To Find Out More

Mortimer Adler gives wonderful inside glimpses of the early Great Books campaigns in his autobiography, Philosopher at Large (1977). A valuable recent secondary work that places the Great Books movement in its cultural context is James Sloan Allen’s The Romance of Commerce and Culture (1983). Of the making of lists of great books there seems to be no end, including a recent one issued by Bennett for grade school children. Adler’s autobiography provides two lists, and anyone interested in joining a Great Books discussion can contact the Great Books Foundation, 40 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611.