Great Books Returns
The Great Books/Great Science Books sequence (HUM 1500, 1550) is in its second year in the College of Humanities, capturing the interest of students and faculty keen to focus deeply on important books and timeless concerns in the humanities. Think of Great Books as a kind of old-fashioned social media—books read and discussed together with top professors in the College—with life-changing staying power.
“The deep and profound experience that Great Books creates comes from reading books together, sharing characters, tragic awakenings, obstacles, funny turns of phrase, lost loves, great battles, and races against time,” said Hollis Robbins, dean of the College of Humanities. “Of course, it is excellent to be introduced and helped through a foundational text by an expert professor and to read late into the night by yourself. But the greatness of a Great Books course is the collective learning experience and the sharing of allusions and histories, and valuing that shared experience.”
Last year’s Great Books roster included Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” (1859), Franz Kafka’s “The Trial” (1915), Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway” (1926), and James Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time” (1963). This fall’s will reach further back in time to begin with Sophocles’ “Antigone” (441 BCE) and William Shakespeare’s “Richard III” (1592) as well as offering more modern texts, including Charles Chesnutt’s “The Marrow of Tradition” (1901); Jennifer Morton’s “Moving Up without Losing Your Way: The Ethical Costs of Upward Mobility” (2019); Max Fisher’s “The Chaos Machine” (2022); and Raymond Hickey’s “Life and Language Beyond Earth” (2023).
Students (and parents) may be surprised to see that humanities faculty rank books written in the past decade as highly as a text like “Antigone,” written over 2 millennia ago. The idea is that greatness is still open to individuals thinking and writing today. “Antigone,” “Richard III,” and “The Marrow of Tradition” are three of the most profound political and family dramas ever written, separated by centuries yet demonstrating how literature of every age captures human struggles for decency, for power, and against legal and social constraints.
“Great books are those that engage students in the big and enduring questions that have and continue to shape the human experience,” said Mike Middleton, associate dean of academic affairs for the College of Humanities. “The course is a gateway to all the humanities has to offer.”
Richard Preiss, associate professor of English, chose “Richard III” because of the resonance of 16th-century politics with today’s. “Men of ambition claim to speak for ‘the people,’ use humor to mask their authoritarianism, and construct reality with propaganda. Literature shows us how to resist such figures: chiefly, by reminding us that they’re not new.”
The Greatest books are those that have had a discernible impact on other books and fields of study
Preiss will offer students an accessible, absorbing introduction to Shakespeare, as well as to the basic methodology of English by concentrating on key passages in a text and noticing patterns that generate deeper levels of meaning.
Erin Beeghly, associate professor of philosophy who will teach Jennifer Morton’s “Moving Up without Losing Your Way: The Ethical Costs of Upward Mobility,” said she’s excited to dive into the text with the students and examine its connection with their lives. “It’s an award-winning philosophical exploration of the ethical costs of upward mobility, especially for first-generation college students. The book is beautifully researched and compelling to read, as well as incredibly personal.”
Fulfilling the humanities general education requirement, Great Books not only allows first-year students to study influential and thought-provoking books, it also offers them an opportunity to explore their academic interests across a variety of texts and to think and respond critically to enduring questions raised by those texts.
“Of the millions of books ever written, the greatest books are those that have had a discernible impact on other books and fields of study. So, our faculty members choose books that have changed the way other authors write. Both ‘Antigone’ and ‘Richard III’ have had an incalculable impact on world literature. Raymond Hickey’s ‘Life and Language Beyond Earth’ is newly influential and ever more urgent as technology brings us closer to possible engagement with other worlds,” said Robbins.
Students looking for an engaging and unique opportunity that develops critical reading, thinking and writing skills, that will support their academic success, and provide a better understanding of extraterrestrial life, can join the next installment of the Great Books Series, Great Science Books, scheduled for Spring 2025.
About the books:
"Antigone" by Sophocles (441 BC)
Taught by Margaret Toscano
Associate Professor of World languages and cultures
“Antigone” is a Greek tragedy that explores the conflict between familial duty and the laws of the state. The play centers around Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, who defies the orders of King Creon by burying her brother, Polynices, who was declared a traitor. Creon, the king of Thebes, has decreed that Polynices should not be buried, but Antigone believes that she must honor her brother’s body according to the laws of the gods. As a result, Antigone is sentenced to death, leading to a tragic chain of events that culminate in the deaths of several characters, including Creon’s son and wife. “Antigone” explores themes of morality, loyalty, loss and mourning, women’s place in society, and the nature of justice, and is considered one of the greatest works of ancient Greek literature.
"Richard III" by William Shakespeare (1592)
Taught by Richard Preiss
Associate Professor of English
“Richard III” was Shakespeare’s first big hit—probably his most famous play during his lifetime—and it features one of literature’s greatest villains, based on one of England’s briefest, bloodiest tyrants. A study of evil and a study of power, it follows Richard’s rise to the throne through murder, deception, and manipulation. What makes him such a skilled politician also makes him a magnetic character: not despite but because of his physical disabilities (history says he was a hunchback), he is funny, charming, sexy, able to convince others—and us—that he is on their side when he is only ever on his own.
"The marrow of tradition" by charles chestnutt (1901)
Taught by Stuart Culver
Associate Professor of English and Former dean of the college of humanities
A landmark in the history of African-American fiction, this gripping 1901 novel was among the first literary challenges to racial stereotypes. Its tragic history of two families unfolds against the backdrop of the post-Reconstruction South and climaxes with a race riot based on an actual 1898 incident. The author relied upon eyewitness accounts of the riot to create an authentic setting and mood, and his sensitive artistry transcends a simple retelling of the facts with a dramatic rendering of the conflict between racism and social justice.
"Moving up without losing your way: The ethical Costs of Upward Mobility" by Jennifer M. Morton (2019)
Taught by Erin Beeghly
Associate Professor of philosophy
“Moving Up without Losing Your Way: The Ethical Costs of Upward Mobility” explores the challenges faced by individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds as they strive for upward mobility. Morton argues that while upward mobility can bring material benefits, it often comes at a cost to one’s sense of identity and familial relationships. She examines the ethical dilemmas faced by individuals navigating the education system and the workplace and offers suggestions for how individuals and society can support upward mobility without sacrificing ethical integrity. Through personal narratives and philosophical analysis, Morton highlights the complex interplay between ambition, ethics, and social mobility in contemporary society.
"The Chaos Machine: THe inside story of how social media rewired our minds and our world" by Max Fisher (2022)
Taught by Avery Holton
Professor of Communication and Lead Instructor
Building on years of international reporting, Fisher tells the gripping and galling inside story of how Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other social networks preyed on psychological frailties to create the algorithms that drive everyday users to extreme opinions and, increasingly, extreme actions. As Fisher demonstrates, the companies’ founding tenets, combined with a blinkered focus on maximizing engagement, have led to a destabilized world for everyone.
"Life and Language Beyond Earth" by Raymond Hickey (2023)
Taught by Aniko Csirmaz
Associate Professor of Linguistics
“Life and Language Beyond Earth” explores the possibility of life and communication with extraterrestrial beings. The book delves into the scientific theories and methods used to search for signs of life on other planets, as well as the challenges of interpreting and understanding potential extraterrestrial languages. Hickey discusses the cultural and linguistic implications of discovering alien life and considers how contact with extraterrestrial civilizations could impact human society. Overall, the book offers a comprehensive look at the intersection of science, language, and the search for life beyond Earth.