What’s better than a Great Books education?

A Great Books education built on the solid foundation of a Good Books education—which is in turn laid on the bedrock of direct, unmediated experience with reality in all its splendor.

To borrow from John Senior, the best way to prepare a student to be benefited by the 100 great books is first to nourish him through childhood on the 1,000 good books.

This is something that the classical/great books movement at the primary and secondary levels must learn. Some know it well—but other HS programs seem to be watered-down college great books curricula. This is a mistake.

Most high schoolers need lots of literature and history—

not philosophy, or at least not lots of philosophy.

Children need EXPERIENCE, the real experience of the natural and social worlds.

And children and adolescents need VICARIOUS EXPERIENCE, the kind supplied by narrative (literature and history).

These are goods in themselves. And they are also the best preparation for philosophy, theology, and the other higher studies, for those who will graduate to them.

Incidentally, this is the best foundation for a CIVIC education as well as a LIBERAL (philosophic) education.

Give everyone a solid foundation in reality, in nature, in face-to-face contact without screens—and in the thousand good books.

Then let a few seek out the Great Books.