understanding of their contents. Really looking forward to this series. Thank you
That’s so cool to hear! Sadly the set I have doesn’t seem to have been ever opened or read either. But it’s our duty to change that! Haha truly appreciate you watching and I hope my series can help get you through them. Would love to hear your thoughts on the books as you go through them. Stay blessed brother!
I stopped studying at university when I discovered the books we weren't supposed to read. My parents couldn't understand when I told them only 1st death would be able to stop my earthly studying. What a treasure to have all the great thinkers in your personal library out from the same editor. One might get envious! 🍷😎
@@The_Cause thank you, Rob, for your inspiring input. You're a true brother in the Spirit of our heavenly father and his beloved firstborn from the dead, the Christ Jesus from Nazareth. It's a great gift to have access to the real good books from men and women of the Spirit. 🍷😁
I have my father’s complete Harvard Classics in my office, awaiting my attention. Thanks for the push. And you’re absolutely correct about the decline of our educational system. Barney videos and aversion to the Western Canon will not educate today’s youth. And amen on the device/attention span issue. Society today mindlessly scrolls through cat videos and TikTok piffle, to our own detriment and intellectual ruin.
Completely agree! I feel it is our duty at this point to revisit these old texts and see where we all went wrong. I am not very far into the set yet but I am truly enjoying my time reading them. So much knowledge in there. Hope you enjoy them and chime in with your thoughts as you read through them! I would love to hear and learn what others thought of them. Thanks for watching my friend and stay blessed!
As a wife to a teacher - the decline started within the homes. Schools, for the most part, have had to adjust for the reality of what is sitting in classrooms. Parents are sending their kids to kindergarten to be potty trained now, and lashing out at high school teachers for their kid’s failing grades. It’s a societal rot. We have chosen to homeschool because of this - the schools have to teach to the average... and the average now is no where near what average was even two decades ago.
@@katiejon17 Those are some great points. I would love for someone to deep dive into the root of the issue. Was it culture, education, really easy times, or something else that started the demise? I would love to learn more about that. I just know we are not heading in a good direction. Truly appreciate the thoughtful comment!
@@The_Cause This ended-up being quite the lengthy reply. I guess I needed someone to hear what I observed. I gave up a 15 year RN career so that my kids could be homeschooled - and it’s not because of our local schools, but because of the current family norms, and how that would rub-off on my kids. Anyway - it’s a perspective to at least consider with all the others. From my perspective (former nurse, five of those years as a school nurse, and now a SAHM and homeschooler), this specific issue falls squarely on parents. Parents were convinced to relinquish their responsibilities as parents to schools and other government agencies, and in return they would have less hassle. Why parents would have even entertained this is beyond me. I’m not saying all parents (certainly not), and I’m not saying this is the only issue that got us here (certainly not). But it’s a big reason. I was a school nurse between 2013 - 2018, and in those years I was constantly battling school administration and the state board of education’s attempts to turn the school’s health office, into a clinic. For reference, most school nurses don’t fight it, they just comply. As a school nurse, I should only be there for unexpected medical emergency situations, for immediate first-aid (scrapes and bumps) or suddenly developed concerns (the “I don’t feel good” visits) and to make sure that we (the school) has everything we need to ONLY help the student access their education. But education bureaucrats see money and control - and they want in-school physicals, in-school evaluations, in-school medications, in-school counseling, in-school vaccination clinics, etc. These are all things that parents should never have let go of - turns out, parents really do manage it all better themselves, and are more competent leaders of their children. Schools also no longer hold students back, or “retain”. It’s not the standard anymore. I remember the principal and guidance counselor at the school I worked with explaining to me “it isn’t good for their self-confidence” (as if being so far behind is). Students are moved on to the next grade, and a lot of them are not even competent at the grade level they are at. And who’s going to address this with the schools? Full circle - the parents are checked-out. They don’t notice their sixth grader can barely read or write, they aren’t sitting down with them at home, the only communication with the school tends to be when something forces a wrench in their wheels (so, an inconvenience). And the schools have dropped merit-based promotion. My husband sees 11th graders in 11th level English - who are also at the same time, retaking 10th grade English because they failed it. He sees upperclassmen, who are not “special needs”, who have a reading comprehension level of a 7th grader. But he has to work with these students too. So instead of teaching to students who are appropriately in your class, and are at grade-level, his class will run the gamut of at grade level, advanced intellect/zero effort, good effort/fell through the cracks 5 years ago, and fell through the cracks/zero effort. He often hears these kids say “my parents don care anyway”, or some variation of that sentiment. Parents are checked out because “the school’s got this” -> school admins are assuring parents they “got this” -> more funding comes if schools take on more tasks -> as parents relinquish responsibility, they further get lost in the distractions -> schools will never be able to compensate for parents (not ever), but now the parents are no longer their kid’s safety net because.... go back to the first line of this paragraph and repeat. It’s a cycle. Parents have been told this is “convenient” for them. It is not. This strips away a parent’s crucial role as the PRIMARY and SOLE decision maker of their child. They are so used to being checked-out... because “the school does that”. Now throw in that most adults have cell phone addiction, are constantly texting, are always on social media, etc... they are so thoroughly checked-out from parenting. Their children, as much as they truly love them, are not being “raised” and “parented”, they are merely coexisting with their kids. These are dark times. But those of us who at least see this, are changing course. We are homeschooling, we are opting for private schools, we are not giving our kids tablets/phones, we are sitting down to dinner every night, we are reading to them and with them daily, we are showing them how we meal plan, shop, budget, etc. It’s a whole revival on the other side. So, it all bad.
I encourage you to form opinions based on objective, demonstrable facts, not based on your subjective experience and impressions. The reality is that the entire population today is more literate and knowledgeable than at any time in the past. This is an absolute fact, which can be easily demonstrated by data. It is also commonsense. We know have more knowledge than ever before. Back in Plato’s or Descartes’ time, they had a tiny, tiny fraction of the knowledge that we have now, and the overwhelming majority of the population could not read at all.
I’ve been reading through the Great Books of the Western World set with a couple of friends for 5 years now for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Wishing you the best on your journey. I love that you are doing this. We should all be doing this. You should not have to be a professional scholar to cultivate and exercise your God given mind. I consider this one of our unalienable rights. Those who would control us all prefer a dumbed down unthinking herd. I for one refuse that fate!
Amen to that! Very powerful statement and I concur. I am no scholar by any means but it is very enjoyable going through these books at a very digestible pace. I actually just got a set of the Great Books about two weeks ago. What an amazing set! I feel the Harvard Classics is a similar to a marathon. The Great Books is like one of those insane 100 mile ultra runs. I admire your commitment for that challenging set. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
It's always very encouraging to stumble upon a person on similar journey to gain wisdom and better themselves. Through studying history in free time I've realised men like those you've mentioned were on an another level entirely regarding education. Less was known, but they knew more still.
Well said! I completely agree. I like to think they had less distractions back then but that is probably not the case. They had issues back then that we do not face today. I feel they exercised discipline much more than we do now days. Thanks for watching my friend!
I'd also like to recommend the Collier's Junior Classics (10 volumes). I think they are the perfect place for getting kids to read. This was how I learned about mythology, folk and fairy tales, and classic stories when I was a kid. I recently bought a set again since my childhood set was lost over the years. I would even recommend it to adults as well. The stories are shorter, but they aren't dumbed down and cover a wide range of types and cultures.
I have a mentor in ministry who disciples a handful of men. We meet every winter for a cabin trip and he assigns reading projects to us. Most of the time it is something from the Harvard classics. We have been doing this for about a dozen years now, and I can attest, it’s been amazingly influential in my life. It’s pushed and expanded our understanding of the world.
After I got out of the military, I had no idea what I wanted to do as far as my education. 12 years later, I have an MBA and am working on my DBA. Post Graduate Education has taught me so much that I would have never learned otherwise. I also have a huge passion for history and make it a point to read 10 nonfiction history books yearly!
Nice!! If you used the GI Bill all I can say is, how about that BAH? Going through school with the GI bill was nice! Love seeing veterans progressing nicely outside of the service. I love nonfiction. Only problem is that’s all I have read over the past few years. Challenged myself last month to listen to Great Expectations on Audible and I am blown away with how much I enjoy it. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed! Thanks for serving too!
Haha yes indeed. What part of Mississippi? We used to hunt around Liberty a good bit back in the day. Truly appreciate you following along and stay blessed my friend!
Ya'll should try funding it. I grew up in Mississippi and used to make excuses for the way things were in the south. Then I moved away and realized it isn't the systems, it is the corrupt power centers in the south and the voting public's inability to see past their religion. Voltaire would laugh his ass off at the Bible belt.
I'm retired and have several degrees... but we don't dive as deep into the liberal arts as we once did unfortunately. I just bought a set of the Harvard Classics and although a little behind will be joining you on this journey.
Heck ya! Truly appreciate you joining along and hope you enjoy them! It has been a joy for personally so far. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
It's great to see an entire TH-cam channel dedicated to the Harvard Classics🎉😊. Congratulations 🎉👏. Our society needs this big time!! I had the complete set that I bought used from my local library book nook. I read a majority of the books and later gave the entire collection to a friend who was homeschooling her children. You should have seen her eyes get big with an expression of extreme glee. I taught her children piano lessons. Even at young ages they were far ahead of most public school children. They were very good at their piano lessons as well. I have been wanting to start a small Christian school devoted to a "classical Christian" education model, but to develop the curriculum myself. Please continue the great work that you have started😊. Miss Monique 🙂🙏🌷💗
That’s so cool to hear. I would love to have a small classical school like that here where we live. We use Memoria Press’s curriculum at the moment and it is very detailed and dense. The problem is I do not have the knowledge of the classics to really judge it against anything. Truly appreciate you watching and I will definitely be continuing the series!
I had enough. Finished 11th grade in spring '06. Enrolled in private school by paying tuition myself with a part time job and did two years there in order to get caught up and ahead.
Nice! I enjoy the process I think more than I look forward to the outcome so sitting in my rocker, with a nice steaming cup of coffee, and a pencil to mark up is just something I can never get enough of. Thanks so much for watching my friend!
i started reading this series, during my Christmas break this year. Honestly, if you can get your hands on these books, do it. There is so much good information. There is also a reading guild, that gives you pieces of the books to read each day. If you think you don’t have time, the daily readings take 15-20 minutes a day. I cannot suggest getting these books more.
Great information my friend! Truly appreciate you watching and I hope you are enjoying the books as much as I am! Have a blessed new year and happy reading!
TH-cam recommended this video, and I'm so happy it did! I teach in a public school system in West Virginia (so we're right there with you in lowest rankings), and I often ask myself "what has happened to public schools?" when reflecting on my own experience and how/what I teach now. It's a conversation I seem to only have with myself because few people seem to care. I am still a huge advocate for public schools. We do a lot of things right, but there is so much we need to change. Now, I'm mad (embarrassed?) because I've never heard of the Harvard Classics. I am familiar with the Great Books of the Western World (Mortimer Adler) and have noticed there is some overlap with the HC. Thanks to you, I've now become obsessed with this series of books! Where did you learn of them? and Where did you acquire your set? Finally, I too am an ultramarathon runner and coffee is life. Thank you for your videos.
Hey! First, thanks so much for checking out my channel as I truly appreciate it! I first five mmm started to dive down the rabbit hole after reading Gatto’s book, Dumbing Us Down. The Harvard classics (by Dr. Elliot) was in my opinion the first attempt to really create one set of books to provide a true liberal arts education. Adler came about 50 years later and took the concept to the next level with the Great Books which is more complete and in depth than the Harvard Classics. I purchased my set off of Facebook marketplace. Depending on where you live you can easily pick them up for about 300-400 dollars. I wish you the best of luck with the public school system and I know these two series are to much for any grade or school to really cover but to at least introduce and explain the importance to students if these two sets is still great. Thanks so much again for the nice comment! Always great speaking to another coffee drinking ultra runner! Stay blessed!!
It’s incredibly refreshing to see people sharing a similar mindset to my own. I, too, realized after high school that the peak for greatness is so much higher than the 4.0 GPA or most academic merits, and I ‘ve cheated myself a lot of my potential by being content with mediocrity. I especially feel that this mindset should be encouraged in the youth more than ever seeing the travesty of intellectualism the public education system have produced. Great work man, found it really inspiring.
Truly appreciate the support and kind words. Completely agree with your sentiments. This is my little effort to help solve a massive problem that is going to take generations to correct. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed my friend!
*Great Classics challenge readers not only to **_think deeply_** but to **_feel deeply_** as well. (I admire, applaud and am excited by your unfolding adventure.)* 👏👏👏
I am definitely looking forward to learning about those both in deeper ways. In a way I guess that is what I am searching for. Some level of feeling that I sense is out there but that I have not quite discovered yet. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed.
I don't know how I stumbled on your video but so happy that I did. I just entered a new decade of life and am mapping out things I want to achieve before the next decade range begins. A voracious reader myself, and one that enjoys deep, meditative thinking, your explanation and journey into the Harvard Classics has motivated me to add the same goal to my list, starting now. This is really a wonderful idea and I appreciate your candor with your own past and upbringing as the spark that lit this fire. Excited to see where this journey takes you and where it takes me, too!
That is so cool to hear! I truly hope you do indeed embark on this journey and if you are anything like me you will find it such a joy in today’s age! Thank you so much for watching and have a blessed new year!
Happy to have found your channel. Years ago, in the library of the local community college, I saw on a cart the entire 50-volume Harvard Classics collection as well as the complete Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction. Atop the cart was a handwritten sign that read "Discard." The books were old -- first edition -- and somewhat fragile, and there had been little or no interest in reading them. I found the head librarian, and he gave me permission to take the books. For years now, they have been on a bookshelf in my home. I've read a few selections from them -- carefully, because they are fragile -- but your channel is inspiring me to tackle the collection. We'll see how it goes. Best.
Such an awesome story and honestly it almost sound like it is destiny that those books get read by you! Truly hope you join in on the journey and anxious to hear how you progress. Thanks so much for watching my friend!
Hey Rob. I think this is a truly great thing you are doing here. I am recent graduate not from Harvard but a top 50 university in America, and while my experience was very pivotal for gaining some opportunities I previously did not have, few things have been so rewarding like the self education of reading the great books. It is an amazing feeling to know you are juggling with some of the greatest thinkers there ever were, and all on your own. So much is learned about oneself, or at least I felt that way. It’s a transformative process that leaves you a whole new person. The number one book I gained tremendous value from, and still revisit, is called The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Man… I just got a set of the Great Books in last week! It’s the 60 volume newer version and I am excited to dive into them one day. I have committed to the Harvard Classics, so I am going to complete them first. I can understand what you mean by transformative. I can already tell my mind is shifting and my vocabulary expanding. I am really excited to see how I will feel once I complete volume 50. I feel it’s like running a marathon. What you think you are physically capable of changes drastically once you finish one. I feel the same will be in the case of completing this classical series. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and have a great week. Stay blessed!
@@The_Cause Yes, definitely like a marathon in that sense! I am sure you will find one or multiple in that set that really speak to you! Have a great week too.
What an extraordinary example you set for all of us of educating ourselves! I'm retired and have adopted catching up on a lifetime of reading as my vocation in retirement, and although my reading list is long, I do plan to dig in to the Harvard Classics with you.
Well welcome aboard! Glad to have you along on the journey. It has been a blast so far and I must say it has been well worth it in my opinion. Truly hope you are enjoying your retirement and thanks so much for watching. Stay blessed!
I'm glad I came across this channel. I teach literature and history to college students, but I am also on a journey of trying to educate myself because, like you, I look back and realize I missed out on a real education when I was younger.
Thats so cool to hear! Good teachers are needed more than ever now days. If I had any talent at it I would love to teach a history class or something. I do not know if I could handle the students now days though. The Harvard Classic and The Great Book I feel are both great places to start. Best of luck on your journey my friend!
You’ve got yourself a new follower on this channel. I’m graduating high school this June but will not be going to college right away, and I’m deeply determined to prove that I can still continue my education and sharpen my intellect despite that. I’ve been kicking myself lately to read more and I think this video was a message for me to really get on it, thanks!
With the likes of Hillsdale’s online courses and TH-cam you can learn a good bit if you are disciplined enough to manage yourself. What do you plan tonight do after school work/career wise?
@@The_Cause Good shout for Hillsdale, thanks! I've been incredibly lucky to attend both my normal high school as well as a specialized academy offered to students in my county. Kids can study all sorts of subjects and learn trades there, and I've been training in the culinary course this year. I've got several certifications through that course and am now employed part time in a local restaurant with another job lined up in the summer. Basically, I'm going to be a chef if everything works out as planned. I don't know if, when, or why I will go back to school in the future, but I know that I have so many interests that whatever I do I will figure out a way to make it worthwhile.
That’s awesome! Curious to know what country you live in? I had this notion that only people in the US would listen to this but it is cool to see people from other countries listening. Would not have thought that.
@@The_Cause I live on the East Coast of the USA, in the DMV area. I think there are some other places (both inside and outside of the country) that offer programs with a similar idea to the one I’m a part of. (I’m guessing you misread “county” in my last comment as “country” btw. I do that a lot personally) But I also wouldn’t be too surprised if you see international viewers stop by this channel, the world is a very small place sometimes.
Adler and Van Doren’s “How to Read a Book” is probably one of the best books in anyone’s journey in self education. It’s one of my favorites. Also Sister Miriam Joseph’s “The Trivium” is quintessential in learning the all-important trivium. I have applied to a school that teaches both these books and I hope to be accepted there. But for those who are on a self education path, these two books are great.
I purchased Adler's How to Read a Book and plan to make a video on it soon. So many people have recommended it that I feel I have to read it at this point. Thanks so much for sharing and I will definitely check out the others. Stay blessed!
It's not often I watch one 7 minute clip and decide that I'm all in and subscribe. I've been collecting books for a long time, reading whatever historical and religious works interest me, but lately, I've been wondering,'What really makes a man well read?' I am looking forward to this progress. I'll join you, by picking up a set, likely a volume at a time.
Well welcome aboard my friend! I am truly thankful to have you along. I think this is going to be a fun journey and I am anxious to see how I change in the process. I’m hoping this series can help motivate others to complete them. I truly appreciate you subscribing and hope you enjoy the reading. Stay blessed my friend!
This project is beautiful. You are approaching it so humbly, and I think your dedication to reading them in print as a form of attention span training is incredibly cool. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to seeing where this takes you, and I'm tempted to try doing something similar myself.
Heck ya! Glad to have you on board this adventure through the series! It’s been fun hearing everyone’s thoughts on all these different works. Thanks so much for watching and happy reading! Stay blessed!
There is still hope! I really feel the classical movement has a chance of growing as society starts to decline. People are already looking to solutions and ways to repair the mess we have created. Truly appreciate you watching and thanks so much for the nice comment. Stay blessed my friend!
Motivated by much of the same reasons stated here, I’ve been attempting to read through the Britannica Great Books, which has a lot of overlap with this set. I found it very difficult at first, but I’ve now grown to genuinely prefer them to the contemporary books I read. At current pace, it will likely take me around 8-10 years to complete…here’s to hoping the motivation holds!
The Great Books is a massive set in comparison with the Harvard Classics. I just purchased the Great Books a couple weeks ago and realized just how much info is in them and the font size is much smaller and the pages thinner. I consider the Harvard Classics a marathon, but the Great Books are kind of like those crazy 100 mile ultra races that people do. Kudos to taking on that challenge and I agree, 10+ years would probably be my pace to get through them. Thanks so much for watching and good luck on your journey! Stay blessed!
I need everyone to understand that the public education system is NOT broken. It is working as intended. It’s bad you say? That’s what it is designed for. Stunting your mind
My husband bought me this set as a collectible and to homeschool our future kids. I've been wanting to go though it on my own and this is the push I needed. Thank you for this channel!
I had no clue about this Harvard classics collection, will definitely look at it ! At least, I feel « grateful » that I spent my youth in the french educational system where you basically study some big chunks of History spanning through most of European history of the last 2500 years, at least we had some french and foreign literature classes even if that was just citing and mentioning common classics that we’d perhaps feel like reading later on. My fondest memories come from my last year in high school where we’d have 8 hours of philosophy on a weekly basis alongside 5 hours of french and foreign literatures. Keep up the good work !
Oh wow that sounds like a great educational program! Wish we would have had something like that. I have only been to Paris but I love the history of France. The French Revolution has always fascinated me and I have read several biographies on The Marquis De Lafayette. Although we Americans claim him for one of ours too! Haha Thanks so much for watching!
Awesome! I went through CA public schools 20-30 years ago and barely got any exposure to classical western thought. I noticed the difference in college between myself and prep school kids who could rattle off Aristotle or Cicero off the top of their heads. I got my hands on at least 35 of Harvard classics, read Plutarch, the Stoics and Franklin. Frankly, I need to read them again before I get too old to care or comprehend. Subscribed!
haha yes indeed! I am really looking forward to getting to Plutarch. I have heard so much about it and that book is referenced so much in these other writers it almost seems like a cornerstone to most of this literature in the Harvard Classics. Thanks so much for watching my friend!
Thank you for sharing. I have been on that same path for some time. I lacked a proper education and a proper growing up as I was for the lack of a better term badly abused. So now like you, I am trying to rediscover what I have missed or don't remember.
Like I keep telling myself, it’s never too late to start. I truly hope you find what you are searching for and if nothing else you find the peace and joy in these old books. Truly appreciate you watching and have a blessed new years!
Oddly timed recommendation. I have a full Harvard collection I bought from a yard sale years ago (they were unread then) and proceeded to read through some of the different volumes. I was looking at my collection yesterday and taking note of all the book markers and sticky tabs sticking out of about 12 books. So cool to see this video. Our golden years of education seem to be post graduation.
I completely agree. I have enjoyed educating myself more than I ever enjoyed sitting in a classroom. The Harvard Classics have been a game changer for my mindset here lately. Do you plan to read the series through or just pick specific volumes of interest? Thanks for watching my friend!
Most of the material in the collection is valuable to me on an “as needed” basis. I have read and studied many of the philosophical works in the collection, as well as much of the natural science literature available. I’m formally educated in Biology, so the natural science books were interesting reads. Voyage of the Beagle by Darwin was something I didn’t know existed, even though I knew who he was well before getting this collection.
I really admire your ambition! It's great to see someone taken by curiosity for the classics. Through circumstance I have been granted the privilege of studying history at university. Even there we do not have to read many of these books, but some of them we do. For most of them you're expected you read them on your own time or at least extract the main arguments and know the core passages. It's really eye opening and beautiful stuff that really makes you understand why people have been reading these books for thousands of years. I sincerely hope you're successful in your goal, because there is no doubt in my mind that you'll come out of it a wiser man.
Thanks so much! I truly appreciate the kind words. I would love to have studied history more in college. Do you mind if I ask what you are majoring in? Is there a certain period of history you are focusing on? Thanks for watching as well my friend!
I'm pleased to hear that you're interested in exploring the Harvard volumes deeper. Your courage, curiosity, and determination to read these books are admirable. I'll be glad to follow your reviews about each one of the volumes you'll read!
I commend you for reading this series. I have never owned the Harvard Classics, but I did major in English and minored in philosophy at Rutgers College. So, I had to read some of these authors for school. I do lament though, the fully grown adult who may have never encountered these books before. I don't even want to think of the limitations of the American public education system. I was an English teacher, too, so I know what that's like. I did find it funny though, that the curator of these series of books thought that these were essential readings for the cultivated man of the early 1900s. At that time, there was such a priority of constructing the perfect scholar and if you did not tick off all the boxes, then you were considered a buffoon. I suppose, even today, such a notion exists within academia and the Ivy Leagues. It's like, you won't be invited to tea at the yacht club, unless you were well-versed in Homer, Socrates, and the French Revolution. I think my only gripe with the Harvard Classics is that, being that it was created in 1909, many great works that were written in the 20th Century is thus omitted from the series. So, I recommend, after reading this series, then read books from the modernist movement in both literature and philosophy.
Most definitely. I think the Harvard classics are very foundational. Before reading more modern philosophers I wanted to have a good base line of where they would be coming from. And I agree that our modern education system sadly does not teach any of these old books anymore. I think these works were so important to understand back in the day because they knew that our form of government required the populace to be educated to a certain level and have a culture that promoted the free thought that western civilization promotes. We have seen that collapse in understanding directly affect the way our government is ran. The understanding of these foundational texts go deeper than I think we realize. I want to do a video on that soon to explain it better. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
im a fellow Louisiana native, currently live in Virginia, after a journey through the military the world and life im digging into a sled directed classical education myself. great channel!
That’s awesome to hear. I lived in Portsmouth for two years and fell in love with Virginia. So much history up there. What part of Louisiana are you from? Good luck on your journey and stay blessed my friend!
@ I grew up in grant parish out in the middle of nowhere. I agree Virginia is a great place to live with the history and all. I appreciate the series on these books, I’m going to study along once I get a set, I’m doing some of the Hillsdale courses too in the meantime. We’ll have to get into a good conversation one of these days!
Haven't read these books myself, however what people describe getting from these reminds me of my own reading of 'Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy' by Jostein Gaarder. In this case it's only one book, but it goes over a long history of philosophy and explains the core ideas of those philosophies and their respective philosophers. I found it very eye-opening and thought provoking. Certainly one of the most important works of literature I've read in my youth and would higly recommend to anyone who wishes to have a similar self-education/mind-expanding experience.
Thanks so much for sharing! I have not heard of that book yet so I will most definitely add it to my list to check out. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and I hope you stay blessed.
I grew up in Mississippi and I have a lot of pride for my state but the education I received from public school was also lacking. I believe this has led me to my PhD program which requires immense self study. It is a rewarding process but can be difficult. Thanks for this series.
I have a beautiful green bound copy of Volume 2, but had no idea this was such a comprehensive book series. I'm definitely going to start collecting the rest of them. Thanks so much for the series, I'm looking forward to watching!
The green volumes are the nicest looking set in my opinion. I would love to pick up a set one day. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and hope you enjoy the series!
I had a similar journey. I didn't consider myself educated until around age 36 when I started reading through Mortimer Adler's Great Books Series (I've read about 25 of them).
Nice!! I just got that set a few weeks back. The Great Books are dense! 25 volumes in and I can tell you have covered some stuff. We are on the same journey then my friend. Truly hope you find everything you are looking for and enjoy it!
Your video got me subscribe to a channel I think for the first time in years. You seem genuine. What struck me is the thought process than lead you to these works. I hope this sort of awakening is spreading. Since applied postmodernism spreads via mimetic desire, and has nothing inherently of value to offer, the simple desire to learn in the classical sense is enough to break free.
Thanks so much for subscribing and for the kind words. I am not 100% sure exactly what I am hoping to gain but I am looking forward to sharing what I do learn as I go. I feel there is a grey veil that has been placed over many of us if we do not remove it soon it may turn into Churchill’s iron curtain. Like you, I hope we can turn it around. Thanks for watching and stay blessed!
“Why were the most influential and respectable people of that age all reading these classical works while I was over here watching Barney and colouring Mickey Mouse pages?” 🎯🎯🎯
Thank you for doing this! I weep for the collapse of American education and don't think that we, as a nation, will know the full extent of the devastation this decline will wreck for a generation or more. I am thrilled that you will be posting your summaries/thoughts on each volume and look forward to hearing what you have to say. I am not aware of anyone in my area that is engaging in deep reading so it's nice to have someone to "read along" with.
I hear ya! I am reading through Paradise Lost now and nobody I speak to in my personal life has read it. It has been nice to have this little community to go through this series with. I learn as much from the comments from others as I do from the books sometimes. Truly appreciate you watching and looking forward to hearing your thoughts as you go through these books!
@@The_Cause I am saving up for the GBWW series and am currently reading "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius. I am interested to learn more about Stoicism and thought that might be a good place to start. I found Mortimer Adler's "Six Great Ideas" series on TH-cam, which dovetails nicely with his 10-volume "Great Ideas Program" precursor to GBWW.
I picked up a set of the Harvard Classics this past spring. I have had the same feeling about how my school years was wasted. I've come to discover some of the great works and it really is like an awakening to a new world. If your interested in connecting on any of the topics or books reach out. Thanks for starting this channel!
I would love that! Connecting with others who are reading through them would be a fun journey. I’m excited to get these out there and meet more people of the same mindset. Hit me up at coffeerunsdeep@gmail.com and let’s connect. Where are located?
Hi Rob, just came across your channel. Wanted to express my support and gratefulness for the effort you put into this initiative. In this day and age where quality knowledge, consideration and critical thinking is sort of pushed to the background by bite size digital news and content, we can really use people like you. Looking forward to consuming more of your video’s and challenge my own reading and thinking. M cheers.
I humbly appreciate the feedback! I am enjoying making these videos so that makes it all the better. I hope this series inspires others to pick up some old books and explore topics in their own minds without the distraction of pixels and notifications. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed my friend!
This is great man. I'm trying hard to move away from devices, tv, video games, etc. I deleted and uninstalled social media (except TH-cam, I'm still working on that) I've decided to read a chapter a day from multiple books before I engage with media devices. Right now I'm working at Moby dick and the lord of the rings trilogy. After being so hopelessly dependent on social media, I'm finding it immensely difficult to focus on long form content. It's a struggle. But every day it gets a little easier.
I commend you my good friend. We appear to be in the same canoe paddling up the same stream. I wish you the best of luck on your journey and hope you find all the joy you deserve in the process. Have blessed weekend my friend!
Nice!! Really hope you do and I highly doubt you will regret it. I have been really enjoying reading through these books. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed my friend!
Homeschool mom here trying to start my young kids on a similar path of wisdom!! We are currently using The Children’s Tradition year 3 based on John Law’s 1000 Good Books list to prepare all of us to read the 100 Great Books (most of which are included in the Harvard Classics)! I have tried to read the Great Books myself. I have a college degree and considered myself well read, but I am lost! So I am reeducating myself as I educate my children ❤ It is a sweet journey together!
Although I'm a bit late, but this is a great idea for a TH-cam series. I'm myself believe in the process of Socratic learning, and even though I'm currently undergoing a traditional education (college undergrad right now), supplementing it with resources like this seems like a necessity for deep and intellectual understanding.
Glad to have you aboard my friend! That’s is exactly why I am making this series. I hope it can help those who may not have the time to currently read through them all. Thanks so much for watching and have a blessed new year!
I truly appreciate that! It has been a joy so far to put these videos out. We will see how I feel once I get to volume 42 but so far so good! Thanks so much for watching my friend!
I am in my early thirties, and agree w you completely in the loss of attention span. I am currently taking classes online and have a terrible time sticking with a task. Homeschooling my kids HAS helped though, because i feel like i am more likely to leave my phone in my room until i am done with their studies than i am to give myself that grace. Its been enough to at least allow me to acknowledge my own issue. As far as my own self-study i have found keeping a common place book to be really beneficial in giving me somewhere to keep the info and thoughts on the things i am learning
I am glad you mentioned the commonplace book. I have one and I write in it sometimes for periods and then stop. I have decided that in 2025 I really want to try and write in it daily if possible. Like you mentioned just to get my mind off listening and to think and create something in my own words. Loved this comment as homeschooling is no joke! Thanks for watching and have a blessed Christmas!
Haha yes indeed. Hopefully we can change that for future generations but we will see. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and have a great week! Stay blessed!
Louisiana native here. I also got my hands on the Plato Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius volume by chance. It was a catalyst for my own self education. I look forward to seeing your journey
@The_Cause Im from the Baton Rouge area currently residing on the west coast. I've been flirting with the idea of getting the rest of the set, but my bookshelf is full of books I still need to read lol!
Nice! I’m from Denham so we were pretty close. I was stationed in San Diego for two years and I loved the west coast. Some very fun times to look back on. Hope you enjoy it out there. Thanks for watching my friend!
I've been slowly making my way through these books for some time now. Currently in the middle of the third volume. I downloaded the pdfs of the complete set and read them for about 15 mins a day on my kindle. Would be nice to have a complete physical set, but that would require more money than I currently have.
I found my set on FB Marketplace and paid $375. I am sure if I would of waited longer I could have found them a bit cheaper but ya the whole set is kind of expensive. I think this set was meant to be read in small intervals every day for years. It allows the material to sink in and get absorbed into your daily living. Thanks for watching my friend!
@The_Cause I'm currently studying latin for my second university degree, and your book reviews are extremely useful for a person who doesn't know a lot about classic literature😅 so, thank you for saving my engineer's soul. Bless you!
I'm currently in college studying to become a teacher of English. For our second year literature class, they swapped 1984 for Bridget Jones's Diary ... I'm also one of the very few in my class who actually reads on a daily basis. It's abysmal.
Wow.. 1984 should be required reading. I would love to see what the reading list is for that program. Reading on your own will probably be the single most important benefactor to your education. Thanks so much for watching my friend and best of luck on your education!
I find your initiative commendable. Looking from a wider perspective, and a belief in the oneness of humanity and our common destiny, there is much more out there in the ‘non-western world’ than what these series of books may provide - though a good place to start. A path to advancing civilisation in our actions is so much more than academics.
I agree there is much to be found beyond the western world, but yet I still read a bunch of western stuff. I’m an acupuncturist so I read a lot of Chinese medicine texts some going back to the year 220 AD, my favorite from around the year 900.
I agree there is definitely more out there than just the western world’s view but I feel I have to build this foundation and then branch out into different points of view. For me this is just a starting point. I do not plan to stop after completing the western side but venture into the eastern as well. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
This is such a great and ambitious idea! I did have the opportunity to read a lot of classic works in high school and college, but I skim read and flubbed my way through. Lately I’ve been wishing I had actually read everything I had been assigned. I’m planning to join the Hardcore Literature Club. The guy who runs it here in TH-cam seems like a great discussion leader. Good luck to you! I look forward to your future videos.
I hear you on wishing you would have actually read. I didn’t take school serious back in the day. As I have gotten older I appreciate it so much more. I am going to have to look up this hardcore literature club. With work, family, reading and making these videos I don’t know how much more I can devote to other reading. Def curious though. Thanks for sharing!
So happy to see others pick up reading! I used to read as a teen but I let the hobby go and I'm picking it back up now! I really suggest reading books like think and grow rich as well if you're looking for "true" spiritual teaching, that's the gateway drug into knowing the true nature of reality
I remember going to a book sale at my local library, they were selling a the whole set of the Harvard Classics I only wanted to get books from the Skeptics but I contemplated just getting the whole set for that 40 dollar price I regret not getting the full set cuz of this video lol Can’t wait for you to discuss Locke, Hume and Berkley
Dang that would have been a deal. I paid that just in shipping! Haha I am definitely looking forward to Locke and Hume. Currently reading Francis Bacon’s Essays now and I just love the way he expressed ideas and how he used words like art work to explain a point or idea. Been a great learning experience for sure. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
My grandfather had the collection, and I got it after he passed away. I've tried starting to read them a few times, and the print is pretty small for my 60 year old eyes. And of course the language is difficult. Kudos to you for starting on this journey. Maybe I will follow along!
Definitely consider Vishal Magalwadi’s “The Book that Shaped Your World” to ground your classical learning. Psalm 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. Psalm 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
I will put it on my list for 2024! Truly appreciate you sharing and love the passages. 119 is a special one for sure. Going to have to read it over again now. Thanks so much for watching!
This is an excellent idea! I just subscribed and look forward to following along with you. I homeschooled my son for high school school and we read many classics together- it was fantastic.
Thanks so much for the sub and welcome aboard! We are hoping to do the same things with our kids. It almost seems like the only way now days the more we look around at our local options. Glad to hear it went well and that’s motivating. Appreciate you watching and stay blessed!
What you are onto here is SO important for the renewal that our culture desperately needs. You are right about screen time causing attention span contraction, too. Nicholas Carr wrote a good book called “The Shallows” that gets into the brain science of why that is. I’m also a product of Louisiana education, but had the benefit of a family of educators who were into the classics and liberal arts, and we had a Latin class at my high school (West Monroe), so I believe I got more than most, but like you I wish I had spent a bit more of my formative years reading Plato or Augustine and a bit less playing “Command and Conquer”. Do you guys have a coffee shop in Denham Springs, or are you strictly producing it? I have family in that area and would love to drop in next time I’m down there.
I am going to have to look that book up and check it out. I do not have a coffee shop in Denham but I have a small roaster by my house that I shoot all these videos in as well. It is half coffee, half books, and heaven to someone who loves both. haha If you are ever down my way hit me up.
I had to quote you on my Facebook. I enjoyed this video. New sub here. "It's hard to respect something you've never been taught." Rob Pirie-The Cause #thecause #robpirie
Hey! Truly appreciate you subbing and glad you enjoyed the video! I think that line is more true today than ever. We have to get back to valuing people, the family and education or we are going to be in a very difficult situation. Hope you have a great week and stay blessed!
Immediately subbed after watching your intro to this series! A couple points after seeing this video just now 1. these 'great books' series the Ivy League universities used to put out where *REVOLUTIONARY* in their day, because college was nothing more than a pipe dream for anyone outside the monied class. College traditionally speaking was essentially the purview of the elite's children consisting of the most powerful families of wealthy industrialists. This was true in the bigger universities of 15th-centiury medieval Europe where college matriculated privileged members of the Catholic Church, as much as for American universities as opposed to the old vocational trade-schools. Having collections like your Harvard series, Yale's famous "Chronics of America" in 50 volumes (1919), or Oxford university's "Sacred Books of the East" in 50 volumes (1910) offered a glimpse of something so precious for attainable prices to the masses. It was a literal window into a very exclusive world on what who would one-day rule the world learned about in their youth. And newly-minted middle-class families purchased these collections in droves which spurred all the different variations of them. 2. Just as you've mentioned you're witnessing shortened and shortening attention spans in all generational groups at this point (which I personally see in my parent's generational cohort lately, the Baby Boomers as opposed to their parents in the past ten years as they've adopted smartphones), reading in physical form these classics in bound books really helps re-establish attention spans. I think the issue isn't even public schools, because just as you stated, education is really an attitude of perpetual self-improvement throughout the entirety of your life. Jefferson's pen never wearied, and he corresponded about every new scientific and philosophical discovery coming out of Europe into his final years in the early 19th century. We have no excuse living in the 21st-century where practically every one of these books is in the public domain and scanned onto online archives to see the sum of human knowledge up until that point. 3. Finally, I'm personally going through John Fiske's 'history of the united Staes' 11-volume series published throughout the 1890's and at one time, one of the best historians The Atlantic Monthly had on staff. I'm doing this in the original publications I've had sitting on my shelf forever before bed and THEY ARE INCREDIBLE. Trying to find others online who have dug into this masterpieces of history (even though they can be very dated in certain areas) yields little results, so to see you starting this series, I'll be following you intently and am can offer nothing more than massive appreciation you're putting this online. This old beauties deserve to be mined, debated, and engaged with because as your quote you read from said, the sum total of human knowledge should be engaged with by everyone so we can have a self-sufficient, independent citizenry that's not prone to idealogical attacks from weak arguments that seem so convincing to so many. Good luck with the series, truly!
Thank you so much for the kind words and love the aspect about Jefferson never putting his pen down. I will have to check out the 11 volume series you mentioned. I have not heard of it yet. Thank you so much for watching my friend and stay blessed!
Haha yes indeed! Truly appreciate you subbing and thanks so much for watching! Hope you have a great week and stay blessed! Finally getting some cool weather down here.
I was homeschooled/unschooled and my entire curriculum was just this set and then discussing via the Socratic method with my father. So thankful to have had that experience (he passed last year).
Congratulations! What did he pass exactly?
@@warriordx5520 he died.
@@warriordx5520☠️☠️
I am very curious about this. What age did you start going through them with him and do you feel it was beneficial and worth it? I eventually would like to do the same with my kids. Truly sorry to hear your father passed. Losing my old man was one of the toughest days. Thanks so much for watching and have a blessed New Years!
@warriordx5520 I'm not sure if you're sarcastic or not, but in case you aren't, this means his/her father died. Saying "he passed" is a shortened form of saying "he passed away" which of course also means dying.
As a soon to be retired philosophy professor who has come to despair of the traditional classroom's ability to teach real wisdom I find this video and Rob's approach refreshing, not only for his desire to learn despite his weak education but also for his passion. Kudos, Rob.
I truly appreciate the kind words professor! I never dreamed when I started this channel that "professors" would be tuning in. TH-cam is really an amazing world. I hope you enjoy the remainder of your classes and have a joyful retirement when that time comes. Stay blessed my friend!
I'm beginning the same journey, Been collecting them when I can. I wish we could ask the professor some questions.
Your field is to blame
I too often lament the wasted years of my youth. After college I decided I was going to educate myself. I started the journey for my children because I wanted more for them. After 20 years of homeschooling, reading the classics together, learning Latin, studying Greek, I can say with great confidence that “climbing parnassus” is worth every bit of effort you put into it, and the richness it will bring into your life is immeasurable.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I am in the beginning stages of educating my young ones and comments like this are so refreshing. I looked up the book Climbing Parnassus and I am going to have to buy a copy and check it out. Truly appreciate you watching and have a blessed new year!
@@The_Cause Please do a video on Climbing Parnassus after you read it! I can not recommend it enough! And God bless you in your journey educating your own little ones. Happy New Year!
I'm currently a freshman in college and am doing something similar. Even though I took AP classes throughout high school, it felt like I learned nothing, or at least, I felt like I learned nothing that really caught my interest. In general, you leave high school knowing virtually nothing about the world, how to view it, what to make of it, how it works, etc. It's a bit cliché, but "out of the pan and into the fire" is essentially what school to life feels like. However, I suppose the leap is to be expected in a world that is this complex and, at times, convoluted.
I've been reading through a decent amount of history, novels in Spanish, and plan to start reading philosophy and religious-related subjects because neither of those topics were even touched upon, save certain situations like John Locke.
Public schooling in the US fucking *blows*. No one wants to be there and all of the material seems (at the time) completely arbitrary and useless. It nearly killed any interest I had in reading and learning in general, and I am most likely one of the lucky ones to have recuperated it. Coupled with my attention span being reduced to a fine powder, I really have an uphill battle to fight in the coming months or even years in an attempt to counterbalance the years of soul-sucking that public school had induced upon me.
It's nice to see your comment and to know that I can have an education much further beyond the limited scope that we are offered in public education. I have been also considering learning Latin as well, partly because it seems cool and partly because much of what was written in Latin is so influential in contemporary thought and literature.
Do you have any specific example of 'the richness'?
@bonniebrown1566 Hey! Just letting you know! I bought and can’t wait to start it. Just received it yesterday. Got a few in the queue ahead of it but will definitely do a video on it soon.
When libraries were founded, people were hoping that everyone, regardless of class, could get this kind of education. When the internet was first founded there was a similar notion of "civic technology", of using the internet to help everyone get access to this type of education.
Feel free to skim! Sometimes you need to skim things and come back to them later. Repetition is key to rewiring your brain.
You have a great attitude about "I'm going to go give myself the opportunities I didn't have"! That attitude is something that cannot be taught. Great job.
Truly appreciate the kind words and agree. I think this entire series is available for $1.99 on Kindle. What use to be so expensive to obtain can be downloaded in a few seconds. But I agree, what have we done with all this amazing tech?
Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed!
OMG. My intellectual life has followed a path similar to yours. In my early twenties, I realized that my earlier "education" was criminally deficient. I have been trying to make up for it ever since. 62 years old now and still studying.
That’s refreshing to hear! I feel that is going to be my path for the next couple decades. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed my friend!
Same here
As an English teacher, I 1000% agree with this. Anecdotally, my students are more engaged when doing the likes of Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Dante, than when we do something more modern that lacks the depth. Love the channel!
That is so cool to hear. I wish we would have been introduced to Marcus Aurelius or Dante. I think I would have been more apt to listen as well. Very cool that you are even touching on any of these. I feel there is hope! lol I truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed my friend!
Reading tip: keep a mechanical pencil at hand and when you find a passage you like put a small mark in the margin and every 50 pages you read go back and catalogue the dots in the margin in a notebook or better yet a searchable computer file. I find it’s the best way to hang on to parts you would otherwise forget while also not having to constantly stop and start during the reading process.
In college, At first, this was a no-no because of money, but as soon as I could afford to keep them, I started writing in the margins. I still use those old books and love my notes. I still write in the margin, but I use software now, LOL. I was not allowed to use a calculator but we could use a slide rule, LOL what a different world we live in today.
YES! It takes me forever to read a book though.
That is a great idea. I do mark them up pretty heavy and fortunate because I am putting these books in video form all my notes get recorded on my computer. I am eventually going to switch them over to blog post and attach the video as supplement. But.. all in good time. Truly appreciate the advice and thanks I much for watching. Stay blessed my friend!
What do you mean by "catalogue the dots in the margin"?
@@asneeded4pain you'll have a spreadsheet for a specific book. if there's a dot on page 5 in the spreadsheet you put "5" and then next to it write "funny anecdote about a squirrel eating cheese". the anecdote in the book might be super long but instead of typing it out you just have your note and years later you can look through your catalogue and go back to the book for the full passage. life is way too short to constantly be stopping to take notes. the dot system allows you to mark passages you like without having to stop the flow of the reading. and the upside of a spreadsheet vs a notebook is that a spreadsheet is searchable.
I really admire your effort and words. My grandmother, who taught English waaay back in the day (like the 1940s) swore by those books. When she died, I inherited her set and for thirty years I’ve lugged those books around with me, but never read any of them. I was an aerospace engineer for forty years and never thought there was much worth in reading works of fiction. But then, I retired and began reading them. My biggest regret is, I didn’t read them back when I was your age, because I missed out on all that wisdom that my Grandmother was trying to tell me about. Good luck in your quest and Thank You! Liked and Subscribed!
Wow! I truly appreciate you sharing that with me. It is motivating to hear others getting value from them. I have been truly enjoying making this series and I thought just like you for a long time. I really haven’t read fiction since I graduated high school. But it is nice to slow down and pick some nice books up and put down these cell phones. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed my friend!
I feel like that too
These books of wisdom you speak of, they are the ones you portrayed in this video?
These books are not all works of fiction. Marcus Aurelius Meditations is probably one of the greatest books of Stoicism and wisdom.
Taking responsibility for your own education is the most powerful realization one can have. Then choosing a “Classical” curriculum is a second incredible insight. You have begun the journey that will last the rest of your life. Lifelong learning is the key to joy and fulfillment- I wish you all the best.
This is a great idea! I did read some parts of the classics during my undergrad but I would like to do a deeper dive so this series sounds like it would be helpful for that!
I have enjoyed going through these old books. Some are obviously more rewarding than others but the ones I would have skipped or passed over have been some of the modest enjoyable. Would highly recommend going through this series and reading deeper into the classics. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
Self-education is the gift that keeps on giving. Glad to have another travel companion.
It is indeed. Glad to have you on board as well. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
My four grown kids read many of these wonderful classics(homeschooled) then went to Classical Universities. Good job--keep up the good work.
That’s is refreshing to hear as we are elbows deep in the beginning stages of the homeschool journey. Curious to know which classical universities they went to and where they satisfied with them?
@@The_Cause I have many, many friends who treasured their experience at a small, liberal arts school called Benedictine College, located an hour outside of Kansas City. Beautiful campus, too!
I went to a D-2 state school in Missouri, and if I could do it over, I probably would've attended BC.
I inherited my mother’s complete collection of Harvard Classics. I, however, had a stellar education. My aforementioned mother was a teacher and I went to the best schools. I got my degree in English Literature. I consider this set to be one of my treasures. That said, I have not read them yet. I am very well read but there are so many wonderful things to read and I am excited to join on this journey.
Well welcome aboard! I truly hope you enjoy going through these old books as much as I do. I suspect if you are well read then you may find some of the translations not as good as some more modern versions. I have heard that from some more educated people than myself but I find them rather easy to read so far. Haven’t gotten to Chaucer yet. Lol
I truly appreciate you watching and for sharing your comment. Stay blessed and happy reading!
*Regarding the so-called smart-phones, I think that Thoreau was being very prophetic when he wrote, "We have become the tool of our tools."*
That’s a good one. I have not read Thoreau much but I am looking forward to getting to his section in the Harvard classics. If he could only see the tools we have now and what they have turned us into. Thanks for watching my friend!
Gestell
I have all the Harvard Classics and all the Great Books of the Western World and I've read all of them but it took me about 30 years to do it but it was worth it. Btw I'm from Louisiana too
Nice!! The Great Books are the next set I want to go through! I have been looking for a set but I can’t find anyone local selling one yet. Not in a rush though as it will probably take a couple years to get through Harvard classics with these videos. Looking back, do you think it was time well spent reading through these sets of books? Also, what part of Louisiana are you from? I live near Baton Rouge.
@The_Cause I grew up in Bienville Parish but I have family in NOLA, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Monroe and Shreveport and more in Mississippi. My grandmother was a college professor and I inherited my books from her and yes it was well worth the effort. It's just not easy especially if you have to work. Btw I live in Tulsa Oklahoma now but I still have most of my library Here's an old video of it I've added more shelves since this was made th-cam.com/video/AysjFL4I4As/w-d-xo.htmlsi=5p-pC91MHC1RICvq
Nice video! Just checked it out! Gives me some ideas on how to organize mine.
@The_Cause the thing about the Harvard Classics and the Great Books of the Western World and other sets like them is they cover the entire spectrum of human thought because that's the way the world is so you get a broad general education. So that's the concept I built my library around
That makes sense. I and definitely looking forward to getting through these and learning more. Just wish I had more time in the day to read but such is life! Stay blessed my friend and hit me up if you are ever driving through Baton Rouge and maybe we can catch some coffee.
I’ve had the Harvard Classics sitting on my shelves for several years now and I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t read a single one. I love and agree with everything you said in this video; thank you. You’ve inspired me to actually open these books up and read them, and to gain an intimate and personal understanding of their contents. Really looking forward to this series. Thank you
That’s so cool to hear! Sadly the set I have doesn’t seem to have been ever opened or read either. But it’s our duty to change that! Haha truly appreciate you watching and I hope my series can help get you through them. Would love to hear your thoughts on the books as you go through them. Stay blessed brother!
I stopped studying at university when I discovered the books we weren't supposed to read. My parents couldn't understand when I told them only 1st death would be able to stop my earthly studying.
What a treasure to have all the great thinkers in your personal library out from the same editor. One might get envious! 🍷😎
Haha yes indeed! It’s amazing that all this is so available now days. Thanks for watching my friend!
@@The_Cause thank you, Rob, for your inspiring input. You're a true brother in the Spirit of our heavenly father and his beloved firstborn from the dead, the Christ Jesus from Nazareth. It's a great gift to have access to the real good books from men and women of the Spirit. 🍷😁
What were the books you "weren't supposed to read"? I'm in university now, and I've never encountered such a notion.
@@Philitron128 He's never been inside a university. It's typical for pseudointellectuals to oppose the norm.
I have my father’s complete Harvard Classics in my office, awaiting my attention. Thanks for the push. And you’re absolutely correct about the decline of our educational system. Barney videos and aversion to the Western Canon will not educate today’s youth. And amen on the device/attention span issue. Society today mindlessly scrolls through cat videos and TikTok piffle, to our own detriment and intellectual ruin.
Completely agree! I feel it is our duty at this point to revisit these old texts and see where we all went wrong. I am not very far into the set yet but I am truly enjoying my time reading them. So much knowledge in there. Hope you enjoy them and chime in with your thoughts as you read through them! I would love to hear and learn what others thought of them. Thanks for watching my friend and stay blessed!
As a wife to a teacher - the decline started within the homes. Schools, for the most part, have had to adjust for the reality of what is sitting in classrooms. Parents are sending their kids to kindergarten to be potty trained now, and lashing out at high school teachers for their kid’s failing grades. It’s a societal rot. We have chosen to homeschool because of this - the schools have to teach to the average... and the average now is no where near what average was even two decades ago.
@@katiejon17 Those are some great points. I would love for someone to deep dive into the root of the issue. Was it culture, education, really easy times, or something else that started the demise? I would love to learn more about that. I just know we are not heading in a good direction. Truly appreciate the thoughtful comment!
@@The_Cause This ended-up being quite the lengthy reply. I guess I needed someone to hear what I observed. I gave up a 15 year RN career so that my kids could be homeschooled - and it’s not because of our local schools, but because of the current family norms, and how that would rub-off on my kids. Anyway - it’s a perspective to at least consider with all the others.
From my perspective (former nurse, five of those years as a school nurse, and now a SAHM and homeschooler), this specific issue falls squarely on parents. Parents were convinced to relinquish their responsibilities as parents to schools and other government agencies, and in return they would have less hassle. Why parents would have even entertained this is beyond me.
I’m not saying all parents (certainly not), and I’m not saying this is the only issue that got us here (certainly not). But it’s a big reason. I was a school nurse between 2013 - 2018, and in those years I was constantly battling school administration and the state board of education’s attempts to turn the school’s health office, into a clinic. For reference, most school nurses don’t fight it, they just comply. As a school nurse, I should only be there for unexpected medical emergency situations, for immediate first-aid (scrapes and bumps) or suddenly developed concerns (the “I don’t feel good” visits) and to make sure that we (the school) has everything we need to ONLY help the student access their education. But education bureaucrats see money and control - and they want in-school physicals, in-school evaluations, in-school medications, in-school counseling, in-school vaccination clinics, etc. These are all things that parents should never have let go of - turns out, parents really do manage it all better themselves, and are more competent leaders of their children.
Schools also no longer hold students back, or “retain”. It’s not the standard anymore. I remember the principal and guidance counselor at the school I worked with explaining to me “it isn’t good for their self-confidence” (as if being so far behind is). Students are moved on to the next grade, and a lot of them are not even competent at the grade level they are at. And who’s going to address this with the schools? Full circle - the parents are checked-out. They don’t notice their sixth grader can barely read or write, they aren’t sitting down with them at home, the only communication with the school tends to be when something forces a wrench in their wheels (so, an inconvenience). And the schools have dropped merit-based promotion. My husband sees 11th graders in 11th level English - who are also at the same time, retaking 10th grade English because they failed it. He sees upperclassmen, who are not “special needs”, who have a reading comprehension level of a 7th grader. But he has to work with these students too. So instead of teaching to students who are appropriately in your class, and are at grade-level, his class will run the gamut of at grade level, advanced intellect/zero effort, good effort/fell through the cracks 5 years ago, and fell through the cracks/zero effort. He often hears these kids say “my parents don care anyway”, or some variation of that sentiment.
Parents are checked out because “the school’s got this” -> school admins are assuring parents they “got this” -> more funding comes if schools take on more tasks -> as parents relinquish responsibility, they further get lost in the distractions -> schools will never be able to compensate for parents (not ever), but now the parents are no longer their kid’s safety net because.... go back to the first line of this paragraph and repeat.
It’s a cycle.
Parents have been told this is “convenient” for them. It is not. This strips away a parent’s crucial role as the PRIMARY and SOLE decision maker of their child. They are so used to being checked-out... because “the school does that”. Now throw in that most adults have cell phone addiction, are constantly texting, are always on social media, etc... they are so thoroughly checked-out from parenting. Their children, as much as they truly love them, are not being “raised” and “parented”, they are merely coexisting with their kids.
These are dark times. But those of us who at least see this, are changing course. We are homeschooling, we are opting for private schools, we are not giving our kids tablets/phones, we are sitting down to dinner every night, we are reading to them and with them daily, we are showing them how we meal plan, shop, budget, etc. It’s a whole revival on the other side. So, it all bad.
I encourage you to form opinions based on objective, demonstrable facts, not based on your subjective experience and impressions. The reality is that the entire population today is more literate and knowledgeable than at any time in the past. This is an absolute fact, which can be easily demonstrated by data. It is also commonsense. We know have more knowledge than ever before. Back in Plato’s or Descartes’ time, they had a tiny, tiny fraction of the knowledge that we have now, and the overwhelming majority of the population could not read at all.
I’ve been reading through the Great Books of the Western World set with a couple of friends for 5 years now for many of the same reasons you mentioned. Wishing you the best on your journey. I love that you are doing this. We should all be doing this. You should not have to be a professional scholar to cultivate and exercise your God given mind. I consider this one of our unalienable rights. Those who would control us all prefer a dumbed down unthinking herd. I for one refuse that fate!
Amen to that! Very powerful statement and I concur. I am no scholar by any means but it is very enjoyable going through these books at a very digestible pace.
I actually just got a set of the Great Books about two weeks ago. What an amazing set! I feel the Harvard Classics is a similar to a marathon. The Great Books is like one of those insane 100 mile ultra runs. I admire your commitment for that challenging set. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
@@The_CauseI forgot to mention I am a new subscriber as of this morning. I will follow along with your journey.
Awesome! Thanks so much for subbing and I really hope you enjoy the channel! Means a lot!
It's always very encouraging to stumble upon a person on similar journey to gain wisdom and better themselves. Through studying history in free time I've realised men like those you've mentioned were on an another level entirely regarding education. Less was known, but they knew more still.
Well said! I completely agree. I like to think they had less distractions back then but that is probably not the case. They had issues back then that we do not face today. I feel they exercised discipline much more than we do now days. Thanks for watching my friend!
I'd also like to recommend the Collier's Junior Classics (10 volumes). I think they are the perfect place for getting kids to read. This was how I learned about mythology, folk and fairy tales, and classic stories when I was a kid. I recently bought a set again since my childhood set was lost over the years. I would even recommend it to adults as well. The stories are shorter, but they aren't dumbed down and cover a wide range of types and cultures.
Thanks for the recommendation. I will have to try and find a set on marketplace.
I have a mentor in ministry who disciples a handful of men. We meet every winter for a cabin trip and he assigns reading projects to us. Most of the time it is something from the Harvard classics. We have been doing this for about a dozen years now, and I can attest, it’s been amazingly influential in my life. It’s pushed and expanded our understanding of the world.
After I got out of the military, I had no idea what I wanted to do as far as my education. 12 years later, I have an MBA and am working on my DBA. Post Graduate Education has taught me so much that I would have never learned otherwise. I also have a huge passion for history and make it a point to read 10 nonfiction history books yearly!
Nice!! If you used the GI Bill all I can say is, how about that BAH? Going through school with the GI bill was nice! Love seeing veterans progressing nicely outside of the service.
I love nonfiction. Only problem is that’s all I have read over the past few years. Challenged myself last month to listen to Great Expectations on Audible and I am blown away with how much I enjoy it. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed! Thanks for serving too!
I’m next door in Mississippi and feel the same way you do about our education. Looking very forward to this series of videos.
Haha yes indeed. What part of Mississippi? We used to hunt around Liberty a good bit back in the day. Truly appreciate you following along and stay blessed my friend!
Ya'll should try funding it. I grew up in Mississippi and used to make excuses for the way things were in the south. Then I moved away and realized it isn't the systems, it is the corrupt power centers in the south and the voting public's inability to see past their religion. Voltaire would laugh his ass off at the Bible belt.
I'm retired and have several degrees... but we don't dive as deep into the liberal arts as we once did unfortunately. I just bought a set of the Harvard Classics and although a little behind will be joining you on this journey.
Heck ya! Truly appreciate you joining along and hope you enjoy them! It has been a joy for personally so far. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
It's great to see an entire TH-cam channel dedicated to the Harvard Classics🎉😊.
Congratulations 🎉👏. Our society needs this big time!!
I had the complete set that I bought used from my local library book nook. I read a majority of the books and later gave the entire collection to a friend who was homeschooling her children. You should have seen her eyes get big with an expression of extreme glee.
I taught her children piano lessons. Even at young ages they were far ahead of most public school children. They were very good at their piano lessons as well.
I have been wanting to start a small Christian school devoted to a "classical Christian" education model, but to develop the curriculum myself.
Please continue the great work that you have started😊.
Miss Monique 🙂🙏🌷💗
That’s so cool to hear. I would love to have a small classical school like that here where we live. We use Memoria Press’s curriculum at the moment and it is very detailed and dense. The problem is I do not have the knowledge of the classics to really judge it against anything. Truly appreciate you watching and I will definitely be continuing the series!
I had enough. Finished 11th grade in spring '06. Enrolled in private school by paying tuition myself with a part time job and did two years there in order to get caught up and ahead.
Nice! I enjoy the process I think more than I look forward to the outcome so sitting in my rocker, with a nice steaming cup of coffee, and a pencil to mark up is just something I can never get enough of. Thanks so much for watching my friend!
i started reading this series, during my Christmas break this year. Honestly, if you can get your hands on these books, do it. There is so much good information.
There is also a reading guild, that gives you pieces of the books to read each day. If you think you don’t have time, the daily readings take 15-20 minutes a day. I cannot suggest getting these books more.
Great information my friend! Truly appreciate you watching and I hope you are enjoying the books as much as I am! Have a blessed new year and happy reading!
@@The_Cause The reading guide is in the last book in the collection. :-)
You're expressing the very thing I have been feeling. I have found my tribe
TH-cam recommended this video, and I'm so happy it did! I teach in a public school system in West Virginia (so we're right there with you in lowest rankings), and I often ask myself "what has happened to public schools?" when reflecting on my own experience and how/what I teach now. It's a conversation I seem to only have with myself because few people seem to care. I am still a huge advocate for public schools. We do a lot of things right, but there is so much we need to change. Now, I'm mad (embarrassed?) because I've never heard of the Harvard Classics. I am familiar with the Great Books of the Western World (Mortimer Adler) and have noticed there is some overlap with the HC. Thanks to you, I've now become obsessed with this series of books! Where did you learn of them? and Where did you acquire your set? Finally, I too am an ultramarathon runner and coffee is life. Thank you for your videos.
Hey! First, thanks so much for checking out my channel as I truly appreciate it! I first five mmm started to dive down the rabbit hole after reading Gatto’s book, Dumbing Us Down. The Harvard classics (by Dr. Elliot) was in my opinion the first attempt to really create one set of books to provide a true liberal arts education. Adler came about 50 years later and took the concept to the next level with the Great Books which is more complete and in depth than the Harvard Classics.
I purchased my set off of Facebook marketplace. Depending on where you live you can easily pick them up for about 300-400 dollars.
I wish you the best of luck with the public school system and I know these two series are to much for any grade or school to really cover but to at least introduce and explain the importance to students if these two sets is still great.
Thanks so much again for the nice comment! Always great speaking to another coffee drinking ultra runner! Stay blessed!!
It’s incredibly refreshing to see people sharing a similar mindset to my own. I, too, realized after high school that the peak for greatness is so much higher than the 4.0 GPA or most academic merits, and I ‘ve cheated myself a lot of my potential by being content with mediocrity. I especially feel that this mindset should be encouraged in the youth more than ever seeing the travesty of intellectualism the public education system have produced. Great work man, found it really inspiring.
Truly appreciate the support and kind words. Completely agree with your sentiments. This is my little effort to help solve a massive problem that is going to take generations to correct. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed my friend!
*Great Classics challenge readers not only to **_think deeply_** but to **_feel deeply_** as well. (I admire, applaud and am excited by your unfolding adventure.)* 👏👏👏
I am definitely looking forward to learning about those both in deeper ways. In a way I guess that is what I am searching for. Some level of feeling that I sense is out there but that I have not quite discovered yet. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed.
@@The_Cause You're welcome. Graciousness begets grace: I've zero doubt that you posses both (and will experience a larger, elusive, fulfillment).
Blessings on the journey brother. 🙏
Much appreciated! It has been a blast so far. Thanks for watching and stay blessed!
I don't know how I stumbled on your video but so happy that I did. I just entered a new decade of life and am mapping out things I want to achieve before the next decade range begins. A voracious reader myself, and one that enjoys deep, meditative thinking, your explanation and journey into the Harvard Classics has motivated me to add the same goal to my list, starting now. This is really a wonderful idea and I appreciate your candor with your own past and upbringing as the spark that lit this fire. Excited to see where this journey takes you and where it takes me, too!
That is so cool to hear! I truly hope you do indeed embark on this journey and if you are anything like me you will find it such a joy in today’s age! Thank you so much for watching and have a blessed new year!
Happy to have found your channel. Years ago, in the library of the local community college, I saw on a cart the entire 50-volume Harvard Classics collection as well as the complete Harvard Classics Shelf of Fiction. Atop the cart was a handwritten sign that read "Discard." The books were old -- first edition -- and somewhat fragile, and there had been little or no interest in reading them. I found the head librarian, and he gave me permission to take the books. For years now, they have been on a bookshelf in my home. I've read a few selections from them -- carefully, because they are fragile -- but your channel is inspiring me to tackle the collection. We'll see how it goes. Best.
Such an awesome story and honestly it almost sound like it is destiny that those books get read by you! Truly hope you join in on the journey and anxious to hear how you progress. Thanks so much for watching my friend!
Hey Rob. I think this is a truly great thing you are doing here. I am recent graduate not from Harvard but a top 50 university in America, and while my experience was very pivotal for gaining some opportunities I previously did not have, few things have been so rewarding like the self education of reading the great books. It is an amazing feeling to know you are juggling with some of the greatest thinkers there ever were, and all on your own. So much is learned about oneself, or at least I felt that way. It’s a transformative process that leaves you a whole new person. The number one book I gained tremendous value from, and still revisit, is called The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Man… I just got a set of the Great Books in last week! It’s the 60 volume newer version and I am excited to dive into them one day. I have committed to the Harvard Classics, so I am going to complete them first.
I can understand what you mean by transformative. I can already tell my mind is shifting and my vocabulary expanding. I am really excited to see how I will feel once I complete volume 50. I feel it’s like running a marathon. What you think you are physically capable of changes drastically once you finish one. I feel the same will be in the case of completing this classical series.
Truly appreciate you watching my friend and have a great week. Stay blessed!
@@The_Cause Yes, definitely like a marathon in that sense! I am sure you will find one or multiple in that set that really speak to you! Have a great week too.
What an extraordinary example you set for all of us of educating ourselves! I'm retired and have adopted catching up on a lifetime of reading as my vocation in retirement, and although my reading list is long, I do plan to dig in to the Harvard Classics with you.
Well welcome aboard! Glad to have you along on the journey. It has been a blast so far and I must say it has been well worth it in my opinion. Truly hope you are enjoying your retirement and thanks so much for watching. Stay blessed!
I'm glad I came across this channel. I teach literature and history to college students, but I am also on a journey of trying to educate myself because, like you, I look back and realize I missed out on a real education when I was younger.
Thats so cool to hear! Good teachers are needed more than ever now days. If I had any talent at it I would love to teach a history class or something. I do not know if I could handle the students now days though. The Harvard Classic and The Great Book I feel are both great places to start. Best of luck on your journey my friend!
You’ve got yourself a new follower on this channel. I’m graduating high school this June but will not be going to college right away, and I’m deeply determined to prove that I can still continue my education and sharpen my intellect despite that.
I’ve been kicking myself lately to read more and I think this video was a message for me to really get on it, thanks!
With the likes of Hillsdale’s online courses and TH-cam you can learn a good bit if you are disciplined enough to manage yourself. What do you plan tonight do after school work/career wise?
@@The_Cause Good shout for Hillsdale, thanks!
I've been incredibly lucky to attend both my normal high school as well as a specialized academy offered to students in my county. Kids can study all sorts of subjects and learn trades there, and I've been training in the culinary course this year. I've got several certifications through that course and am now employed part time in a local restaurant with another job lined up in the summer.
Basically, I'm going to be a chef if everything works out as planned. I don't know if, when, or why I will go back to school in the future, but I know that I have so many interests that whatever I do I will figure out a way to make it worthwhile.
That’s awesome! Curious to know what country you live in? I had this notion that only people in the US would listen to this but it is cool to see people from other countries listening. Would not have thought that.
@@The_Cause I live on the East Coast of the USA, in the DMV area. I think there are some other places (both inside and outside of the country) that offer programs with a similar idea to the one I’m a part of. (I’m guessing you misread “county” in my last comment as “country” btw. I do that a lot personally)
But I also wouldn’t be too surprised if you see international viewers stop by this channel, the world is a very small place sometimes.
Adler and Van Doren’s “How to Read a Book” is probably one of the best books in anyone’s journey in self education. It’s one of my favorites. Also Sister Miriam Joseph’s “The Trivium” is quintessential in learning the all-important trivium. I have applied to a school that teaches both these books and I hope to be accepted there. But for those who are on a self education path, these two books are great.
I purchased Adler's How to Read a Book and plan to make a video on it soon. So many people have recommended it that I feel I have to read it at this point. Thanks so much for sharing and I will definitely check out the others. Stay blessed!
It's not often I watch one 7 minute clip and decide that I'm all in and subscribe. I've been collecting books for a long time, reading whatever historical and religious works interest me, but lately, I've been wondering,'What really makes a man well read?'
I am looking forward to this progress. I'll join you, by picking up a set, likely a volume at a time.
Well welcome aboard my friend! I am truly thankful to have you along. I think this is going to be a fun journey and I am anxious to see how I change in the process. I’m hoping this series can help motivate others to complete them. I truly appreciate you subscribing and hope you enjoy the reading. Stay blessed my friend!
My Uncle gave me the entire set when I was a teenager, then took credit for my interest in post-secondary education 🙂
Haha that’s about how uncles are! What an amazing gift to give someone though. Thanks so much for watching and truly hope you have a blessed week!
This project is beautiful. You are approaching it so humbly, and I think your dedication to reading them in print as a form of attention span training is incredibly cool. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to seeing where this takes you, and I'm tempted to try doing something similar myself.
I am joining you in this journey. I have read parts of collection, but never committed to finishing the series.
Heck ya! Glad to have you on board this adventure through the series! It’s been fun hearing everyone’s thoughts on all these different works. Thanks so much for watching and happy reading! Stay blessed!
Thanks!
Oh wow! Truly appreciate that my friend! This is my first Super. Thanks so much for watching and have a very blessed new year!
Kudos for your efforts, Rob. Videos almost make me think there's still hope for the culture we live in.
There is still hope! I really feel the classical movement has a chance of growing as society starts to decline. People are already looking to solutions and ways to repair the mess we have created. Truly appreciate you watching and thanks so much for the nice comment. Stay blessed my friend!
I"ve also started reading the Harvard Classics and look forward to watching your videos.
Nice! I really hope you enjoy them and have a blessed new year!
Hello from New Zealand, your video has really hit home for me, I'm on my own re-education journey now in my early 30s. Looking forward to more videos!
Yes indeed! We are on the same path then. Best of luck on your journey and have a blessed new year!
Motivated by much of the same reasons stated here, I’ve been attempting to read through the Britannica Great Books, which has a lot of overlap with this set. I found it very difficult at first, but I’ve now grown to genuinely prefer them to the contemporary books I read.
At current pace, it will likely take me around 8-10 years to complete…here’s to hoping the motivation holds!
The Great Books is a massive set in comparison with the Harvard Classics. I just purchased the Great Books a couple weeks ago and realized just how much info is in them and the font size is much smaller and the pages thinner. I consider the Harvard Classics a marathon, but the Great Books are kind of like those crazy 100 mile ultra races that people do. Kudos to taking on that challenge and I agree, 10+ years would probably be my pace to get through them. Thanks so much for watching and good luck on your journey! Stay blessed!
I need everyone to understand that the public education system is NOT broken. It is working as intended. It’s bad you say? That’s what it is designed for. Stunting your mind
lol we cover this in my video review of weapons of Mass Instruction. Really good point! Thanks for watching and stay blessed!
My husband bought me this set as a collectible and to homeschool our future kids. I've been wanting to go though it on my own and this is the push I needed. Thank you for this channel!
I had no clue about this Harvard classics collection, will definitely look at it ! At least, I feel « grateful » that I spent my youth in the french educational system where you basically study some big chunks of History spanning through most of European history of the last 2500 years, at least we had some french and foreign literature classes even if that was just citing and mentioning common classics that we’d perhaps feel like reading later on. My fondest memories come from my last year in high school where we’d have 8 hours of philosophy on a weekly basis alongside 5 hours of french and foreign literatures.
Keep up the good work !
Oh wow that sounds like a great educational program! Wish we would have had something like that. I have only been to Paris but I love the history of France. The French Revolution has always fascinated me and I have read several biographies on The Marquis De Lafayette. Although we Americans claim him for one of ours too! Haha
Thanks so much for watching!
I'm definitely saving this video - this is one for all ages. Simply timeless!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for watching my friend!
Awesome! I went through CA public schools 20-30 years ago and barely got any exposure to classical western thought. I noticed the difference in college between myself and prep school kids who could rattle off Aristotle or Cicero off the top of their heads. I got my hands on at least 35 of Harvard classics, read Plutarch, the Stoics and Franklin. Frankly, I need to read them again before I get too old to care or comprehend. Subscribed!
haha yes indeed! I am really looking forward to getting to Plutarch. I have heard so much about it and that book is referenced so much in these other writers it almost seems like a cornerstone to most of this literature in the Harvard Classics. Thanks so much for watching my friend!
Thank you for sharing. I have been on that same path for some time. I lacked a proper education and a proper growing up as I was for the lack of a better term badly abused. So now like you, I am trying to rediscover what I have missed or don't remember.
Like I keep telling myself, it’s never too late to start. I truly hope you find what you are searching for and if nothing else you find the peace and joy in these old books. Truly appreciate you watching and have a blessed new years!
Oddly timed recommendation. I have a full Harvard collection I bought from a yard sale years ago (they were unread then) and proceeded to read through some of the different volumes. I was looking at my collection yesterday and taking note of all the book markers and sticky tabs sticking out of about 12 books. So cool to see this video. Our golden years of education seem to be post graduation.
I completely agree. I have enjoyed educating myself more than I ever enjoyed sitting in a classroom. The Harvard Classics have been a game changer for my mindset here lately. Do you plan to read the series through or just pick specific volumes of interest? Thanks for watching my friend!
Most of the material in the collection is valuable to me on an “as needed” basis. I have read and studied many of the philosophical works in the collection, as well as much of the natural science literature available. I’m formally educated in Biology, so the natural science books were interesting reads. Voyage of the Beagle by Darwin was something I didn’t know existed, even though I knew who he was well before getting this collection.
I really admire your ambition! It's great to see someone taken by curiosity for the classics. Through circumstance I have been granted the privilege of studying history at university. Even there we do not have to read many of these books, but some of them we do. For most of them you're expected you read them on your own time or at least extract the main arguments and know the core passages. It's really eye opening and beautiful stuff that really makes you understand why people have been reading these books for thousands of years.
I sincerely hope you're successful in your goal, because there is no doubt in my mind that you'll come out of it a wiser man.
Thanks so much! I truly appreciate the kind words. I would love to have studied history more in college. Do you mind if I ask what you are majoring in? Is there a certain period of history you are focusing on? Thanks for watching as well my friend!
@@The_Cause I'm majoring in general history and minoring in ancient studies / classics. I focus primarily on ancient and medieval European history.
I'm pleased to hear that you're interested in exploring the Harvard volumes deeper. Your courage, curiosity, and determination to read these books are admirable.
I'll be glad to follow your reviews about each one of the volumes you'll read!
Well I would love to have you along and truly appreciate you watching! Stay blessed my friend!
Thank you. A lightbulb has turned on in my head. Reading is good for the mind!
Yes indeed! It def helps keep you centered and is food for the soul!
This is music to a homeschool mama’s heart. 🎶 Great cause, keep it up!
Thank you so much! So cool to see all the support from other homeschoolers because we go this! Thanks so much for watching.
I first came across the Harvard Classics while in university. I was highly intrigued by it. Good for you! Keep it up!
Thanks so much! Definitely going to keep putting them out. Truly enjoying this series. Thanks for watching and have a blessed new year!
I commend you for reading this series. I have never owned the Harvard Classics, but I did major in English and minored in philosophy at Rutgers College. So, I had to read some of these authors for school. I do lament though, the fully grown adult who may have never encountered these books before. I don't even want to think of the limitations of the American public education system. I was an English teacher, too, so I know what that's like.
I did find it funny though, that the curator of these series of books thought that these were essential readings for the cultivated man of the early 1900s. At that time, there was such a priority of constructing the perfect scholar and if you did not tick off all the boxes, then you were considered a buffoon. I suppose, even today, such a notion exists within academia and the Ivy Leagues. It's like, you won't be invited to tea at the yacht club, unless you were well-versed in Homer, Socrates, and the French Revolution.
I think my only gripe with the Harvard Classics is that, being that it was created in 1909, many great works that were written in the 20th Century is thus omitted from the series. So, I recommend, after reading this series, then read books from the modernist movement in both literature and philosophy.
Most definitely. I think the Harvard classics are very foundational. Before reading more modern philosophers I wanted to have a good base line of where they would be coming from. And I agree that our modern education system sadly does not teach any of these old books anymore. I think these works were so important to understand back in the day because they knew that our form of government required the populace to be educated to a certain level and have a culture that promoted the free thought that western civilization promotes. We have seen that collapse in understanding directly affect the way our government is ran. The understanding of these foundational texts go deeper than I think we realize. I want to do a video on that soon to explain it better. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
im a fellow Louisiana native, currently live in Virginia, after a journey through the military the world and life im digging into a sled directed classical education myself. great channel!
That’s awesome to hear. I lived in Portsmouth for two years and fell in love with Virginia. So much history up there. What part of Louisiana are you from? Good luck on your journey and stay blessed my friend!
@ I grew up in grant parish out in the middle of nowhere. I agree Virginia is a great place to live with the history and all. I appreciate the series on these books, I’m going to study along once I get a set, I’m doing some of the Hillsdale courses too in the meantime. We’ll have to get into a good conversation one of these days!
Haven't read these books myself, however what people describe getting from these reminds me of my own reading of 'Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy' by Jostein Gaarder. In this case it's only one book, but it goes over a long history of philosophy and explains the core ideas of those philosophies and their respective philosophers. I found it very eye-opening and thought provoking. Certainly one of the most important works of literature I've read in my youth and would higly recommend to anyone who wishes to have a similar self-education/mind-expanding experience.
Thanks so much for sharing! I have not heard of that book yet so I will most definitely add it to my list to check out. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and I hope you stay blessed.
I gave this book to my son
He liked it very much
I grew up in Mississippi and I have a lot of pride for my state but the education I received from public school was also lacking. I believe this has led me to my PhD program which requires immense self study. It is a rewarding process but can be difficult. Thanks for this series.
Excellent series, I have the whole set in ebook format, but have only read some stuff so far. Looking forward to seeing you discuss it more.
Glad to hear you are enjoying them! Truly appreciate you watching and have a blessed new year!
I have a beautiful green bound copy of Volume 2, but had no idea this was such a comprehensive book series. I'm definitely going to start collecting the rest of them. Thanks so much for the series, I'm looking forward to watching!
The green volumes are the nicest looking set in my opinion. I would love to pick up a set one day. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and hope you enjoy the series!
@@The_Cause Thanks, mate! Keep up the good work.
I had a similar journey. I didn't consider myself educated until around age 36 when I started reading through Mortimer Adler's Great Books Series (I've read about 25 of them).
Nice!! I just got that set a few weeks back. The Great Books are dense! 25 volumes in and I can tell you have covered some stuff. We are on the same journey then my friend. Truly hope you find everything you are looking for and enjoy it!
Your video got me subscribe to a channel I think for the first time in years. You seem genuine. What struck me is the thought process than lead you to these works. I hope this sort of awakening is spreading.
Since applied postmodernism spreads via mimetic desire, and has nothing inherently of value to offer, the simple desire to learn in the classical sense is enough to break free.
Thanks so much for subscribing and for the kind words. I am not 100% sure exactly what I am hoping to gain but I am looking forward to sharing what I do learn as I go. I feel there is a grey veil that has been placed over many of us if we do not remove it soon it may turn into Churchill’s iron curtain. Like you, I hope we can turn it around. Thanks for watching and stay blessed!
“Why were the most influential and respectable people of that age all reading these classical works while I was over here watching Barney and colouring Mickey Mouse pages?” 🎯🎯🎯
It still bothers me to think about! Such a waste! haha
Thank you for doing this! I weep for the collapse of American education and don't think that we, as a nation, will know the full extent of the devastation this decline will wreck for a generation or more. I am thrilled that you will be posting your summaries/thoughts on each volume and look forward to hearing what you have to say. I am not aware of anyone in my area that is engaging in deep reading so it's nice to have someone to "read along" with.
I hear ya! I am reading through Paradise Lost now and nobody I speak to in my personal life has read it. It has been nice to have this little community to go through this series with. I learn as much from the comments from others as I do from the books sometimes. Truly appreciate you watching and looking forward to hearing your thoughts as you go through these books!
@@The_Cause I am saving up for the GBWW series and am currently reading "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius. I am interested to learn more about Stoicism and thought that might be a good place to start. I found Mortimer Adler's "Six Great Ideas" series on TH-cam, which dovetails nicely with his 10-volume "Great Ideas Program" precursor to GBWW.
I picked up a set of the Harvard Classics this past spring. I have had the same feeling about how my school years was wasted. I've come to discover some of the great works and it really is like an awakening to a new world. If your interested in connecting on any of the topics or books reach out. Thanks for starting this channel!
I would love that! Connecting with others who are reading through them would be a fun journey. I’m excited to get these out there and meet more people of the same mindset. Hit me up at coffeerunsdeep@gmail.com and let’s connect. Where are located?
@The_Cause Will do and I'm from Kentucky.
Nice! Truly appreciate you reaching out and for supporting my channel! Means a lot. Looking forward to connecting.
Hi Rob, just came across your channel. Wanted to express my support and gratefulness for the effort you put into this initiative. In this day and age where quality knowledge, consideration and critical thinking is sort of pushed to the background by bite size digital news and content, we can really use people like you. Looking forward to consuming more of your video’s and challenge my own reading and thinking. M cheers.
I humbly appreciate the feedback! I am enjoying making these videos so that makes it all the better. I hope this series inspires others to pick up some old books and explore topics in their own minds without the distraction of pixels and notifications. Truly appreciate you watching and stay blessed my friend!
This is great man. I'm trying hard to move away from devices, tv, video games, etc. I deleted and uninstalled social media (except TH-cam, I'm still working on that) I've decided to read a chapter a day from multiple books before I engage with media devices. Right now I'm working at Moby dick and the lord of the rings trilogy. After being so hopelessly dependent on social media, I'm finding it immensely difficult to focus on long form content. It's a struggle. But every day it gets a little easier.
I commend you my good friend. We appear to be in the same canoe paddling up the same stream. I wish you the best of luck on your journey and hope you find all the joy you deserve in the process. Have blessed weekend my friend!
Very well said. I come from a similar background and find myself on the same journey. I look forward to following along with you!
Welcome aboard my friend! I am truly excited to have you along. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
Love your frame of mind going into this. You've inspired me to do the same.
Nice!! Really hope you do and I highly doubt you will regret it. I have been really enjoying reading through these books. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed my friend!
Homeschool mom here trying to start my young kids on a similar path of wisdom!! We are currently using The Children’s Tradition year 3 based on John Law’s 1000 Good Books list to prepare all of us to read the 100 Great Books (most of which are included in the Harvard Classics)! I have tried to read the Great Books myself. I have a college degree and considered myself well read, but I am lost! So I am reeducating myself as I educate my children ❤ It is a sweet journey together!
Although I'm a bit late, but this is a great idea for a TH-cam series. I'm myself believe in the process of Socratic learning, and even though I'm currently undergoing a traditional education (college undergrad right now), supplementing it with resources like this seems like a necessity for deep and intellectual understanding.
Glad to have you aboard my friend! That’s is exactly why I am making this series. I hope it can help those who may not have the time to currently read through them all. Thanks so much for watching and have a blessed new year!
This is such an amazing idea. I admire your humility.
Thanks so much! It has been a truly enjoyable and enlightening path to go down. Thanks for watching and stay blessed!
I hope it goes well for you. Your project is certainly a worthy one.
I truly appreciate that! It has been a joy so far to put these videos out. We will see how I feel once I get to volume 42 but so far so good! Thanks so much for watching my friend!
I am in my early thirties, and agree w you completely in the loss of attention span. I am currently taking classes online and have a terrible time sticking with a task. Homeschooling my kids HAS helped though, because i feel like i am more likely to leave my phone in my room until i am done with their studies than i am to give myself that grace. Its been enough to at least allow me to acknowledge my own issue.
As far as my own self-study i have found keeping a common place book to be really beneficial in giving me somewhere to keep the info and thoughts on the things i am learning
I am glad you mentioned the commonplace book. I have one and I write in it sometimes for periods and then stop. I have decided that in 2025 I really want to try and write in it daily if possible. Like you mentioned just to get my mind off listening and to think and create something in my own words. Loved this comment as homeschooling is no joke! Thanks for watching and have a blessed Christmas!
I grew up in NC and feel exactly as you do about my education growing up and my attitude towards reading
Haha yes indeed. Hopefully we can change that for future generations but we will see. Truly appreciate you watching my friend and have a great week! Stay blessed!
Louisiana native here. I also got my hands on the Plato Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius volume by chance. It was a catalyst for my own self education. I look forward to seeing your journey
That is a good volume indeed! So much wisdom packed in volume 2. What part of Louisiana if you do not mind me asking?
@The_Cause Im from the Baton Rouge area currently residing on the west coast. I've been flirting with the idea of getting the rest of the set, but my bookshelf is full of books I still need to read lol!
Nice! I’m from Denham so we were pretty close. I was stationed in San Diego for two years and I loved the west coast. Some very fun times to look back on. Hope you enjoy it out there. Thanks for watching my friend!
I've been slowly making my way through these books for some time now. Currently in the middle of the third volume. I downloaded the pdfs of the complete set and read them for about 15 mins a day on my kindle. Would be nice to have a complete physical set, but that would require more money than I currently have.
I found my set on FB Marketplace and paid $375. I am sure if I would of waited longer I could have found them a bit cheaper but ya the whole set is kind of expensive. I think this set was meant to be read in small intervals every day for years. It allows the material to sink in and get absorbed into your daily living. Thanks for watching my friend!
I had a neighbor who died and left me his set, which his mother bought for him when he was a kid. I am going to read them all this year.
Very admirable! I can’t wait to watch the series 😊
Thanks so much! I truly hope you enjoy and thanks for watching!
This channel is literally a treasure
I’m glad you think so. I have put a good bit of time into at this point so that is nice to hear. Thanks for watching and stay blessed my friend!
@The_Cause I'm currently studying latin for my second university degree, and your book reviews are extremely useful for a person who doesn't know a lot about classic literature😅 so, thank you for saving my engineer's soul. Bless you!
I'm currently in college studying to become a teacher of English. For our second year literature class, they swapped 1984 for Bridget Jones's Diary ... I'm also one of the very few in my class who actually reads on a daily basis. It's abysmal.
Wow.. 1984 should be required reading. I would love to see what the reading list is for that program. Reading on your own will probably be the single most important benefactor to your education. Thanks so much for watching my friend and best of luck on your education!
Damn, 1984 has shaped my world view ever since I read it in high school. Swapping it with any other book is a tragedy.
Really tells you a lot about the ways in which your college wants to influence you and your fellow students.
I find your initiative commendable. Looking from a wider perspective, and a belief in the oneness of humanity and our common destiny, there is much more out there in the ‘non-western world’ than what these series of books may provide - though a good place to start. A path to advancing civilisation in our actions is so much more than academics.
I agree there is much to be found beyond the western world, but yet I still read a bunch of western stuff. I’m an acupuncturist so I read a lot of Chinese medicine texts some going back to the year 220 AD, my favorite from around the year 900.
I agree there is definitely more out there than just the western world’s view but I feel I have to build this foundation and then branch out into different points of view. For me this is just a starting point. I do not plan to stop after completing the western side but venture into the eastern as well. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
This is such a great and ambitious idea! I did have the opportunity to read a lot of classic works in high school and college, but I skim read and flubbed my way through. Lately I’ve been wishing I had actually read everything I had been assigned. I’m planning to join the Hardcore Literature Club. The guy who runs it here in TH-cam seems like a great discussion leader. Good luck to you! I look forward to your future videos.
I hear you on wishing you would have actually read. I didn’t take school serious back in the day. As I have gotten older I appreciate it so much more. I am going to have to look up this hardcore literature club. With work, family, reading and making these videos I don’t know how much more I can devote to other reading. Def curious though. Thanks for sharing!
So happy to see others pick up reading! I used to read as a teen but I let the hobby go and I'm picking it back up now! I really suggest reading books like think and grow rich as well if you're looking for "true" spiritual teaching, that's the gateway drug into knowing the true nature of reality
Think and grow fish is a great book. Have you ever read the Devil on by Napoleon Hill? I forget the name. It was good as well.
I remember going to a book sale at my local library, they were selling a the whole set of the Harvard Classics
I only wanted to get books from the Skeptics but I contemplated just getting the whole set for that 40 dollar price
I regret not getting the full set cuz of this video lol
Can’t wait for you to discuss Locke, Hume and Berkley
Dang that would have been a deal. I paid that just in shipping! Haha
I am definitely looking forward to Locke and Hume. Currently reading Francis Bacon’s Essays now and I just love the way he expressed ideas and how he used words like art work to explain a point or idea. Been a great learning experience for sure. Thanks so much for watching and stay blessed!
My grandfather had the collection, and I got it after he passed away. I've tried starting to read them a few times, and the print is pretty small for my 60 year old eyes. And of course the language is difficult. Kudos to you for starting on this journey. Maybe I will follow along!
Please do! I would love to have you along the journey! Thanks for watching and stay blessed!
Definitely consider Vishal Magalwadi’s “The Book that Shaped Your World” to ground your classical learning. Psalm 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Psalm 119:100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.
I will put it on my list for 2024! Truly appreciate you sharing and love the passages. 119 is a special one for sure. Going to have to read it over again now. Thanks so much for watching!
This is an excellent idea! I just subscribed and look forward to following along with you. I homeschooled my son for high school school and we read many classics together- it was fantastic.
Thanks so much for the sub and welcome aboard! We are hoping to do the same things with our kids. It almost seems like the only way now days the more we look around at our local options. Glad to hear it went well and that’s motivating. Appreciate you watching and stay blessed!
What you are onto here is SO important for the renewal that our culture desperately needs. You are right about screen time causing attention span contraction, too. Nicholas Carr wrote a good book called “The Shallows” that gets into the brain science of why that is.
I’m also a product of Louisiana education, but had the benefit of a family of educators who were into the classics and liberal arts, and we had a Latin class at my high school (West Monroe), so I believe I got more than most, but like you I wish I had spent a bit more of my formative years reading Plato or Augustine and a bit less playing “Command and Conquer”. Do you guys have a coffee shop in Denham Springs, or are you strictly producing it? I have family in that area and would love to drop in next time I’m down there.
I am going to have to look that book up and check it out. I do not have a coffee shop in Denham but I have a small roaster by my house that I shoot all these videos in as well. It is half coffee, half books, and heaven to someone who loves both. haha If you are ever down my way hit me up.
I have three different publications of these in my home office, waiting to start - looking forward to it!
Nice! I truly hope you enjoy them and happy reading! No time like the present to start. Thanks for watching!
I had to quote you on my Facebook. I enjoyed this video. New sub here.
"It's hard to respect something you've never been taught." Rob Pirie-The Cause #thecause #robpirie
Hey! Truly appreciate you subbing and glad you enjoyed the video! I think that line is more true today than ever. We have to get back to valuing people, the family and education or we are going to be in a very difficult situation. Hope you have a great week and stay blessed!
Immediately subbed after watching your intro to this series! A couple points after seeing this video just now
1. these 'great books' series the Ivy League universities used to put out where *REVOLUTIONARY* in their day, because college was nothing more than a pipe dream for anyone outside the monied class. College traditionally speaking was essentially the purview of the elite's children consisting of the most powerful families of wealthy industrialists. This was true in the bigger universities of 15th-centiury medieval Europe where college matriculated privileged members of the Catholic Church, as much as for American universities as opposed to the old vocational trade-schools. Having collections like your Harvard series, Yale's famous "Chronics of America" in 50 volumes (1919), or Oxford university's "Sacred Books of the East" in 50 volumes (1910) offered a glimpse of something so precious for attainable prices to the masses. It was a literal window into a very exclusive world on what who would one-day rule the world learned about in their youth. And newly-minted middle-class families purchased these collections in droves which spurred all the different variations of them.
2. Just as you've mentioned you're witnessing shortened and shortening attention spans in all generational groups at this point (which I personally see in my parent's generational cohort lately, the Baby Boomers as opposed to their parents in the past ten years as they've adopted smartphones), reading in physical form these classics in bound books really helps re-establish attention spans. I think the issue isn't even public schools, because just as you stated, education is really an attitude of perpetual self-improvement throughout the entirety of your life. Jefferson's pen never wearied, and he corresponded about every new scientific and philosophical discovery coming out of Europe into his final years in the early 19th century. We have no excuse living in the 21st-century where practically every one of these books is in the public domain and scanned onto online archives to see the sum of human knowledge up until that point.
3. Finally, I'm personally going through John Fiske's 'history of the united Staes' 11-volume series published throughout the 1890's and at one time, one of the best historians The Atlantic Monthly had on staff. I'm doing this in the original publications I've had sitting on my shelf forever before bed and THEY ARE INCREDIBLE. Trying to find others online who have dug into this masterpieces of history (even though they can be very dated in certain areas) yields little results, so to see you starting this series, I'll be following you intently and am can offer nothing more than massive appreciation you're putting this online. This old beauties deserve to be mined, debated, and engaged with because as your quote you read from said, the sum total of human knowledge should be engaged with by everyone so we can have a self-sufficient, independent citizenry that's not prone to idealogical attacks from weak arguments that seem so convincing to so many.
Good luck with the series, truly!
Thank you so much for the kind words and love the aspect about Jefferson never putting his pen down. I will have to check out the 11 volume series you mentioned. I have not heard of it yet. Thank you so much for watching my friend and stay blessed!
As a fellow Louisiana boy I can relate to this all to well! Subbed
Haha yes indeed! Truly appreciate you subbing and thanks so much for watching! Hope you have a great week and stay blessed! Finally getting some cool weather down here.
Got recommended this channel through chance: love it already! Thank you for making this series and inspiring others to pursue knowledge! Instant sub!
Welcome aboard! I truly appreciate you watching and for the kind words!