Six distinguished campuses & one tall ship, acclaimed professors, and an exceptional summer experience

Experience Great Books at Amherst College. Founded in 1821 and known for its rigorous academic climate, Amherst College is ranked among the top 5 liberal arts colleges in the United States.

Explore the environs that inspired Lewis Carroll, Shakespeare, C.S. Lewis, Dickens and more at Great Books in Oxford. The oldest university in the English-speaking world, the University of Oxford was founded in 1096.

Join a program that marries the study of maritime literature and lore with living and learning to sail on a tall ship off the beautiful coast of Maine.

Discuss great books and big ideas on the campus of Stanford University. Stanford opened its doors in 1891 and has been one of the finest and most highly regarded American universities ever since.

Imagine strolling the same streets as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, or Robert Burns. Join us for a Great Books experience rich with Irish literature, history, and storytelling!

Discover Stanford's amazing new facility in the heart of Beijing! The culmination of a partnership between Stanford and Peking University, Stanford Center at prestigious Peking is truly a multicultural Great Books experience.

Discover the beauty of Northwestern University at this one-week Chicago session that takes place on a picturesque, 240-acre campus adjacent to Lake Michigan.

See Program Dates on all campuses and programs. This includes intermediate programs for students entering grades 6-8 and senior programs for students entering grades 9-12.

Our Writer’s Workshop sessions place students in small groups with accomplished writers at Amherst College and Stanford University. Students hone their craft and engage in intensive creation alongside expert faculty.

Great Books utilizes the Socratic method of teaching by asking questions. Gain valuable critical thinking skills through engaging dialogue-based seminars led by distinguished college professors.

Throughout the summer, Great Books Summer Program welcomes special guests, authors, and educators to campus to join our discussion. This series is a major feature of the program.

The Great Books blog is an extension of our mission to create warm and lively communities of learning where free inquiry, reason, and civil discourse shape critical-thinking skills. See student stories & more...