The Great Books Foundation promotes reading, thinking, and the sharing of ideas for people of all ages. Since 1947, the Foundation has helped millions of people make the reading and discussion of literature a lifelong source of enjoyment, personal growth, and social engagement.
What We Believe
The Foundation promotes the thoughtful, respectful exchange of ideas. We promote civil discourse, essential for the success of democracy.
We value literature, great literature, literature that has the capacity to inspire and thrill generations of readers.
We believe that critical thinking is a basic skill. We believe that reading and discussing the very best literature is the best way to teach reading and critical thinking, and that all students should have the opportunity to learn this way, equipped with the highest quality materials available.
We believe that all teachers aspire to be reflective teachers who value their own ongoing learning in the classroom.
Who We Are
Each year, thousands of teachers make high-quality literature and Shared Inquiry™ discussion a part of the K-12 curriculum.
An estimated one million students improve their reading comprehension and critical thinking skills in thousands of Great Books classrooms.
And thousands of adult readers across the country reaffirm for themselves that discussing their favorite book in a Great Books group is a powerful instrument for personal growth and for social and civic engagement.
Welcome to the Great Books community.
Quick Facts
Founded:
1947 by Mortimer Adler and Robert Maynard Hutchins
Designation:
Independent, nonprofit educational organization, 501(c)(3).
Mission:
To empower readers of all ages to become more reflective and responsible thinkers. To accomplish this, we teach the art of civil discourse through the Shared Inquiry™ method and publish enduring works across the disciplines.
President:
George L. Schueppert
Programs:
- Junior Great Books K-2
- Junior Great Books 3-5
- Great Books Roundtable™ (grades 6-8)
- Introduction to Great Books (9-12)
- Great Books in college classrooms and continuing education
- Great Books for book groups
The Great Books Community:
- More than one million students in Great Books programs each year
- 35,000 teachers use Great Books in the classroom
- More than 800 book groups
- Eleven Great Books councils
Shared Inquiry:
Great Books Foundation Shared Inquiry is a discussion method, a teaching and learning environment, and a way for individuals to achieve a more thorough understanding of a text by discussing questions, responses, and insights with fellow readers.
Alliances:
The Foundation establishes alliances with like-minded organizations, institutions, and corporations. We collaborate on a variety of projects that serve students and teachers from kindergarten through college and adult readers in all walks of life.