Members of Houston Great Books are joining Radio station KUHF at the
University of Houston at its pledge drive the week of October 11-18.  If we
volunteer to man phones and go as a group, we will receive acknowledgement
on the air and get the word out about our city-wide groups.  Join Board
members Pat Hill from 7:00 to 9:00 a.m. on Friday, October 12, or Ron
Hoeflinger and Alice Aman on Thursday, October 18 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. and
we will receive on-air recognition.  Other times are 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friiday,
October 12, or for those of you who are really early-birds, 5:45 to 8:00
almost any weekday morning.  Please reply to dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net.  Let's get
the word out.

Area-Wide Meeting

On Saturday, September 15, 2001 about 15 people attended the Houston Great
Books Council’s area-wide meeting at the Tracy Gee Center. The highlight of the
meeting was a discussion of Alice Walker’s story – “Everyday Use.” The
discussion was led by Esther Jones who received universal praise for her
efforts.

In addition, 4 members were elected to the board of the HGBC. Esther was
re-elected to a 2 year term. Jeff Crow was elected treasurer and Pat Hill and
Ron Hoeflinger were elected as board members.

Latino National Conversation

The Great Books Foundation will conduct a Latino National Conversation in
Houston on Tuesday, November 13th from 7 to 9 PM of John Philip Santos’ memoir,
“Places Left Unfinished at The Time of Creation”. (An excerpt will be published
in The Houston Chronicle on Sunday, November 11th)

Discussions will be held in the following locations:

Central Library (Concourse Room)
500 McKinney
Houston, TX 77002
(713) 236-1313

Carnegie Regional Branch Library
1050 Quitman St.
Houston, TX 77009
(713) 226-4445

Park Place Library
8145 Park Place Blvd.
Houston, TX 77017
(713) 645-4183

Morris Frank Branch
6440 W. Bellfort
Houston, TX. 77035
(713) 272-3655

Rice University
328 Humanities Building
Time: 2:30 pm to 5:50 pm
(713) 867-8943
Prof: Tony Diaz (This is his course of Creative writing, he is inviting the
entire Rice community and Houston in general.)

   [submitted by Wally Pliszka)

=================================================

Houston Great Books Discussion Groups for October:

   Links to various sources for readings have been included for your perusal. It
is always best to call or email the group contact person for information about
the specific text being used.
    For information about future dates not listed below, see the "Groups Around
Town" column on our website and click on "Readings" for the particular group
you might be interested in.
    Please do not hesitate to send corrections.

Thucydides: History of the Peloponnesian War
from the Third Series
Oasis Group - Foleys/Northwest Mall
Oct 2nd Tues at 1:30 pm
Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924

Assyrian Epic of Gilgamesh (Penguin Classics)
Explorers Group - Barnes & Noble
7626 Westheimer (at Voss)
Oct 3rd Weds at 8:00 pm
Contact: Anna Lombardo
tacinc(a)hotmail.com,713-461-2900

Geertz:Deep Play:Notes on the Balinese Cockfight
from the Clashes of Culture Theme Series
Fannin Group
First UU Church, rm 201
5200 Fannin (corner of Southmore)
Oct 4th Thurs 12:00 pm - 1:30pm
Contact: Grace Amborski
g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net
713-592-0629

O'Connor: The Violent Bear it Away
Kirby Group
Borders Book Store
3025 Kirby Drive (at W. Alabama)
Oct 4th Thurs at 7:00 pm
Contact: Betty Bell
bhbell(a)pdq.net,713-864-5374

Berger:The Three Lives of Lucie Cabrol
from the Happiness and Discontent Anniversary Series
Woodlands Group - S.Montgomery County Library
Oct 4th Thurs at 7:00 pm
Contact: Wally Pliszka
wpliszka(a)yahoo.com, 281-353-7104

Proust:Swann's Way-Overture(p 3-52)
(carried over from last meeting which was cancelled)
from Living with the Past Theme Series
Meyerland Borders Group
Borders Book Store
Meyerland Plaza
4660 N Braeswood
Oct 9th Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver
dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net,713-436-1783

Derrida: Community Without Community,
Derrida: Justice, If such a Thing Exists
excerpt from Deconstruction in a Nutshell
(parts of a conversation)
(contact Kent for copy of reading)
Political Philosophy Group
Bellaire Library, 2nd floor
5111 Jessamine
Oct 11th Thurs at 6pm
Contact: Kent Guida
kent.guida(a)att.net

Aristotle: Ethics (Part 1)
http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/projects/digitexts/aristotle/nicomachean_ethics/titl\
e.html
Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
Oct 13th Sat at 2:00 pm
Contact: Mike McInerney
mmci(a)wt.net, 713-868-2443

Montesguieu:Principles of Government
from the GB Third Series
Northwest Group - Library
11355 Regency Green Dr, Cypress,TX
Oct 13th Sat at 1:30 pm
Contact: Cynthia Jones
cynjo(a)pdq.net , 281-379-2329

Marx:Alienated Labour
http://csf.colorado.edu/psn/marx/Archive/1844-EPM/1st.htm
from the GB First Series
Cypress Creek Group--Cypress Creek Library
6815 Cypresswood Dr.
Oct 15th Mon at 7pm
Contact:Earl Bissex, 281-955-9447

Sobol:Galileo's Daughter
Looscan Library, 2510 Willowick
Oct 15th Mon at 7:00pm
Contact: Len Radoff
theradoffs(a)juno.com, 713-692-1952

Homer: The Iliad
http://books.mirror.org/gb.homer.html
excerpts as included in the GB Third Series
Memorial Group
Barnes & Noble Memorial/Kimberly
12850 Memorial Drive
(Note New location)
Oct 16th Tues at 7:00pm
Contact:Don Warshauer
donbw(a)hal-pc.org, 713-468-0863

Gogol: The Overcoat
http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/gogolovercoat.html
from the GB Fourth Series
Sugarland Group
First Colony Lib
2121 Austin Pkwy
Oct 16th Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact: Ron Hoeflinger
Ron_Hoeflinger(a)email.msn.com,
281-980-0840

Suetonius: Nero
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/suet-nero-rolfe.html
Westbury Group
Westbury United Methodist Church
5100 Willowbend
Oct 16th Tues at 7pm
Contact: Bob Friedman
bobnjoy(a)iapc.net,713-729-2255

Herodotus (490-425BC):The Histories
(approximately 100 pages of)
Explorers Group - Barnes & Noble
7626 Westheimer (at Voss)
Oct 17th Weds at 8:00 pm
Contact: Anna Lombardo
tacinc(a)hotmail.com,713-461-2900

Nietzsche: Thus Spoke Zarathustra
http://www.knuten.liu.se/~bjoch509/works/nietzsche/zarathustra.txt
from the GB Fifth Series
Country Place Group
Country Place Carriage House, Pearland TX
Oct 21st Sun at 3pm
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver
dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net, 713-436-1783

O'Connor: Everything that Rises Must Converge
from Order and Chaos Theme Series
ClearLake Group
Freeman Library -16602 Diana Ln
Oct 25th Thur at 7pm
Contact: Robin Fewox
robin_fewox(a)aimfunds.com, 281-480-5697

Plato: The Apology
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html
from the GB First Series
Fondren-Rice Group
Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
Oct 28th Sun at 3pm
Contact:Urvine Atkinson
urv1956(a)alumni.rice.edu, 713-665-0522

Dubois: The Soul of Black Folks
from Clashes of Culture Theme Series
Westbury Group
Westbury United Methodist Church
5100 Willowbend
Oct 30th Tues at 7pm
Contact: Bob Friedman
bobnjoy(a)iapc.net,713-729-2255

Aristotle: On Tragedy
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/archives/fifth/aripoetics.html
from the GB Fifth Series
West University Group
Senior Ctr.6104 Auden(at Rice Blvd)
Oct 30th Tues at 12pm
Contact:Grace Amborski
g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net,713-592-0629

Bhagavad Gita
http://eawc.evansville.edu/anthology/gita.htm
Explorers Group - Barnes & Noble
7626 Westheimer (at Voss)
Oct 31st Weds at 8:00 pm
Contact: Anna Lombardo
tacinc(a)hotmail.com,713-461-2900

(Group Calendar information submitted by Alice Aman]

=========================
"Man's mind, once stretched by a new idea,
never regains its original dimensions."
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Reminder - Area-Wide HGBC Meeting
September 15 at 10am at the Tracy Gee Community Center

The Houston Great Books Council will hold an area-wide meeting on Saturday,
September 15, 2001 beginning at 10am at the Tracy Gee Community Center located
at 3599 Westcenter, one block east of Beltway 8.  We will discuss "Everyday Use"
by Alice Walker.  The text of which can be found at
   http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/walker
We will also elect 4 members to the Houston Great Books Council Board.

==========================================

Increasing Group Attendance

Some Houston area Great Books groups struggle with their attendance.  Until
recent months, the Memorial group had been among them.  However, attendance has
now increased substantially.  How did they accomplish it?

The Memorial Great Books group has been able to increase its membership because
of these measures:
(1) separation of discussion leader from secretary/coordinator functions.  This
way the secretary/coordinator is able to concentrate on issues related to
attendance at the discussions.
(2) they send written announcements with details of the monthly meeting to each
member or guest by either email or postal mail;
(3) the coordinator telephones each member or guest several days before the
monthly meeting to remind them of the upcoming meeting.

The Memorial Group meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:15pm at the
Kendall library at 14330 Memorial Drive.  They are currently reading the Great
Books 3rd Series.  Contact Don Warshauer at donbw@... or 713-468-0863
for additional information.

==========================================

Middlemarch

At its August 2 meeting, the Woodlands Great Books group discussed George
Eliot’s Middlemarch with a decided British accent. Of the 8 participants, 4
were natives of the UK or Australia, which added a particular perspective to
the discussion. Historically, the Woodlands has not discussed large works so
taking on a 750-page novel was a new experience. The author’s techniques were
frequently remarked upon including her facility with language. Her ability to
capture the different thought processes of Lydgate and Casabaum, along with the
dialogue of Mr. Brooks, was cited as notable examples. The group noted the
inherent class distinctions present in the story and the techniques whereby the
author molded them into a coherent whole. There was disagreement as to the
effectiveness of the plot, such as it is, but there was no disagreement that
the author’s command of language and character development more than made up
for any deficiency of storyline.

The Woodlands is a long-standing group with a solid core of members, which is
currently alternating readings between the 1st Series and the Happiness and
Discontent volume. They meet the 1st Thursday of the month at 7pm in the South
Montgomery County library in the Woodlands. Call Wally Pliszka at 281/353-7104
for additional information.

    --all articles above submitted by Wally Pliszka
==========================================

Discussion Groups for September:

   Links to various sources for readings have been included for your perusal. It
is always best to call or email the group contact person for information about
the specific text being used.
   For information about future dates not listed below, see the "Groups Around
Town" column on our website and click on "Readings" for the particular group
you might be interested in.
   Please do not hesitate to send corrections.

Yeats: Among School Children
  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5379/AmongSchoolChildren.html
  and Prayer for my Daughter
  http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5379/APrayerForMyDaughter.html
  Reading from the Parent and Child Series
  Oasis Group - Foleys/Northwest Mall
  Sept 4th Tues at 1:30 pm
  Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924

Nabokov: Lolita
  Fannin Group -- First UU Church, rm 201
  5200 Fannin (corner of Southmore)
  Sept 6th Thurs 12:00 pm - 1:30pm
  Contact: Grace Amborski
  g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net
  713-592-0629

Eliot: Murder in the Cathedral
  Kirby Group
  Borders Book Store
  3025 Kirby Drive (at W. Alabama)
  Sept 6th Thurs at 7:00 pm
  Contact: Betty Bell
  bhbell(a)pdq.net,713-864-5374

Conrad: Heart of Darkness
  http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/conradheartofdarkness.html
  selection from First Series
  Woodlands Group
  S.Montgomery County Library
  Sept 6th Thurs at 7:00 pm
  Contact: Wally Pliszka
  wpliszka(a)yahoo.com,
  281-353-7104

Lewis: Perelandra
  Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
  Sept 8th Sat at 2:00 pm
  Contact: Mike McInerney
  mmci(a)wt.net, 713-868-2443

Homer:The Iliad
  excerpts as included in the Third Series
  Northwest Group - Library
  11355 Regency Green Dr, Cypress,TX
  Sept 8th Sat at 1:30 pm
  Contact: Cynthia Jones
  cynjo(a)pdq.net , 281-379-2329

Proust: Overture
  selection from Living with the Past
  Meyerland Borders Group
  Borders Book Store Meyerland Plaza
  4660 N Braeswood
  Sept 11th Tues at 7:00 pm
  Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver
  dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net,713-436-1783

Foucalt:What is Enlightenment;
Foucalt:Nietzsche, Genealogy, History
  (contact Kent for copy of reading)
  Political Philosophy Group
  Bellaire Library, 2nd floor--5111 Jessamine
  Sept 13th Thurs at 6pm
  Contact: Kent Guida
  kent.guida(a)att.net

Flaubert: A Simple Heart
  http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/flaubertsimpleheart.html
  Country Place Group
  Country Place Carriage House, Pearland TX
  Sept 16th Sun at 3pm
  Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver
  dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net, 713-436-1783

Kant: Conscience
  from the GB STD First Series
  Cypress Creek Group--Cypress Creek Library
  6815 Cypresswood Dr.
  Sept 17th Mon at 7pm
  Contact:Earl Bissex, 281-955-9447

Heaney: Beowulf
  Looscan Library
  2510 Willowick
  Sept 17th Mon at 7:30pm
  Contact: Len Radoff
  theradoffs(a)juno.com,
  713-692-1952

Homer: The Iliad
  http://books.mirror.org/gb.homer.html
  excerpts as included in the Third Series
  Memorial Group
  Kendall Library, 14330 Memorial Dr
  Sept 18th Tues at 7:00pm
  Contact:Don Warshauer
  donbw(a)hal-pc.org, 713-468-0863

Shakespeare: The Tempest
  http://tech-two.mit.edu/Shakespeare/tempest/index.html
  Sugarland Group
  First Colony Lib,2121 Austin Pkwy
  Sept 18th Tues at 7:00 pm
  Contact: Ron Hoeflinger
  Ron_Hoeflinger(a)email.msn.com, 281-980-0840

Suetonius: Life of Claudius
  http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/suetonius-claudius-worthington.html
  Westbury Group
  Westbury United Methodist Church
  5100 Willowbend
  Sept 18th Tues at 7pm
  Contact: Bob Friedman
  bobnjoy(a)iapc.net,713-729-2255

Adams: The Education of Henry Adams (Chap I-IV)
  http://xroads.virginia.edu/~HYPER/hadams/ha_home.html
  West University Group
  Senior Ctr.6104 Auden(at Rice Blvd)
  Sept 18th Tues at 12pm
  Contact:Grace Amborski
  g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net,713-592-0629

Fitzgerald: The Great Gatsby
  Explorers Group - Barnes & Noble
  7626 Westheimer (at Voss)
  Sept 19th Weds at 8:00 pm
  Contact: Anna Lombardo
  tacinc(a)swbell.net
  713-461-2900

Plato: The Apology
  http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html
  selection from the standard
  Great Books First Series
  Fondren-Rice Group
  Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
  Sept 23rd Sun at 3pm
  Contact:Urvine Atkinson
  urv1956(a)alumni.rice.edu, 713-665-0522

Bishop: The Armadillo
  http://www.wmich.edu/english/tchg/lit/pms/bishop.armadillo.html
  from Order and Chaos Series
  ClearLake Group
  Freeman Library -16602 Diana Ln
  Sept 27 Thur at 7pm
  Contact: Robin Fewox
  robin_fewox(a)aimfunds.com, 713-661-7684

  --Calendar information collected by Alice Aman
==========================================

Fiction reveals truths that reality obscures.
  --Jessamin West

The reading selection listed in the August Houston Great Books electronic
newsletter for the Memorial group was reported incorrectly as the "Iliad" by
Homer for their August 21st meeting. Below is their corrected information.
We apologize for any inconvenience.

Chekhov: Uncle Vanya
  http://www.classicreader.com/read.php/sid.7/bookid.1020/sec.1/
   or
  http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/ac/vanya.htm
  Memorial Group
  Kendall Library
  14330 Memorial Dr
  Aug 21st Tues at 7:00 pm
  Contact:Don Warshauer
  donbw(a)hal-pc.org,
  713-468-0863

  --Information submitted by Alice Aman
    amanhaus(a)swbell.net

Habla Espanol?

Those of you who are reading one of the Great Books Foundation's 50th
Anniversary Series volumes know that the Foundation has included a wider
diversity of writers than the traditional Great Books series.  It is,
similarly, a goal of the Houston Great Books Council to increase the diversity
of its membership in the Houston area.

To further that goal, on Tuesday, November 13, the Great Books Foundation is
going to sponsor a Latino National Conversation in 10 or more locations
throughout the Houston area.  The Foundation has requested our help.  They
would like us to provide leaders for each of these locations.  Of course, they
would be especially interested in bilingual leaders or leaders of Spanish
descent.  At this time, we have few other particulars regarding the event, but
we NEED YOUR HELP!  If you would like to lead one of the discussions or know
someone, particularly someone who is Latino, who would be interested in leading
a discussion please respond to houstongreatbooks(a)yahoo.com

September Area-wide Meeting

The Houston Great Books Council will hold an area-wide meeting on Saturday,
September 15, 2001 beginning at 10am at the Tracy Gee Community Center located
at 3599 Westcenter, one block east of Beltway 8.  We will discuss "Everyday
Use" by Alice Walker.  The text of which can be found at:
http://www.professorluscher.com/Literature/Other%20Short%20Stories/everyday_use.\
htm


We will also elect 3 members to the Houston Great Books Council Board.

  --Wally Pliszka HGBC President
=============================================

Meet the Author: ALICE WALKER

As reported above by Wally, the reading selection for discussion at the
area-wide Great Books' September meeting is the short story Everyday Use by
Alice Walker.

Alice Walker was born in 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia and now lives in northern
California. Educated at Spelman and Sarah Lawrence colleges, she was very
active in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. During varied intervals of
the 1970s she taught at several colleges and universities, including Wellesley
College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, the University of
California at Berkeley, and Brandeis University. Walker is acclaimed as a poet,
an essayist, and a writer of fiction, mastering both the novel and the short
story. Noted for her simplicity of style and imagery, she incorporates the
cultural elements of the South into her writing and is renowned for her
sensitive portrayal of the day-to-day existence of the black woman. Most
critics agree she is at her best when exploring cultural and societal dualities
and dilemmas wherever they exist.

Walker has amassed a large body of published works in a relatively brief period
of time. Her first publication was Once, a book of poetry, in 1968 at the age
of twenty-one. She has since published four other books of poetry. Her major
writing consists of six novels, among them The Color Purple (1982) for which
she won both the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the National Book Award in
1983. She has two collections of essays: In Search of Our Mother's Gardens
(1983) and Living by the Word (1988) and two collections of short stories: In
Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Women (1973) from which "Everyday Use" is
taken and You Can't Keep a Good Woman Down (1981).

  --Esther Jones HGBC Board Member
==============================================

Discussion Groups for August:

Links to various sources for readings have been included for
your perusal. It is always best to call or email the group
contact person for information about the specific text being
used.

For information about future dates not listed below,
see the "Groups Around Town" column on our website at
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org and click
on "Readings" for the particular group you might be
interested in. Please don't hesitate to send corrections.

Woolf: To the Lighthouse
  from the Love and Marriage Series
Fannin Group
5200 Fannin(corner of Southmore)
Aug 2nd Thurs at 12:00 pm
Contact: Grace Amborski
gamborski(a)worldnet.att.net, 713-592-0629

Fugard: Hello and Goodbye
  from Blood Knot and Other
  Plays collection
Kirby Group
Borders Book Store,
3025 Kirby (at W. Alabama)
Aug 2nd Thurs at 7:00 pm
Contact: Betty Bell
bhbell(a)pdq.net,
713-864-5374

Eliot: Middlemarch
http://www.princeton.edu/~batke/eliot/middle/
Woodlands Group
S.Montgomery County Library
2101 Lake Robbins Dr
(off Grogans Mill Rd)
Aug 2nd Thurs at 7:00 pm
Contact: Wally Pliszka
wpliszka(a)yahoo.com, 281-353-7104

Dante: The Inferno
http://home.online.no/~fipeder/poetry/Inferno.html
from The Fifth Series
West University Group
Senior Ctr. 6104 Auden @ Rice Blvd
Aug 7th Tuesday at 12:00 pm
Contact: Grace Amborski
gamborski(a)worldnet.att.net, 713-592-0629

Fukuyama: The End of History and the Last Man
Part III, IV and V (concluding discussion)
Political Philosophy Group
Bellaire Library, 2nd floor
5111 Jessamine
Aug 9th Thurs at 6pm
Contact: Kent Guida
kent.guida(a)att.net, call 713-666-2158

Maimonides:On Evil
from the Third Series
Northwest Group
Harris County Northwest Branch Library
11355 Regency Green Dr, Cypress, TX
Aug 11th Sat at 1:30 pm
Contact: Cynthia Jones
cynjo(a)pdq.net, 281-379-2329

Faulkner: Absalom, Absalom
Heights Group
Heights Library
1302 Heights Blvd
Aug 11th Sat at 2:00 pm
Contact: Mike McInerney
mmci(a)wt.net, 713-868-2443

Shaw: Caesar and Cleopatra
http://www.4literature.net/George_Bernard_Shaw/Caesar_and_Cleopatra/
from the Fourth Series
Meyerland Group
Borders Book Store, Meyerland Plaza
4660 N Braeswood -
Beechnut @ 610
Aug 14th Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver
dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net, 713-436-1783

Conrad:Heart of Darkness
http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/conradheartofdarkness.html
selection from the First Series
Cypress Creek Group
Cypress Creek Library
6815 Cypresswood Dr.
Aug 20th Mon at 7:00 pm
Cypress Creek Library
6815 Cypresswood Dr.
Contact:Earl Bissex, 281-955-9447

Hamilton,Jay,Madison:The Federalist
(Essays No.1,2,10,15,51,69,70)
http://www.law.emory.edu/FEDERAL/federalist/
from the Fourth Series
First Colony Library 2121 Austin Pkwy
Sugarland Tx.
Aug 21st Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact: Ron Hoeflinger
Ron_Hoeflinger(a)email.msn.com, 281-980-0840

Homer: The Iliad
http://books.mirror.org/gb.homer.html
excerpts as included in the Third Series
Memorial Group
Kendall Library, 14330 Memorial Dr
Aug 21st Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact:Don Warshauer
donbw(a)hal-pc.org, 713-468-0863

Melville: Moby Dick
http://www.americanliterature.com/MD/MDINDEX.HTML
Clear Lake Group
Freeman Library, 16602 Diana Ln
Aug 23rd Thurs at 7pm
Contact: Robin Fewox
robin_fewox(a)aimfunds.com, 281-480-5697

Aristotle: On Happiness
selection from First Series
(excerpt from Nichomachean Ethics-Book I and Book X)
Fondren-Rice Group
Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
Aug 26th Sun at 3pm
Contact:Urvine Atkinson
urv1956(a)alumni.rice.edu, 713-665-0522

Burke: Reflections on the Revolution in France
http://www.knuten.liu.se:80/~bjoch509/works/burke/reflections/reflections.html
selections as included in the Fifth Series
West University Group
Senior Ctr. 6104 Auden (a)Rice Blvd
Aug 28th Tuesday at 12:00 pm
Contact: Grace Amborski
gamborski(a)worldnet.att.net, 713-592-0629


For anyone wondering why some groups were not included in this months calendar,
the list of groups below includes those who have elected not to meet during
August.

Country Place
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net
Location: Country Place, Pearland, TX

Explorers
Contact: Anna Lombardo, tacinc(a)swbell.net
Location: Barnes & Nobel Bookstore, Westheimer/Voss

Looscan
Contact: Len Radoff, theradoffs(a)juno.com
Location: Looscan Library

Oasis
Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924
Location: Foley's/Northwest Mall

Westbury
Contact: Bob Friedman, bobnjoy(a)iapc.net
Location: Westbury United Methodist Church

  --group and reading list information provided
    by Alice Aman HGBC Board Member
============================================

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."
      - Mark Twain

Houston Great Books Retreat

Following a lengthy absence, the Houston Great Books Council held a retreat at
Rice University on Saturday, May 5, 2001 that was attended by about 40 people.
During the morning session, we discussed Simon Blackburn's lecture entitled
"Why Bother to Think."  This turned out to be a controversial selection that
was extolled by some and despised by others.

Following a lunch break, we were entertained by a quartet of Shepherd School
students who performed Beethoven's String Quartet, Op. 32.  Based upon the
evaluation questionnaire, their performance was well received.

During the afternoon session, we discussed Virginia Woolf's essay "Mr. Bennett
and Mrs. Brown" in which she contends that "on or about December 1910 human
character changed."  This essay received nearly universal favorable reviews and
was the basis for stimulating discussion.

We're looking forward to hosting a similar event next year.
  --submitted by Wally Pliszka
==========================
Of Things Corporeal

Great Books discussions usually concern those "lofty" and timeless ideas of the
classic authors but, not always.  On Tuesday, June 20, the Sugarland Great
Books discussion group discussed Montaigne's "Of Experience" which provides the
reader with more detail regarding the author's bodily functions than most
readers would care to learn!  Montaigne describes, in exhausting detail, his
coping with kidney stones and his likes and dislikes in various functions of
ordinary living.  Beyond that, the work is interspersed with more penetrating
insights ("we are all wind") that, for this reader, represent among the wisest
observations in the entire Great Books pantheon.

Only 6 participants attended the discussion that was led by an experienced and
highly capable leader who explored the depth and richness of the text.  For
those of you living in the Sugarland area, the Sugarland group would welcome
your participation.  The group meets on the third Tuesday of the month at the
First Colony library located at 2121 Austin Parkway in Sugarland.  The contact
is Ron Hoeflinger whose phone number is 281-980-0840.
   --submitted by Wally Pliszka
===========================

Mortimer Adler, 98 Dies

by William Grimes as published in the New York Times, June 29th, 2001

Mortimer J. Adler, the philosopher and educator who helped create the Great
Books Program of learning, died yesterday at his home in San Mateo, Calif.  He
was 98.

Dr. Adler spent much of his life combatting the pragmatist philosophy of John
Dewey, one of his teachers at Columbia University, and championing the notion,
propounded by Plato, Aristotle and St. Thomas Acquinas, that truth and values
are absolute and unchanging.  "The fundamental ideas and concepts upon which
education should be based are not merely the mores and beliefs which happen to
be current in 20th century America", he once wrote.  "They are universal truths
about what constitutes a good education for all men at all times and places
simply because they are men."

Dr. Adler believed that the ordinary citizen had what might be called a
philosophical duty to think clearly and exercise free will wisely.  To promote
this goal, he helped devise the Great Books Program, a course of study in
classic study literary and philosophical text.  He also wrote many books on the
humanities and philosophy aimed at the general reader, including "How to Read a
Book", "The Angels and Us","Aristotle for Everybody", and "Six Great Ideas."

Dr. Adler was born in New York City, where his father, Ignatz, was a jewelry
salesman and his mother, Clarissa, was a former school teacher.  Although a top
student at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, he dropped out at 15 became
the secretary to the editor of the New York Sun.  Two years later, after
reading Plato, he decided to become a philosopher.  He completed the four year
program at Columbia University in three years but failed to graduate because he
refused to attend physical education classes and take a required swimming text.


Degree or no degree, he was appointed an instructor in psychology in 1923 and
five years later earned a Ph.D. with a dissertation on the measurement of music
appreciation.  While a lecturer at Columbia, he also lectured at City College
and at the People's Institute, where he was an assistant director from 1927 to
1929.

In 1930,  Robert Maynard Hutchins, the new president of the University of
Chicago, invited Dr. Adler to come to the university.  Faced with objections
from members of the philosophy department, who opposed his ideas on philosophy
and education, Hutchins created a new position for Dr. Ader, associate
professor of the philosophy of law.  In 1942, Dr. Adler was made a full
professor.

With Hutchins, Dr. Adler revised the academic requirements at Chicago to
emphasize broad training in the humanities.  In 1946, the two men expanded on
this idea and organized the Great Books program, which invited members of the
public to gather and discuss one classic every two weeks.  In conjunction with
the project, they arranged for Encyclopedia Britannica to reprint 443 books in
a 54-volume set.  Dr. Adler, overseeing a staff of 90, produced an index to 101
"great ideas" in the great books, ranging from "God" to "induction".  He called
it syntopicon, a term he coined by fusing the Greek words for "synthesis" and
"topics."

In the 1930's, Dr. Adler wrote several books on psychology and philosophy,
including "Art and Prudence: A Study in Practical Philosophy" and "What Man has
made of Man: A Study of the Consequences Platonismand Positivism in
Philosophy."  But it was "How to Read a Book: The Art of Getting a Liberal
Education" that brought his name before a large public.
The book, which grew out of his teaching of the great books while a visiting
lecturer at St. John's College in Annapolis, Md., became a best seller and
proved to be the forerunner of such popular titles as "How to Think about War
and Peace" (1944), "Aristotle For Everybody: Difficult Thought Made
Easy"(1978), "How to Think about God: A Guide for the 20th Century Pagan"(1980)
and "Six Great Ideas"(1981).

Dr. Adler's popularizing efforts often invited scorn. One critic called him
"The Charles Atlas of Western Intellection," and the writer Nelson Algren
dismissed him as the "The Lawrence Welk of the Philosophy Trade."
He was dismissed as a lightweight and something of a crank by many academic
philosophers, a rebuff he claimed not to mind.

"I've thumbed my nose at them, so why should they pay any attention to me?"  he
said in a 1982 newspaper interview.  "They think you're spoon feeding if you
write something free of jargon and footnotes.  But you're not spoonfeeding -
you're simply avoiding putting obstacles in people's path."

In 1952, Dr. Adler resigned his position at the University of Chicago to found
the Institute for Philosophical Research in San Francisco. The institute's
purpose was to advance learning by sifting thru the philosophical literature
for references to the great ideas and generating works, like the two volume
"The Idea of Freedom"(1958, 1961), that discuss them.  In 1963, Dr. Adler moved
the institute to Chicago.

In 1974, after Dr. Adler became chairman of its board of editors, the
Encylopedia Britannica underwent its first major change in 200 years.
Reflecting Dr. Adler's Aristotelian Thomist bent, it was divided into an
introductory volume called a Propaedia, that set forth a classification of
knowledge, a 10-volume ready-reference dictionary called a Micropedia, and a
19-volume Macropedia filled with longer essays on major subjects. In the
mid-80's, at the Institute of Philosophical Research, he created the Paideia
Project, which was intended to humanize and democratize the public schools by
providing all students with a traditional humanist education, using the
Socratic method.  Dr. Adler explained the theory and practice of the project,
whose name comes from the Greek for "upbringing," in three books, "The Paideia
Proposal: An Educational Mannifestor" (1982),"Paideia Problems and
Possibilities"(1983) and "The Paideia Program: An Educational Syllabus".

From 1988 to 1991, Dr. Adler was university professor at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1990 with Max Weismann, he founded the Center
for the Study of Great Ideas, in Chicago.

Dr. Adler was a prolific writer and editor.  His dozens of books include "The
conditions of Philosophy", (1965); "The Time of Our LIves: The Ethics of Common
Sense"(1970); "The Common Sense of Politics"(1971);"Ten Philosophical
Mistakes"(1985), and "The Great Ideas: A Lexicon of Western Thought"(1992).  He
wrote two volumes of memoirs, "Philosopher at Larger: An Intellectual
Autobiography" (1977) and "A Second Look in the Rear View Mirror"(1992).

In 1983, Columbia waived its swimming requirement and awarded Dr. Adler a
bachelor's degree. The same year, De Witt Clinton High School gave him a
diploma. He was awarded honary doctorates by 10 colleges and universities and
in 1990, he was awarded the Charles Frankel Prize by the National Endowment of
the Humanities.

He is survived by 4 sons, Mark of Chevy Chase, MD.,Michael of Grand Junction,
Colo., Douglas of Chicago, and Phillip of Chicago; six grandchildren and 2
great-grandchildren.

===========================
Discussion Groups for July:

   Links to various sources for readings have been included for your perusal. It
is always best to call or email the group contact person for information about
the specific text being
used.
    For information about future dates not listed below, see the "Groups Around
Town" column on our website and click on "Readings" for the particular group
you might be interested in.
    Please do not hesitate to send corrections.

Shakespeare: Sonnet 116
  http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/116.asp
  and Plath: The Applicant
  http://www.geocities.com/Wellesley/2276/app.html
  and Corso: Marriage
  http://www.uwm.edu/~sloan/marriage.html
  and Brooks: To Be in Love
  http://members.tripod.com/~angel_4_heaven/gbrooks.html
  selections from Love and Marriage
  Fannin Group
  5200 Fannin(corner of Southmore)
  July 5th Thurs at 12:00 pm
  Contact: Grace Amborski
  gamborski(a)worldnet.att.net, 713-592-0629

Tolstoy: The Death of Ivan Ilych
  http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/tolstoydeath.html
  (rescheduled from last meeting due to flood)
  Kirby Group
  (New)Borders Book Store
  3025 Kirby (at W. Alabama)
  July 5th Thurs at 7:00 pm
  Contact: Betty Bell
  bhbell(a)pdq.net, 713-864-5374

Forster: A Passage to India
  Meyerland Borders Group
  Borders Book Store, Meyerland Plaza
  4660 N Braeswood - Beechnut(a)610
  July 10th Tues at 7:00 pm
  Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver
  dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net, 713-436-1783

Taylor: Hegel and Modern Society
  p.1-23,55-84,111-122,125-132,139-145,152-169
  Political Philosophy Group
  Bellaire Library, 2nd floor--5111 Jessamine
  July 12th Thurs at 6pm
  Contact: Kent Guida
  kent.guida(a)att.net, call 713-666-2158

Chekhov:Uncle Vanya
  http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/ac/vanya.htm
  selection from Third Series
  Northwest Group
  Harris County Northwest Branch Library
  11355 Regency Green Dr, Cypress, TX
  July 14th Sat at 1:30 pm
  Contact: Cynthia Jones
  cynjo(a)pdq.net, 281-379-2329

Poe: Fall of the House of Usher
  gopher://dept.english.upenn.edu:70/00/Courses/Lynch9/Poe/usher
  and Morella
  http://www.poedecoder.com/Qrisse/works/morella.html
  and Ligeia
  http://www.poedecoder.com/Qrisse/works/ligeia.html
  and The Black Cat
  http://www.poedecoder.com/Qrisse/works/blackcat.html
  Heights Group
  Heights Library
  1302 Heights Blvd
  July 14th Sat at 2:00 pm
  Contact: Mike McInerney
  mmci(a)wt.net, 713-868-2443

Plato:The Apology
  http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html
  selection from First Series
  Cypress Creek Group
  Cypress Creek Library
  6815 Cypresswood Dr.
  July 16th Mon at 7:00 pm
  Cypress Creek Library
  6815 Cypresswood Dr.
  Contact:Earl Bissex, 281-955-9447

Diderot: Rameau's Nephew
  selection from Fourth Series
  Sugar Land Group
  First Colony Library 2121 Austin Pkwy
  Sugarland Tx.
  July 17th Tues at 7:00 pm
  Contact: Ron Hoeflinger
  Ron_Hoeflinger(a)email.msn.com, 281-980-0840

Clausewitz:What Is War? Chapter 1
  http://jollyroger.nbci.com/xlibrary/OnWarbyCC/OnWarbyCC6.html
  Selection from Third Series
  Memorial Group
  Kendall Library, 14330 Memorial Dr
  July 17th Tues at 7:00 pm
  Contact:Don Warshauer
  donbw(a)hal-pc.org, 713-468-0863

Nietzsche: Thus Spoke Zarathustra
  http://www.knuten.liu.se/~bjoch509/works/nietzsche/zarathustra.txt
  excerpt found in Standard Fifth Series
  West University Group
  Senior Ctr. 6104 Auden (a)Rice Blvd
  July 17th Tuesday at 12:00 pm
  Contact: Grace Amborski
  gamborski(a)worldnet.att.net, 713-592-0629

Freud: The Rat Man
  selection from Living With the Past
  Clear Lake Group
  Freeman Library, 16602 Diana Ln
  July 26th Thurs at 7pm
  Contact: Robin Fewox
  robin_fewox(a)aimfunds.com, 281-480-5697


=======================
For anyone wondering why some groups were not included in this months calendar,
the list of groups below includes those who have elected not to meet during
July.

Country Place
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net

Explorers
Contact: Anna Lombardo, tacinc(a)swbell.net

Fondren-Rice Group
Contact: Urvine Atkinson, urv1956(a)alumni.rice.edu

Looscan
Contact: Len Radoff, theradoffs(a)juno.com

Oasis
Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924

Westbury
Contact: Bob Friedman, bobnjoy(a)iapc.net

Woodlands
Contact: Wally Pliszka, wpliszka(a)yahoo.com


========================
Whatever women must do, they must do twice as well as men to be thought
half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.
-Charlotte Whitton

June Corrections

Correction 1:
The Contact person for the Sugar Land group has
changed from Laura Gratz to Ron Hoeflinger.  We thank Laura for
her past support and welcome Ron in this new capacity.
Below is the correction to the June News that reflects the
contact information for Ron.

Montaigne: Of Experience
  http://www.library.adelaide.edu.au/etext/m/m76e/m76e21.html
  selection from Fourth Series
  Sugar Land Group
  First Colony Library 2121 Austin Pkwy,
  Sugarland Tx.
  June 19th Tues at 7:00 pm
  Contact: Ron Hoeflinger
  Ron_Hoeflinger(a)email.msn.com,
  281-980-0840

Correction 2:
The Poligical Philosophy Group doesn't normally meet in the summer
but has chosen to change that policy at least for June. They
haven't decided yet whether they will meet in July or not. Stay tuned.
Below is their June meeting information we failed to include.

Fukuyama: The End of History and the Last Man
Part III, Part IV and Part V
Political Philosophy Group
Bellaire Library, 2nd floor--5111 Jessamine
June 14th Thurs at 6pm
Contact: Kent Guida
kent.guida(a)att.net, 713-666-2158

Correction 3 (or clarification):
For anyone wondering why some groups were not included in our June calendar,
the list of groups below includes those who have elected not to
meet during the summer months and thus there are no meetings for us to report.

Country Place
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net

Explorers
Contact: Anna Lombardo, tacinc(a)swbell.net

Looscan
Contact: Len Radoff, theradoffs(a)juno.com

Oasis
Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924

Westbury
Contact: Bob Friedman, bobnjoy(a)iapc.net

Woodlands
Contact: Wally Pliszka, wpliszka(a)yahoo.com

========================================================
Miscellaneous:
  We're sorry we don't (can't) use the standard syntax for
an email address which normally includes an "@" sign. It appears
Yahoogroups has a privacy policy that intermittently makes
email address phrases illegible if an "@" sign is included.
   We can't predict when they will choose to activate this
filter so we have elected to use the alternative
syntax "(a)" instead.

Submitted by Alice Aman, amanhaus(a)swbell.net

Asilomar Great Books Retreat 3/30-4/1/01

Trip Report submitted by David Saletan - dissale(a)att.net

This is written with the pleasant taste of our revived Houston GB
retreat on May 5 still in my mouth.  In part, my first attendance at
Asilomar was to gain perspective on how an effective, well-established
GB retreat is run.  We cannot match the scene and scale of this annual
event of the N.California GB Council, but it is still a fine model for us.

Asilomar is a lovely site below Monterey on the California coast. I
spent the Saturday afternoon "open time" at nearby Point Lobos state
park, as well as taking numerous strolls along the beacg and dunes
that make up Asilomar.  The meeting ran from Friday afternoon to
Sunday lunch, with four discussion sessions scheduled in evenings and
mornings. With a total attendance of almost 200, we were divided into
20 groups.  With two groups coalescing for each discussion (on a
rotating scheme) we got to interact with about 1/4 of the total
participants. I was fortunate to find half a dozen persons I had met
during the Maine week-long Colby retreat two years ago.

The discussion leaders designated by the hosting GB Council were
experienced; on the concluding Camus and Ibsen readings, there was
some evidence of a centrally coordinated question list.  The
participants ranged from experienced discussants to GB novices.  We
had a Saturday night party, at which new GB Foundation President,
Peter Temes, gave a candid and engaging presentation on new GBF
initiatives to enhance the Adult Program.  I conclude below with
impressions of the four works discussed:

1) A composite of 6 poems, by poets from Sophocles to Seamus
Heaney, was ably led, with a clocked minimum of 15 minutes devoted
to each. We shared earnest inquiry into the obscurities of each and
"Aha!" moments of insight.  A higher proportion of the group was "into"
poetry than I have experienced in Houston GB groups.

2) Matt Ridley's "Origins of Virtue" was the longest and weakest work
discussed.  It is one of several current attempts to justify  ethical
human behavior, from the standpoints of biology and computer "game"
simulations of interactions.  The leader (who had apparently been
involved in choosing this work) was a bit defensive.  His questions
overlooked the one kernel of genuine insight in it: that it requires a
generous dollop of "non-rational" emotions - pride, stubbornness,
shame, rage - added to rational calculation (to make the "rational
fool"), if long-term ethical behavior is to be expected among humans.

3) Camus's "The Stranger": Most (not all) of the group "got" this
landmark of Existentialism and had sufficient sympathy for the doomed
protagonist "as an Everyman" to make a stimulating discussion, very
well led.

4) Ibsen's play "Hedda Gabler": a skilled leader used chronological
pacing through the text, to guide the discussion to a climax,
without having "post-facto feminism" or other by-ways de-water the
dimensionality of this work.

=================================

Indifference – the Greatest Evil?

A snapshot of the Westbury Group
submitted by Wally Pliszka - wpliszka(a)yahoo.com

The Westbury Group is one of the longest existing Great Books groups in
the Houston area having met for more than 25 years with some of the same
people in attendance that entire time!  On Tuesday, May 1, the group
discussed Dostoevsky’s “Stavrogin’s Confession” from the 50th anniversary
series – The Evil and the Guilty.  An experienced leader who probed the
participants in order to attempt to arrive at a deeper understanding of the
work led the discussion.  A wide variety of penetrating insights were offered
up.  It was suggested that Stavrogin met a textbook definition of a masochist
taking intense pleasure in his vile deeds.  Or was his indifference to evil the
greatest evil?  Someone wondered if Tikhon wasn’t an alter ego for
Stavrogin, or if, perhaps, Stavrogin actually approached saintliness.

Participants in the Westbury group are very experienced and cast a great
deal of insight into the work.  I think you’d find it a stimulating group in
which to participate.  The Westbury group meets every other Tuesday at
7pm at the Westbury United Methodist Church at 5100 Willowbend.


=================================

Waiting for Godot?
submitted by Wally Pliszka - wpliszka(a)yahoo.com

On Saturday, April 28, 9 Great Books enthusiasts from throughout the
greater Houston area discussed Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” in the
auditorium of the beautiful Julia Ideson library in downtown Houston as part
of the Houston International Festival.  The purpose was to present a
demonstration of a Great Books discussion to the uninitiated; however, true
to the minimal scenery in Beckett’s play, the auditorium was empty – even if
the discussion was not!  The discussion was spirited and probed the meaning
and peculiarities of the play.  Of course, the weather was beautiful and there
were many other events going on concurrently, but why the auditorium was
entirely empty remains one of life’s mysteries.

===========================

Discussion Groups for June:

Links to various sources for readings have been included for
your perusal. It is always best to call or email the group
contact person for information about the specific text being
used.

For information about future dates not listed below,
see the "Groups Around Town" column on our website and click
on "Readings" for the particular group you might be
interested in.

Please do not hesitate to send corrections.

Stoppard: Night and Day
Theatre Group
Main Street Theatre
(reservations to Betty should have been
submitted by May 15th)
2420 Times Blvd in the Village
June 3rd Sunday - meet in lobby by 2:45 pm
Contact: Betty Bell
bhbell(a)pdq.net, 713-864-5374

Flaubert: A Simple Heart
http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/flaubertsimpleheart.html
selection from Standard Fifth Series
West University Group
Senior Ctr. 6104 Auden (a)Rice Blvd
June 5th Tuesday at 12:00 pm
Contact: Grace Amborski
gamborski(a)worldnet.att.net, 713-592-0629

Plato: Symposium
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/symposium.html
selection from Love and Marriage
Fannin Group
5200 Fannin(corner of Southmore)
June 7th Thurs at 12:00 pm
Contact: Grace Amborski
gamborski(a)worldnet.att.net, 713-592-0629

Tolstoy: The Death of Ivan Ilych
http://www.geocities.com/short_stories_page/tolstoydeath.html
Kirby Group
(New)Borders Book Store, 3025 Kirby (at W. Alabama)
June 7th Thurs at 7:00 pm
Contact: Betty Bell
bhbell(a)pdq.net, 713-864-5374

Clausewitz: What Is War?
selection from Third Series
Northwest Group
Harris County Northwest Branch Library
11355 Regency Green Dr, Cypress, TX
June 9th Sat at 1:30 pm
Contact: Cynthia Jones
cynjo(a)pdq.net, 281-379-2329

Melville: Moby Dick Part II
http://www.americanliterature.com/MD/MDINDEX.HTML
Heights Group
Heights Library
1302 Heights Blvd
June 9th Sat at 2:00 pm
Contact: Mike McInerney
mmci(a)wt.net, 713-868-2443

Mill: Utilitarianism  - Chap II and Chap IV
http://www.library.adelaide.edu.au/etext/m/m645u/
selection from Fourth Series
Meyerland Borders Group
Borders Book Store, Meyerland Plaza,
4660 N Braeswood - Beechnut(a)610,
June 12th Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver
dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net, 713-436-1783

Aristotle: On Happiness
http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/projects/digitexts/aristotle/nicomachean_ethics/titl\
e.html
(extracted from Nichomachean Ethics - Book I and Book X)
selection from First Series
Cypress Creek Group
Cypress Creek Library, 6815 Cypresswood Dr.
June 18th Mon at 7:00 pm
Cypress Creek Library, 6815 Cypresswood
Dr. Contact:Earl Bissex, 281-955-9447

Montaigne: Of Experience
http://www.library.adelaide.edu.au/etext/m/m76e/m76e21.html
selection from Fourth Series
Sugar Land Group
First Colony Library 2121 Austin Pkwy,
Sugarland Tx.
June 19th Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact: Laura Gratz
gratzhopper(a)yahoo.com, 281-261-2841

Thucydides: History of the Peloponnesian War
http://classics.mit.edu/Thucydides/pelopwar.html
Extract from Book I, Book III, and Book V
Selection from Third Series
Memorial Group
Kendall Library, 14330 Memorial Dr
June 19th Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact:Don Warshauer
donbw(a)hal-pc.org, 713-468-0863

Chekhov: Rothchild's Fiddle
http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/ac/jr/172.htm
selection from First Series
Fondren Rice Group
Rice University, Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
June 24th Sunday at 3pm
Contact: Urvine Atkinson
urv1956(a)alumni.rice.edu, 713-665-0522

Hume: Of Personal Identity
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/archives/fifth/hume.html
selection from Fifth Series
West University Group
Senior Ctr. 6104 Auden (a)Rice Blvd
June 26th Tuesday at 12pm
Contact:Grace Amborski
g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net, 713-592-0629

Freud: The Rat Man
selection from Living with the Past
Clear Lake Group
Freeman Library, 16602 Diana Ln
June 28th Thurs at 7pm
Contact: Robin Fewox
robinf29(a)hotmail.com, 281-480-5697

=========================
We are what we think. All that we are arises with our
thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.
    --Buddha

This month's newsletter is rather lengthy so here's a
Table of Contents to assist you in browsing:

1. Great Books Chicago 2001 Event - trip report
2. Nirvana and the Kingdom of God - some observations of Northwest and
Explorers groups
3. Theatre Group Outing - scheduled for June 3rd
4. Great Books Grand Tour - Sicily January 10-24, 2002 - Update
5. Discussion Groups for May
6. This months quotation

  And don't forget to register for the retreat scheduled May 5th at Rice
Shepherd School of Music! Contact Wally at wpliszka(a)yahoo.com or (of course)
visit our web site at http://www.houstongreatbooks.org for more details.

====================
Great Books, Chicago 2001

About 150 people from throughout the United States and Canada (including  Wally
Pliszka, HGBC President and Dorothy Ohlhaver, HGBC Vice President Great Books)
attended the Great Books, Chicago 2001 event, April 20 -22.  The event began on
Friday afternoon with a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago where the group
focused on 6 paintings and sculptures while reflecting on the weekend's theme
"sans everything."  Later that afternoon, we broke into groups of about 15 to
discuss Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot," led by a staff member from the
Great Books Foundation.  The evening was capped with a Shakespeare discussion
led by professor Vernon Loggins of Purdue University.

On Saturday, our day began with a breakfast at which there were a variety of
speakers.  The Foundation made a major announcement that later this year they
will begin partnering with Penguin Classics as a source of further Great Books
readings.  The next work discussed was Shakespeare's "King Lear" followed by
attendance at a performance of the play at Chicago's beautiful Shakespeare
Theatre on Navy Pier.  The performance seemed to be universally enjoyed.

Sunday brought the closing of the event with a discussion of H.G. Wells' "The
Time Machine" followed by a trip to the Adler planetarium and a discussion of
black holes.  The opportunity to interact with fellow Great Books enthusiasts
and to take part in the weekend's events proved a memorable experience.  Stay
tuned for an announcement of Chicago, 2002!

======================
Nirvana and the Kingdom of God

On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, the Northwest Great Books Group discussed
the Gospel of Mark.  Though the timing was not by design, it fit ideally with
the approach of Easter.  Just 5 dedicated Great Books enthusiasts participated
in a wide-ranging discussion of Mark’s Gospel.  The group’s leader was well
prepared and directed the group by propounding provocative questions; however,
once the question had been posed, the group was given a great deal of latitude
in their responses to the question.  In particular, there was a rather detailed
comparison of the concepts of Nirvana and the Kingdom of God undertaken by the
group.  Though no consensus developed, it was suggested that the Buddhist
concept of Nirvana was something accessible to anyone and everyone, while the
Kingdom of God seemed attainable only by the chosen.  (“Many are called, but
few are chosen.”)

This theme recurred, more formally, in the Explorers discussion on April 11.
The Explorers Group is one of the longest continuing Great Books discussion
groups in the Houston area.  They, long ago, finished the classic Great Books
repertoire, so, like the Heights Group, they now select their own readings.
For this evening, the selected work was Socrates, Buddha, Confucius and Jesus
by philosopher Karl Jaspers.  Only the Buddha and Jesus selections were
discussed, since the others had been discussed in a previous session.  The
Explorers Group is on of those relatively rare Great Books Groups that meets
every other week.

A very focused leader led eight participants, split evenly between men and
women.  The group followed the classic Great Books method - questions were
directed at an individual; digressions were quickly reined in and there was a
summary of reactions to the work done at the end of the session.

Given the religious nature of the figures and discussion, the conversation was
remarkably objective and analytical in its secular approach.  The leader probed
as to the appeal of Buddha and Jesus (salvation? Redemption? ever-lasting
life?); whether that appeal was historical, cultural or universal and if the
ambiguity of the figure’s teachings contributed to their appeal.

Now, where else, but a Great Books discussion, are you going to find
conversation like that?

The Explorers Group meets at the Barnes & Noble at Westheimer/Voss,
7626 Westheimer every other Wednesday from 8:00 pm to 9:30pm
Contact:Anna Lombardo tacinc(a)swbell.net 713-461-2900

The Northwest Group meets at the Harris County Northwest Branch Library
11355 Regency Green Dr, Cypress, TX Every month on the second Saturday at 1:30
pm Contact: Cynthia Jones, cynjo(a)pdq.net, 281-379-2329

======================
Theatre Group Outing - June 3rd

The Houston Great Books Theater Group will attend "Night and Day" (playwright
Tom Stoppard) at Main Street Theater, 2420 Times Blvd. (in The Village) Sunday,
June 3, 2001 for the 3:00 PM matinee. (Please be in the lobby of the theater
before 2:45 pm.) Cost is a great bargain at $10.00 which must be prepaid to
Betty Bell before May 15th. Dinner plans after the theatre are set for Prego's.
Please let her know if you want to be included in the dinner reservations. More
details about the play at http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/Theatre/. If you
have any questions, call Betty H. Bell, 713-864-5374, or send e-mail to her at
bhbell(a)pdq.net

=====================
Great Books Grand Tour - Sicily January 10-24, 2002

The latest news on this exciting tour which will include discussions on Plato's
Republic and Giuseppe di Lampedusa's "The Leopard" is available at
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/sicily/
where there are three documents with identical information, one in PDF format
that requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (software available free on the web) another
in Microsoft Word Format and the third in text where the registration form is
rather lost in the conversion but we thought the universal prevalence of text
readers made this third document still necessary.

=====================
Discussion Groups for May:

   Links to various sources for readings have been included for
your perusal. It is always best to call or email the group
contact person for information about the specific text being
used.
    For information about future dates not listed below,
see the "Groups Around Town" column on our website and click
on "Readings" for the particular group you might be
interested in.
    Please do not hesitate to send corrections.

Bible: The Gospel of Mark
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/archives/third/mark.html
Oasis Group - Foleys/Northwest Mall
May 1 Tues at 1:30 pm
Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924

Dostoevsky: Stavrogin's Confession
  selection from The Evil and the Guilty
Westbury Group
Westbury United Methodist Church
5100 Willowbend
May 1 Tues at 7pm
Contact: Bob Friedman
bobnjoy(a)iapc.net,713-729-2255

Mishima: Patriotism
http://icdweb.cc.purdue.edu/~erufleth/Patriotism.html
  selection from Love and Marriage
Fannin Group -- First UU Church, rm 201
5200 Fannin (corner of Southmore)
May 3 Thurs 12:00 pm - 1:30pm
Contact: Grace Amborski
g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net
713-592-0629

O'Connor: Wise Blood
Kirby Group
Borders Book Store--3025 Kirby Drive
(at W. Alabama)
May 3 Thurs at 7:00 pm
Contact: Betty Bell,
bhbell(a)pdq.net,713-864-5374

Plato: The Apology
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/apology.html
Woodlands Group - S.Montgomery County Library
May 3 Thurs at 7:00 pm
Contact: Wally Pliszka, wpliszka(a)yahoo.com
281-353-7104

Woolf: Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown
Blackburn: Why Bother to Think?
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/whybother/
Houston Great Books Council Retreat
Rice University - Shepherd School of Music
Discussion(s), catered lunch and music - $15 admission fee
Register in advance, please.
May 5 Sat 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Contact: Wally Pliszka for info on how to obtain readings
wpliszka(a)yahoo.com, 281-353-7104

Walcott: The Schooner Flight and
  A Far Cry from Africa
  selection from Clashes of Culture
Meyerland Borders Group
Borders Book Store Meyerland Plaza
4660 N Braeswood
May 8th Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver
dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net,713-436-1783

Nominations for books to be discussed next "season" is
subject of this meeting.
Explorers Group - Barnes & Noble
7626 Westheimer (at Voss)
May 9th Weds at 8:00 pm
Contact: Anna Lombardo
tacinc(a)swbell.net,713-461-2900

Fukuyama: The End of History and the Last Man
Part I and Part II
Political Philosophy Group
Bellaire Library, 2nd floor--5111 Jessamine
May 10th Thurs at 6pm
Contact: Kent Guida
kent.guida(a)att.net

Melville: Moby Dick (Part 1)
http://www.americanliterature.com/MD/MDINDEX.HTML
Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
May 12th Sat at 2:00 pm
Contact: Mike McInerney
mmci(a)wt.net, 713-868-2443

Thucydides: History of the Peloponnesian War
http://classics.mit.edu/Thucydides/pelopwar.html
Northwest Group - Library
11355 Regency Green Dr, Cypress,TX
May 12th Sat at 1:30 pm
Contact: Cynthia Jones
cynjo(a)pdq.net , 281-379-2329

Bible: Gospel of Mark
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/archives/third/mark.html
Memorial Group
Kendall Library, 14330 Memorial Dr
May 15th Tues at 7:00pm
Contact:Don Warshauer
donbw(a)hal-pc.org, 713-468-0863

Plato: Symposium
http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/symposium.html
Sugarland Group
First Colony Lib,2121 Austin Pkwy
May 15th Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact: Laura Gratz
gratzhopper(a)yahoo.com, 281-261-2841

Coleridge: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
http://www.bartleby.com/101/549.html
Westbury Group
Westbury United Methodist Church
5100 Willowbend
May 15th Tues at 7pm
Contact: Bob Friedman
bobnjoy(a)iapc.net, 713-729-2255

Kant: First Principles of Morals
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/archives/fifth/kant1pri.html
West University Group
Senior Ctr.6104 Auden(at Rice Blvd)
May 15th Tues at 12pm
Contact:Grace Amborski
g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net,713-592-0629

Kant: First Principles of Morals
Country Place Group
Country Place Carriage House, Pearland TX
May 20th Sun at 3pm
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver
dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net, 713-436-1783

Chekhov: Rothschild's Fiddle
http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/ac/jr/172.htm
Cypress Creek Group--Cypress Creek Library
6815 Cypresswood Dr.
May 21st Mon at 7pm
Contact:Earl Bissex, 281-955-9447

Cytowic: The Man Who Tasted Shapes
Looscan Library, 2510 Willowick
May 23rd Weds at 7:30pm
Contact: Len Radoff
theradoffs(a)juno.com, 713-692-1952

Selection of 16 books to read for next season is
subject of this meeting.
Explorers Group
Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss
7626 Westheimer
May 23rd Weds at 8:00 pm
Contact: Anna Lombardo
tacinc(a)swbell.net, 713-461-2900

Bulgakov: The Master & Margarita
ClearLake Group
Freeman Library -16602 Diana Ln
May 24th Thur at 7pm
Contact: Robin Fewox
robinf29(a)hotmail.com, 281-480-5697

Plato: The Republic
  selection from the standard
  Great Books Fifth Series
Fondren-Rice Group
Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
May 27th Sun at 3pm
Contact:Urvine Atkinson
urv1956(a)alumni.rice.edu, 713-665-0522

========================
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
   --Groucho Marx

Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 18:57:06 GMT
From: gbdiscussion@...
Subject: Great Books Discussion, 2:4
To: "Great Books Discussion List"
<gbdiscussion@...>
A newsletter from the GREAT BOOKS FOUNDATION sent
3/28/01; 12:56:37 PM.
---
  Please  send us your comments at
gbdiscussion@.... An archive of
past newsletters is available at
http://www.greatbooks.org/gbdiscussion/.
---
*********************************************************

   GREAT BOOKS DISCUSSION
   A newsletter about the texts, programs, and
inspiration of the Great Books Foundation

*********************************************************
   Welcome! This e-mail newsletter is designed to support, entertain
   and enlighten Great Books discussion leaders by providing useful
   information and a forum for people to ask questions and share ideas
   about the Great Books endeavor. Each issue includes a question for
   discussion that invites readers to explore the meaning of the texts
   and discussions that comprise the core of the Great Books
   experience. Readers' responses may be published in following
   issues. Readers can also continue the discussion at our Great Books
   Discussion forum:

   http://www.greatbooks.org/gbdiscussion/

   Thank you for sharing your time, enthusiasm and inquiry!
   Mike Wolfkiel, Editor
   -------------------

   IN THIS ISSUE:

   FOR DISCUSSION
   * Power, Politics and the Rules of Shared Inquiry

   FROM THE FOUNDATION
   * An incomplete history of the 2nd and 3rd rules

   NEWS
   * A Special Offer
   * Summer 2001 Institute for Leaders

   WEB SITES OF INTEREST
   * Britannica.com
   * Books and Literature, of Britannica.com
   * A&E's Salon Books
   * "Finnegan's Wake" Breakdown
   * What is Stanley Fish Afraid Of?
   * The Literary Critic's Shelf of Shame
   * Monk, the Mad Genius of Jazz



*********************************************************

   FOR DISCUSSION

*********************************************************

   ===============================================
   Power, Politics and the Rules of Shared Inquiry
   ===============================================

   (For a listing of the relevant rules, see below: From the
   Foundation.)

   Don: I like it when we get reactions to our dialogue.

   Mike: And we've got some?

   Patrick: I would like to get back to the discussion we've been
   having. Denise is right when she says, "a book is always from a
   specific time and culture." Many of the books we read in GB groups
   are excellent snapshots of a particular time, place and culture.
   This is why I have campaigned to have GB revise its guidelines for
   discussion, to allow for this assumption that no text is culture
   free, and to permit outside references directly related to the text
   or question at hand.

   Don: There are legitimate reasons for this rule. The purpose of the
   discussion is to explore the text's meaning, not the meaning of
   other events, commentators, and cultural issues.

   Patrick: Last time you said, "When I read, I want to learn what
   this text means." Are you implying that the "meaning" of the text
   is independent of your own individual and cultural reality"? Is it
   a Platonic ideal that's out there somewhere to be grasped,
   discovered, and internalized? On that point, I would have to
   respectfully disagree.

   Don: I believe an author intends something. Henry James, in "The
   Art of Fiction," says "we must grant the artist his subject, his
   idea, his donnee: our criticism is applied only to what he makes of
   it... questions of art are questions (in the widest sense) of
   execution." This implies, of course, that we can determine what
   the "donnee" is, which I believe we do by observing carefully such
   things as structure and word choice. To put it in simpler words, I
   want to understand what the artist is trying to get across.

   Patrick: You use the text as a starting point for that marvelous,
   complex process known as "reading." As our minds interact with the
   printed page, we begin asking ourselves questions, we make
   predictions, we dialogue with the author, we make analogies to
   people and events past and present. Reading itself is an enormously
   complex, psycho-socio-linguistic process of interacting with
   symbols and deriving meaning from them.

   Mike: To me it seems there are limits on either side. At one
   extreme, I would quote my friend Gary Schoepfel, "A text might be
   able to mean many things, but it cannot mean everything." In other
   words, the text does serve to eliminate irresponsible
   interpretations. At the other extreme I would point out that
   language-especially written language-is inherently public,
   public in a way that can no longer remain under the control of the
   author. The author gives; part of what he or she is trying to get across
   is the process of my interpreting. Had he not wanted me to interpret,
   the ink would never have reached the page. The range of meanings
   created by reader's interactions with a text do not contradict it and
   the author's intention, they fulfill it.

   Patrick: To me, believing that a text has an "inherent" meaning
   that can be "revealed" through Shared Inquiry is a snare and a
   delusion.

   Mike: Which is the delusion, that there is an "inherent meaning" or
   that Shared Inquiry can reveal it?

   Patrick: One of the best discussions our group in Coral Gables ever
   had was on Edmund Burke's "Reflections on the Revolution in
   France." In that famous essay, Burke makes some provocative
   statements about the leaders of the Revolution, including the King
   and Queen. Some of them were really not historically accurate.
   Some of the members were encouraged by the essay to seek out
   historical texts and bring that information into the discussion at
   the appropriate time.

   Don: As a matter of fact, our group in Gainesville sticks strictly
   to my starting question and the GBF guidelines for the first hour;
   then we "loosen the frame" and people may bring in such historical
   information as you mention or make any personal response they care
   to. This way we get the benefit of a careful reading of the text
   without imposing limits that not everyone agrees with for the whole
   morning.

   Patrick: I agree that straying from the text can't be allowed to
   get out of hand, but it does help us to move away from the
   assumption that a text is somehow a thing that is independent from
   the human/cultural needs and interests for which it was written. In
   place of the old GB hierarchy of questions factual/interpretive/
   evaluative), maybe we should consider the following:
   interpretive/cultural/historical/evaluative.

   Mike: I thought you wanted to bring the cultural and historical
   dimensions into the interpretive process? I don't think the Great
   Books Foundation ever felt that texts were free of history and
   culture. I'm not certain of the origins here, but I believe that
   this rule is in part a response to a strong version of historical
   criticism. History and culture can be taken as the final arbiters
   of correct interpretation.

   Don: Yes, the issue is authority. When scholars "x," "y," and "z"
   are the only ones who can say what a text means, suddenly it seems
   more important to read the scholar than the text. "You'd be a
   fool," they say, "to read Plato for yourself, better to read what
   Cornford or Jowett tell us Plato means." All the while forgetting
   that then we would have to read and interpret Cornford or Jowett.

   Mike: But Patrick does have a point. History and culture are
   interwoven with the text.

   Don: If history and culture are already present in the text, then
   do we have any need of any outside sources?

   Patrick: But we do have outside sources. All of our education and
   reading is part of what we bring to a text. Why not supplement these
   sources when appropriate? When I choose a text, I want something
   that has some history of debate to it. Not only do we GB leaders
   want to help create a generation of avid, critical, skeptical,
   discerning readers, but we also want people to understand that
   "what and how" people read reflects the divergence of
   political, social, and cultural opinions within our society. The
   struggle over "canon" formation is much more than a debate within a
   university English department. It is part and parcel of a still
   furious and on-going power struggle-a political struggle-taking
   place in the U.S. (Some refer to this as the "culture wars").

   Mike: Are you saying that the rule limiting outside sources amounts
   to a political decision, a kind of propaganda designed to restrict
   and control ideas and power?

   Don: I thought the rule was trying to protect the process from the
   political machinations of control and power.



    You may continue the discussion at the
   Great Books Discussion Web forum:

   http://www.greatbooks.org/gbdiscussion/

   =================================
   Other Responses
   =================================


   Please consider the use of some serious works of philosophy,
   history, politics, science, or excerpts from some outstanding
   classic novels for future on-line discussions. Here are a few of
   examples out of many possible: "The Grand Inquisitor" section out
   of Dostoievsky's "The Brothers Karamazov." Some of Plato's
   dialogues, or excerpts from Aristotle's Politics compared to The
   Declaration of Independence ("Some men are born to be masters and
   others to be slaves" vs. "We hold these truths to be self-evident,
   that all men are created equal").

   John

   -------------------

   First of all, I would like to congratulate Mike and Don for their
   fine work and effort in bringing this national newsletter to us. I
   think this kind of "national conversation" and feedback about
   issues that affect the internal dynamics of our GB books is
   absolutely essential, not to mention enlightening.

   Patrick

   -------------------

   I received my first of your newsletters (see below) and I'm quite
   surprised by the content. I thought the forum was going to focus on
   discussing various books. Instead it's a discussion about how to
   have discussion. I don't see how anything of practical significance
   can come of such a forum. To me, it makes no more sense than having
   a group of people getting together to discuss "how to have a good
   time" instead of simply "having a good time". I have difficulty
   believing that there is an audience out there that would be
   interested in such a discussion forum. My suggestion is to redirect
   your focus toward matters of substance...identify books that you
   consider to be inspiring and simply engage in a constructive dialog
   about these books.

   Dean


   From the editor:


   It sounds like people would like to discuss a text. I'm all for it.
   I think we should try something short, perhaps even an excerpt.
   Something that could be included with the newsletter. I've got a
   few ideas, but if you have a suggestion let me know.


   mike.wolfkiel@...




************************************************************

   FROM THE FOUNDATION


************************************************************


   A brief and incomplete history of the rules pertaining to outside
   material.

   prior to 1985
   2nd rule: The group may discuss only the selection assigned for the
   meeting or selections discussed at previous meetings.
   3rd rule: Participants may not cite critics, historians, or other
   authorities to gain credibility for their own opinion.

   1985
   2nd rule: Discussion should focus only on the assigned reading.
   3rd rule: Do not introduce outside opinions unless you can back them
   up with evidence from the text.

   1992
   2nd rule: Discussion is restricted to the selection that everyone
   has read.
   3rd rule: Support for opinions should be found within the
   selection.

   1999
   2nd rule: Discussion is restricted to the selection everyone has
   read.
   3rd rule: All opinions should be supported with evidence from the
   selection.


   Of course even the clearest statements must be interpreted, so I
   offer two interpretive questions:


   1) Have the rules, or their intent, remained constant?
   2) Do these rules forbid all reference to historical or cultural
   information not explicitly stated in the text?

************************************************************

   NEWS

************************************************************

   A Special Offer

   You may remember our special holiday gift offer from December. It
   was so popular that we're making another special offer to friends
   of the Foundation.

   Today we are making the entire five-series set of the Great Books
   Reading and Discussion Program available at a special price. These
   fourteen volumes, containing selections by some of the world's
   outstanding writers from Homer to Freud, are much more than just
   another "five-foot shelf of classics." Each series has been
   carefully edited and comes with a reading and discussion guide to
   help you enter into the great conversation among these authors and
   start on a path of intellectual discovery.

   The fourteen volumes in the five series usually sell for $124.75,
   but we're offering them to you for just $79.00, plus shipping and
   handling charges of $8.50 in the United States. For international
   orders, additional shipping charges will apply.

   If you'd like to take advantage of this offer, you don't have to
   pay now. Just reply to this e-mail and include your shipping
   information (name, street address, city, state, zip code and phone
   number) and billing information (if different from shipping).
   We'll ship your books and invoice you separately for $79.00 plus
   $8.50 shipping and handling for U.S. orders.

   You can also visit our Web site at http://www.greatbooks.org/offer
   to see photos of the cover art, review the contents of the books,
   and place your order online.

   Best wishes,
   Peter Temes
   President, Great Books Foundation

   -------------------


   Summer 2001 Institute for Leaders

   St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland
   July 29-August 1

   Call 1-800-222-5870 to register today!

   Join Great Books leaders and Shared Inquiry practitioners to
   explore thought-provoking texts drawn from literature, social
   studies, and science. Sharpen your leading skills by participating
   in and conducting Shared Inquiry Discussion. Collaborate with
   other practitioners to develop exciting, inquiry-based study
   units for your student population and instructional needs.

   Many committed and outstanding teachers have gotten a taste of
   Shared Inquiry and are hungry for more intensive instruction. To
   meet this demand, the Great Books Foundation is collaborating with
   St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, on an advanced training
   institute for teachers. The three-day program, on the St. John's
   campus, will consist of rigorous training in Shared Inquiry
   classroom practice by Foundation staff, as well as participation in
   St. John's Great Books seminars, conducted by St. John's faculty.
   Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the
   master's program at St. John's Graduate Institute.

   Shared Inquiry and leadership development activities include:

   * Demonstration Shared Inquiry discussions led by Great Books
   Foundation instructors
   * Review of key features and benefits of the Shared Inquiry
   method
   * Seminars on Great Books selections related to education
   conducted by St. John's tutors
   * Introduction of leader performance assessment tools
   * Individual feedback and coaching for development of leaders'
   skills
   * Review of leader preparation and introduction of advanced
   techniques, including use of cluster questions and passages
   for textual analysis
   * Introduction of tools to encourage student metacognition and
   assessment of interpretive thinking and writing
   * Cooperative planning and customization of Junior Great Books
   units, including assessment criteria as appropriate
   * Opportunities to exchange strategies and raise questions about
   effective implementation of Shared Inquiry and Junior Great Books

   Registration fee: $500-including room and all meals!


   The registration fee includes a single or double room on the St.
   John's College campus, three meals a day, day sessions with Great
   Books Foundation instructors, and evening sessions with St. John's
   College tutors.

   Registration will be limited to 35 participants, so return your
   application as soon as you can. Spaces can only be reserved with
   full payment or a purchase order number. Directions and
   transportation information will be included in a confirmation
   packet sent to registrants. Credit may be available-please check
   with your district's professional development or in-service
   training department.

************************************************************

   WEB SITES OF INTEREST


************************************************************


   Britannica.com

   http://www.britannica.com/

   An omnibus site that includes news, forums, sections on art,
   humanities, science etc.

   -------------------

   A&E's Salon Books section

   http://www.salon.com/books/index.html

   This is A&E's books and literature magazine. It is filled with
   articles on literary matters.


   See especially:

   "Finnegan's Wake" Breakdown, by Susan G. Hauser


http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2001/03/16/finnegan/index.html


   A Book Group takes on Finnegan's Wake, who will prevail, the book
   or the group?

   --------------------

   "What is Stanley Fish Afraid Of?" by Mark Kingwell


http://www.britannica.com/bcom/original/article/0,5744,17428,00.html


   This review of Fish's book _The Trouble with Principle_ finds a
   curious self-contradiction in Fish's arguments against rational
   liberalism.

   -------------------

   The Literary Critic's Shelf of Shame, by Jodi Kantor


http://slate.msn.com/culturebox/entries/01-03-06_101969.asp


   Article on novels never read by famous critics.

   -------------------

   He Wrote it to Become Famous, by Ian Hamilton


http://www.booksonline.co.uk/booksol?ac=004522383117161&rtmo=weeA0oAb&atmo=rrrrr\
rrq&pg=/01/3/3/boross03.html


   A review of _Laurence Sterne: A Life_ by Ian Campell Ross.

   -------------------

   Monk: the Mad Genius of Jazz, by Steve Greenlee


http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/080/living/Monk_the_mad_genius_of_jazzP.shtml


   A brief review of "The Theolonius Monk Reader."



   the Editor: Mike Wolfkiel, M.A. Marquette University, Senior
   Training Instructor for The Great Books Foundation.
   mike.wolfkiel@...

   Don Smith, M.S. George Williams College, Senior Training
   Instructor for The Great Books Foundation. smithdc@...

---

The Great Books Foundation (http://www.greatbooks.org) is a
nonprofit educational organization. Our mission is to help
people learn to think and share ideas through the reading
and discussion of outstanding literature--Shared Inquiry
Discussion. The Foundation provides training, materials, and
other support for participants in, leaders of, and advocates
for higher literacy. Visit our Web site to learn more about
Shared Inquiry Discussion, starting a discussion group,
leader training, books, and resources.

http://www.greatbooks.org  All rights reserved.

A Spring Retreat at Rice - Shepherd School
Da Camera Discount!
May 5, 2001 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

We hope you've already taken notice of our Spring Retreat to be held at Rice
University on Saturday, May 5, 2001 from 10 am to 4 pm.  We'll be discussing
two provocative works, and we've also included some entertainment in the Great
Books tradition - a quartet of Shepherd School students performing Beethoven's
String Quartet, Op. 132, as well as a catered lunch as announced in last
month's news.

We've also arranged, as part of your registration, a special 20% discount to Da
Camera's May 5th evening performance "Celebrating Patronage" at the Wortham
Center!

The first reading we'll be discussing is "Why Bother to Think?"  a lecture
delivered last year by Simon Blackburn who is currently on the faculty at the
University of Cambridge and the author of Think.  You may have seen this
lecture referred to in a recent Sunday edition of the New York Times.
Professor Blackburn was kind enough to share a copy with us and it should
provide the basis for a stimulating discussion on the role of philosophy and
Great Books in the 21st century and can be viewed now at our website at
www.houstongreatbooks.org/whybother/.

In her 1924 essay "Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Brown," Virginia Woolf made the rather
outrageous claim that "on or about December 1910, human character changed."
That essay will be the 2nd reading to be discussed at the retreat.  Both
readings ought to engender lively discussions . Once you have registered,
instructions for downloading from our website will be provided for the essay by
Virginia Woolf. You may also request that it be mailed to you by calling our
phone hub at 713-728-9494.

Mike Levine from the Great Books Foundation in Chicago will be one of the
discussion leaders.  This retreat is a new initiative for the Houston Great
Books Council, please join us and make it a success!

Admission to the retreat is only $15 to help defray the cost of the rooms,
lunch and entertainment Please mail your check along with the form below to:
           Mimi Goldschmidt
           3611 Cloverdale
           Houston, TX 77025
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Name______________________
Address____________________________
Phone #___________________________________
Email address __________________________
Houston Great Books Group affiliation (if any)______________________

   As an alternative to using postal mail, instructions can be provided
for downloading the reading selections from the web. Please give us
your preference.
   Do you require that reading selections be mailed to your postal
address?  ______ (Yes/No)

======================================================
The Houston International Festival

This year's featured country at the upcoming Houston International Festival is
Ireland, a country with a rich literary tradition.  On Saturday, April 28, the
Houston Great Books Council will present a sample Great Books discussion of
Samuel Beckett's play "Waiting for Godot." from 2 - 4 pm in the Julia Ideson
building, adjacent to the central branch of the Houston Public Library.  See
their website at http://www.ifest.org/fullsched.cfm for a complete listing of
the festival schedule.  Please attend and join in the discussion!  If you are
interested in participating in the panel discussion itself, please e-mail us at
houstongreatbooks@....


  --Wally Pliszka  President HGBC

======================================================
Discussion Groups for March:

   Links to various sources for readings have been included for
your perusal. It is always best to call or email the group
contact person for information about the specific text being
used.
   For information about future dates not listed below,
see the "Groups Around Town" column on our website and click
on "Readings" for the particular group you might be
interested in.

Please do not hesitate to send corrections.

Shakespeare: Hamlet
http://tech-two.mit.edu/Shakespeare/hamlet/index.html
Oasis Group - Foleys/Northwest Mall
Apr 3 Tues at 1:30 pm
Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924

Musil: Moosbrugger
selection from The Evil and the Guilty
Westbury Group
Westbury United Methodist Church
5100 Willowbend
Apr 3 Tues at 7pm
Contact: Bob Friedman, bobnjoy(a)iapc.net
713-729-2255

Kafka:The Metamorphosis
http://www.vr.net/~herzogbr/kafka/meta.htm
West University Group
Senior Ctr.6104 Auden(at Rice Blvd)
Apr 3 Tues at 12pm
Contact:Grace Amborski,
g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net
713-592-0629

Steel: Tom-Tit-Tot and Caporushes
selection from Love and Marriage
Fannin Group -- First UU Church, rm 201
5200 Fannin (corner of Southmore)
Apr 5 Thurs 12:00 pm - 1:30pm
Contact: Grace Amborski
g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net
713-592-0629

Dostoevsky: The Gambler
http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Fyodor_Dostoevsky/The_Gambler/
Kirby Group (previously met at Montrose Library)
Borders Book Store--3025 Kirby Drive (at W. Alabama)
Apr 5 Thurs at 7:00 pm
Contact: Betty Bell, bhbell(a)pdq.net,
713-864-5374

Gita Mehta:A River Sutra
selection from Happiness and Discontent
Woodlands Group - S.Montgomery County Library
Apr 5 Thur at 7:00 pm
Contact: Wally Pliszka, wpliszka(a)yahoo.com,
281-353-7104

Bible: Job
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/archives/fourth/job_kj.html
selection from Fourth Series
Meyerland Group
Borders Book Store Meyerland Plaza
4660 N Braeswood
Apr 10th Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net,
713-436-1783

Jaspers: Socrates, Buddha, Confucius, and Jesus
Explorers Group - Barnes & Noble
7626 Westheimer (at Voss)
Apr 11 Weds at 8:00 pm
Contact: Anna Lombardo tacinc(a)swbell.net,
713-461-2900

Lyotard:The Postmodern Explained (Chap 1-8)
Political Philosophy Group
Bellaire Library, 2nd floor--5111 Jessamine
Apr 12th Thurs at 6pm
Contact: Kent Guida, kent.guida(a)att.net
713-666-2158 to receive copies of the reading.

Whitman: Leaves of Grass
http://www.bartleby.com/142/index1.html
Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
Apr 14th Sat at 2:00 pm
Contact: Mike McInerney, mmci(a)wt.net
713-868-2443

Bible:The Gospel of Mark
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/archives/third/mark.html
Northwest Group - Library
11355 Regency Green Dr
Cypress,TX
Apr 14th Sat at 1:30 pm
Contact: Cynthia Jones, cynjo(a)pdq.net
281-379-2329

Wideman: Philadelphia Fire
Cypress Creek Group--Cypress Creek Library
6815 Cypresswood Dr.
Apr 16th Mon at 7pm
Contact:Earl Bissex, 281-955-9447

Shakespeare: Hamlet
http://tech-two.mit.edu/Shakespeare/hamlet/index.html
Memorial Group
Kendall Library, 14330 Memorial Dr
Apr 17th Tues at 7:00pm
Contact:Don Warshauer
donbw(a)hal-pc.org, 713-468-0863

St. Augustine: The City of God (Book XIV)
http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF1-02/npnf1-02-20.htm
Sugar Land Group
First Colony Lib,2121 Austin Pkwy
Apr 17th Tues at 7:00 pm
Contact: Laura Gratz
gratzhopper(a)yahoo.com, 281-261-2841

Johnson: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Westbury Group
Westbury United Methodist Church
5100 Willowbend
Apr 17th Tues at 7pm
Contact: Bob Friedman
bobnjoy(a)iapc.net, 713-729-2255

Aristotle:On Tragedy
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/archives/fifth/aripoetics.html
Fondren-Rice Group
Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
Apr 22nd Sun at 3pm
Contact:Urvine Atkinson
urv1956(a)alumni.rice.edu, 713-665-0522

Goethe:Faust,Part One
http://www.levity.com/alchemy/faustidx.html
West University Group
Senior Ctr.6104 Auden(at Rice Blvd)
Apr 24th Tues at 12pm
Contact:Grace Amborski,
g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net
713-592-0629

Murchy: The Seven Mysteries of Life
Looscan Library
2510 Willowick
Apr 25th Weds at 7:30pm
Contact: Len Radoff, theradoffs(a)juno.com
713-692-1952

Keegan: The Mask of Command
Explorers Group
Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss
7626 Westheimer
Apr 25th Weds at 8:00 pm
Contact: Anna Lombardo
tacinc(a)swbell.net, 713-461-2900

Oz:Longing from Politics, Leadership & Justice
ClearLake Group
Freeman Library -- 16602 Diana Ln
Apr 26th Thur at 7pm
Contact: Robin Fewox
robinf29(a)hotmail.com, 281-480-5697

Goethe: Faust, Part One
http://www.levity.com/alchemy/faustidx.html
Country Place Group
Country Place Carriage House, Pearland TX
Apr 29th Sun at 3pm
Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net,
713-436-1783

===============================================
"Computers are useless. They can only give you answers."
- Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2001 17:04:56 GMT
To: discuss@...
From: discuss@...
Subject: Summer 2001 Institute for Leaders

Summer 2001 Institute for Leaders
St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland
July 29-August 1

Call 1-800-222-5870 to register today!

Join Great Books leaders and Shared Inquiry practitioners to
explore thought-provoking texts drawn from literature, social
studies, and science. Sharpen your leading skills by participating
in and conducting Shared Inquiry Discussion. Collaborate with
other practitioners to develop exciting, inquiry-based study units
for your student population and instructional needs.

Many committed and outstanding teachers have gotten a taste
of Shared Inquiry and are hungry for more intensive instruction.
To meet this demand, the Great Books Foundation is collaborating
with St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, on an advanced
training institute for teachers. The three-day program, on the
St. John's campus, will consist of rigorous training in Shared Inquiry
classroom practice by Foundation staff, as well as participation in
St. John's Great Books seminars, conducted by St. John's faculty.
Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the master's
program at St. John's Graduate Institute.

Shared Inquiry and leadership development activities include:

* Demonstration Shared Inquiry discussions led by Great Books
   Foundation instructors
* Review of key features and benefits of the Shared Inquiry
   method
* Seminars on Great Books selections related to education
   conducted by St. John's tutors
* Introduction of leader performance assessment tools
* Individual feedback and coaching for development of leaders'
   skills
* Review of leader preparation and introduction of advanced
   techniques, including use of cluster questions and passages
   for textual analysis
* Introduction of tools to encourage student metacognition and
   assessment of interpretive thinking and writing
* Cooperative planning and customization of Junior Great Books
   units, including assessment criteria as appropriate
* Opportunities to exchange strategies and raise questions about
   effective implementation of Shared Inquiry and Junior Great Books

Registration fee: $500-including room and all meals!

The registration fee includes a single or double room on the
St. John's College campus, three meals a day, day sessions
with Great Books Foundation instructors, and evening sessions
with St. John's College tutors.

Registration will be limited to 35 participants, so return your
application as soon as you can. Spaces can only be reserved
with full payment or a purchase order number. Directions and
transportation information will be included in a confirmation
packet sent to registrants. Credit may be available-please
check with your district's professional development or
in-service training department.

Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2001 21:12:40 GMT
From: gbdiscussion(a)greatbooks.org
Subject: Great Books Discussion, 2:3
To:  "Great Books Discussion List" <gbdiscussion(a)lists.mcn.org>
A newsletter from the GREAT BOOKS FOUNDATION sent
3/1/01; 3:12:22 PM.


   *********************************************************
   GREAT BOOKS DISCUSSION
   A newsletter about the texts, programs, and inspiration of the
   Great Books Foundation
   *********************************************************
   Welcome! This e-mail newsletter is designed to support,
   entertain, and enlighten Great Books discussion leaders by
   providing useful information and a forum for people to ask
   questions and share ideas about the Great Books endeavor. Each
   issue includes a question for discussion that invites readers to
   explore the meaning of the texts and discussions that comprise
   the core of the Great Books experience. Readers' responses may be
   published in following issues. Readers can also continue the
   discussion at our Great Books Discussion forum:

   http://www.greatbooks.org/gbdiscussion/

   Thank you for sharing your time, enthusiasm, and inquiry!
   Mike Wolfkiel and Don Smith, Editors

   IN THIS ISSUE:

   FOR DISCUSSION
   * If that's what it means, great--a dialogue
   * Responses to previous questions

   NEWS
   * The Idea of "the Great Books" Canon and Community: On and Off
   Campus
   * Great Books Chicago 2001

   HOT LINKS
   * Web del Sol
   * The New Yorker
   * The Atlantic Online

   *********************************************************
   FOR DISCUSSION
   *********************************************************
   ==================================
   If that's what it means, great
   ==================================

   Don: I think we should tell our audience that Gail has once again
   joined us. Welcome back, Gail.

   Gail: Thank you.

   Mike: I think Denise also has something to add.

   Don: We've been discussing the Great Books Foundation's mission
   and what Great Bookies ought to be talking about, more
   specifically, what makes a piece of literature "great" or "first
   rate."

   Gail: In my opinion, we could go on and on till those proverbial
   cows come home about what is great literature. Frankly, I don't
   think we need "great" literature to generate good discussions.

   Mike: Why not?

   Gail: If the reading allows you to address important ideas and
   issues that are meaningful for you, then you're on your way to a
   good discussion. Some may say great literature must be timeless,
   and to a certain degree I think this is true of all great art,
   but I have been in some very thought-provoking discussions with
   very current works as well as the "classics." I'm glad the
   Foundation provides both in their books.

   Don: I keep coming back to the idea that a text has to be
   ambiguous enough, or rich enough, to sustain more than one
   interpretation. Gail, are you saying that it does not matter if
   the text can support more than one interpretation?

   Gail: No, it's not that it doesn't matter. But isn't it better to
   discuss something that really matters, even if there's only one
   real interpretation, than to discuss something that can support
   lots of interpretations that don't matter anyway?

   Mike: Historically, the Great Books Foundation has also included
   "complexity" as a sufficient condition for suitability. If a text
   is complex enough -- especially in the ideas it tries to
   articulate -- it might sustain a good discussion, even though the
   questions turn out, in the long run, to be factual.

   Don: Well, someone may have questions about an article in the
   Journal of Astrophysics (assuming they can understand it at all),
   but wouldn't they be better off taking their questions to an
   association of fellow experts, not a group meeting at a bookstore
   or library?

   Gail: That's not really the point. I'm saying that what you talk
   about is more important than whether the text can support
   multiple interpretations.

   Don: If there is only one interpretation, what is there to
   discuss?

   Denise: Certain texts are "great" because of their historical
   significance. Could one even begin to understand the twentieth
   century without some accounting of Marx and _Das Kapital_?

   Mike: Aren't the book's meaning and its historical significance
   two separate discussions?

   Denise: Not entirely separate. A book is always from a specific
   time and culture.

   Don: Gail, when you say that what you discuss is more important
   than whether the text can support different interpretations, what
   do you mean? Isn't the text what you discuss?

   Gail: Yes. But even if there is only one interpretation (which I
   think is rare) you can still have a good discussion.

   Don: Sure, but they're not Great Books discussions, because Great
   Books discussions are necessarily about the meaning of a text. I
   agree that some works are "great" but not necessarily great for
   discussion. Harper Lee's _To Kill a Mockingbird_, for example --
   its very greatness is its clarity, its purity of expression.

   Mike: Shouldn't people be dissatisfied with a discussion that
   gets lost in the text and never gets out?

   Gail: There's something attractive about the idea of spending
   your life in a world as rich, intense, and deep as a Shakespeare
   play.

   Don: I still think I'd rather live my life.

   Mike: Don, when you say "the meaning of a text," do you think the
   meaning belongs to the text?

   Don: Right. When I read I want to learn what this text means.

   Mike: I don't think you would be very satisfied if I just gave
   you the meaning, if say I explained _The Apology_ --

   Don: Which you've done many times, and you're right, it's not
   very satisfying.

   Mike: Don't worry, I have faith that you'll get it eventually.

   Gail: You have to figure it out for yourself. That's the point.

   Don: Yes, because _The Apology_ can be interpreted differently.

   Mike: Isn't it just as important, then, that you read _To Kill a
   Mockingbird_ for yourself? Even if the text will only support one
   answer to questions, even if it only supports one interpretation,
   and I could give you that interpretation, is that the same as
   having read it?

   Don: You're right on that one. Better to read it myself than
   listen to you.

   Mike: If a text means something different when you read it
   yourself, won't that difference allow for an interesting
   discussion?

   Don: It's still not good for an interpretive discussion. It
   sounds like the meaning you're talking about concerns evaluating
   and applying the ideas, not revealing them. The differences of
   meaning you're talking about seem to occur because people are
   different. We'd be discussing the differences in ourselves, in
   our meanings, not the text's meaning.

   Gail: I don't think I'd like it if Great Books discussions became
   group therapy. That's not why I'm there.

   Mike: Doesn't some of that difference still inhere in the text?
   Isn't language by its essence something public, directed to an
   audience that is at least in principle multiple? Couldn't
   "greatness" also be the sense in which the text embodies,
   energizes, and crafts this public, open dimension of language,
   the way it inspires meanings in people?

   Gail: What does that mean?

   Don: Is that what you think we mean by "great"?

    Your responses will be featured in the next issue. Just reply to
   this e-mail to send in your comments. Please do not change the
   text of the subject field. You may also continue the discussion
   at the Great Books Discussion Web forum:

   http://www.greatbooks.org/gbdiscussion/

   =================================
   Responses to Previous Questions
   =================================
   In responses to the question "What form has the monolith taken in
   our world?" from Great Books Discussion 2:2, Donna writes:

   "I'd like to suggest that our monolith is ourselves. We spend
   most of time aiming for perfection in the future, whether it be
   in medicine, or science, or technology. We look at the past in
   the same way. Humans are obsessed with how the human race has and
   is evolving over time. In the past, we strive to see the starting
   point, and in the future, we look to see how much further we can
   go toward perfection or destruction. The monolith is an enigma
   representing the unknown of the future and the past.

   "The technological age has been a big change in human
   development, but not as big as the first one. I think we need to
   go beyond technology to get to the next level of transformation.
   I don't think we've begun to explore what that will be, and when
   it does come, I don't think we will even realize that it's
   happening.

   "The human race is its own worst enemy. We try our best to work
   against each other, and until a better understanding is reached
   with our fellow cohabitants, we will always be our own HAL."

   And Lyle sent this response:

   "The monolith has not changed since the beginning of human
   history. It is the competitive struggle for power and the
   exercise thereof. Human beings are still human beings with the
   same fears, weaknesses, and ambitions. Technology has given us
   the illusion of power over nature, but we still need nature for
   our food, clothing, and shelter. We abuse nature at our risk.
   Some things, like climate change, we have yet to learn. We are
   still part of nature. Our competitive nature still leads to war.
   We fail to think beyond the end of our nose. We have a long way
   to go."
  -------------------

   We also received this response from Don, commenting on Barbara's
   and Patrick's responses to the question about using religious
   texts:

   "First, I'm not certain that I would view Barbara's situation
   (people bringing and inserting different images of God into
   discussion) as a "problem," but rather an opportunity to explore
   others' perspectives. A few years ago, Bill Moyers produced a
   show on PBS which involved leading Christian, Jewish, and Islamic
   scholars discussing the stories in the book of Genesis. Although
   these discussions certainly did not adhere to the rules of Shared
   Inquiry, I do think that they represented a wonderful sharing of
   ideas which led to a closer examination of the faith, or absence
   thereof, in both the participants and those viewing the series.
   (The series is available on audiotape for those who might be
   interested.)"

   I would follow up on Patrick's response by asking if it matters
   whether the Book of Mark is a "story" or a "historical narrative"
   in how you answer the question being discussed? I would suggest
   that in most instances identification of the author has little
   effect on answering interpretive, as opposed to evaluative,
   questions.


   ************************************************************
   NEWS

   ************************************************************
   =================================
   The Idea of "The Great Books" Canon and Community: On and Off
   Campus
   =================================
   The University of Illinois at Chicago and the Great Books
   Foundation present:

   The Idea of "the Great Books" Canon and Community: On and Off
   Campus
   A Conference at the University of Illinois at Chicago
   April 26-27, 2001
   Ilan Stavans, Amherst College, Keynote Speaker

   From its beginning as an educational movement in the 1920s at
   Columbia University and later at the University of Chicago, the
   idea of the Great Books has been a focus for discussions of
   social and political issues. Many of these discussions have been
   about the meaning, coherence, and continuity of communities,
   whether intellectual, cultural, or institutional, and how these
   communities have formed canons of greatness. The idea of the
   Great Books has been seen as conservative in its emphasis on the
   preservation and continuity of human values. At the same time,
   the Great Books are often taken to represent the dialectical and
   oppositional characteristics of Western thought. In a world in
   which global perspectives are increasingly in tension with
   parochial ones, the idea of the Great Books calls us to examine
   our fundamental assumptions about inclusiveness and
   exclusiveness
   and their political and cultural implications.

   This conference will bring together presenters from a range of
   disciplines and professions including literature, history,
   cultural studies, education, publishing, and politics. Far from
   being intended as a celebration of ideas on which most of the
   participants agree, it is hoped that the conference will provide
   an opportunity for well-modulated controversy in a spirit of
   shared inquiry.

   Conference chairs:
   Lennard Davis, English Department Head, UIC
   Peter Temes, President, The Great Books Foundation

   For more information, please contact:
   Donald Whitfield
   Director of Adult Programs
   The Great Books Foundation
   1-800-222-5870, ext. 227
   whitfield(a)greatbooks.org

   For registration information, please contact:
   Rebecca Kopf
   Special Events Coordinator
   The Great Books Foundation
   1-800-222-5870, ext. 237
   becca.kopf(a)greatbooks.org

   =================================
   Great Books Chicago 2001
   =================================
   This year's Great Books Chicago conference has already sold out.
   Plans are being made for Great Books Chicago 2002, so look for
   registration to begin in the fall.



   ************************************************************
   HOT LINKS

   ************************************************************

   Web del Sol

   http://webdelsol.com/solhome3.htm

   Web del Sol combines literary publication with new media to push
   the envelope of tradition. It publishes site reviews, book
   reviews, news, columns, and original fiction and poetry, and also
   provides multimedia, a host of superlative links, and interactive
   features, such as the online poetry workshop.

   ----------------------

   The New Yorker

   http://www.newyorker.com/MAIN/START/

   All the articles, fiction, criticism, and fun of the regular
   magazine. Includes a wonderful essay by John Updike on the work
   of A. S. Byatt.

   --------------------

   The Atlantic Online

   http://www.theatlantic.com/

   Another magazine filled with wonderful essays, criticism,
   fiction, and more. Includes a great article by Sven Birkerts on
   Raymond Carver.

    The editor, Mike Wolfkiel, is a senior training instructor for
   the Great Books Foundation. He received his M.A. from Marquette
   University.

   mike.wolfkiel(a)greatbooks.org

   Don Smith, a contributing editor, is a senior training instructor
   for the Great Books Foundation. He received his M.S. from George
   Williams College.

   smithdc(a)ix.netcom.com
  ---

The Great Books Foundation (http://www.greatbooks.org) is a
nonprofit educational organization. Our mission is to help
people learn to think and share ideas through the reading
and discussion of outstanding literature--Shared Inquiry
Discussion. The Foundation provides training, materials, and
other support for participants in, leaders of, and advocates
for higher literacy. Visit our Web site to learn more about
Shared Inquiry Discussion, starting a discussion group,
leader training, books, and resources.

http://www.greatbooks.org  All rights reserved.

Why Bother to Think?

    Join the Houston Great Books Council on May 5th, 10 AM to 4 PM
for an enjoyable daylong retreat at Rice University - The
Shepherd School of Music.  We will discuss two separate works,
"Why Bother to Think?" a provocative paper by Simon Blackburn
on the value of Great Books in the 21st century with the second
reading soon to be announced.
    In addition to the discussions, lunch will be provided along
with a performance of Beethoven's String Quartet Op. 132 by
students of the Shepherd School.
    Admission is $15 to defray the cost of the lunch and entertainment.
    The readings with additional information on how to register are
available on line at our web site at www.houstongreatbooks.org
or by calling our phone hub at 713-728-9494.

      Wally Pliszka -- President HGBC

=================================================

    A Snapshot of the HEIGHTS Group

    The Heights Great Books discussion group meets every month on
the 2nd Saturday at 2 pm at the Heights library located at 1302
Heights Blvd and has been in existence for more than 15 years.
Mike McInerney, who has an 18-year history with Great Books in
Houston, is the contact for this group.
    On February 10, the group was attended by 11 participants who
discussed Thornton Wilder's "Our Town."  The discussion was of a
very high quality - spirited, opinionated, informed, democratic
and good-natured.  There was, by no means, a consensus opinion
of the work.  Reactions ranged from "intensely moving,"
"enjoyable," to "empty" and "pointless If you're looking for a
Great Books discussion group, the Heights warrants your
consideration.

    Wally Pliszka -- HGBC President

=================================================
      Memorial Group Changes

    The Memorial Group is headed up by Dr. Bud Vine and has not
been in existence very long.  As with many groups, their attendance
has been somewhat erratic but has managed to continue because of
the interest by their membership.  For reasons too lengthy to
explain in this brief paragraph, they may be forced to move to
another location, possibly joining the ranks of those groups who
meet in a local Book Store, Borders and Barnes and Noble being
the two that have been most cooperative for such endeavors.
    Consider this a "heads up" if you are a current participant or
are interested in becoming a participant in the Memorial Group.
Please contact Bud Vine at 713-334-5330 or email
budvine(a)hal-pc.org for the latest status on the group location.

   Alice Aman -- HGBC Board Member

============================================

Theatre Group announcement: The HGB Theatre Group led by
Betty Bell will tentatively be attending "Baltimore Waltz" at
Actor's  Theatre on South Blvd sometime during its run from
March 16 thru April 28. Contact Betty at 713-864-5374, email
bhbell(a)pdq.net or watch our web site for the latest status
of this event.

======================================================

Discussion Groups for March:

   Links to various sources for readings have been included for
your perusal. It is always best to call or email the group
contact person for information about the specific text being
used.
   For information about future dates not listed below,
see the "Groups Around Town" column on our website and click
on "Readings" for the particular group you might be
interested in.

Please do not hesitate to send corrections.

Josef Skvorecky: Emöke
   Fannin Group -- First UU Church, rm 201
   5200 Fannin (corner of Southmore)
   Mar 1st Thurs 12:00 pm - 1:30pm
   Contact: Grace Amborski
   g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net
   713-592-0629

Stoppard: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
   Kirby Group (previously met at Montrose Library)
   Borders Book Store--3025 Kirby Drive (at W. Alabama)
   Mar 1st Thurs at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Betty Bell, bhbell(a)pdq.net, 713-864-5374

Chekhov:Rothschild's Fiddle
   http://eldred.ne.mediaone.net/ac/jr/172.htm
   Woodlands Group - S.Montgomery County Library
   Mar 1st Thur at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Wally Pliszka, wpliszka(a)yahoo.com,
   281-353-7104

Mill:On Liberty
   http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/text/mill/liberty/liberty.htm
   Oasis Group - Foleys/Northwest Mall
   Mar 6th Tues at 1:30 pm
   Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924

Tolstoy: After the Ball
   Westbury Group
   Westbury United Methodist Church -- 5100 Willowbend
   Mar 6th Tues at 7pm
   Contact: Bob Friedman, bobnjoy(a)iapc.net
   713-729-2255

Lyotard:The Postmodern Explained (Chap 1 thru 8)
   Political Philosophy Group
   Bellaire Library, 2nd floor--5111 Jessamine
   Mar 8th Thurs at 6pm
   Contact: Kent Guida, kent.guida(a)att.net
   713-666-2158 to receive copies of the reading.

Shakespeare:Hamlet
   http://tech-two.mit.edu/Shakespeare/hamlet/index.html
   Northwest Group - Library
   11355 Regency Green Dr
   Cypress,TX
   Mar 10th Sat at 1:30 pm
   Contact: Cynthia Jones, cynjo(a)pdq.net
   281-379-2329

Plato: Gorgias
   http://classics.mit.edu/Plato/gorgias.html
   Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
   Mar 10th Sat at 2:00 pm
   Contact: Mike McInerney, mmci(a)wt.net
   713-868-2443

Freud: On Dreams
   West University Group
   Senior Ctr.6104 Auden(at Rice Blvd)
   Mar 13th Tues at 12pm
   Contact:Grace Amborski, g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net
   713-592-0629

Rhys: Wide Sargasso Sea (ISBN:0393310485
   Meyerland Group
   Borders Book Store Meyerland Plaza
   4660 N Braeswood
   Mar 13th Tues at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net,
   713-436-1783

Clark: Einstein: The Life and Times
   Explorers Group - Barnes & Noble
   7626 Westheimer (at Voss)
   Mar 14th Weds at 8:00 pm
   Contact: Anna Lombardo tacinc(a)swbell.net,
   713-461-2900

Hume:Of Personal Identity
   http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/readings/ofpersonalidentity.html
   Country Place Group
   Country Place Carriage House, Pearland TX
   Mar 18th Sun at 3pm
   Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net,
   713-436-1783

Marquerite Yourcenar: Coup de Grâce
   (ISBN: 0374516316)
   Cypress Creek Group--Cypress Creek Library
   6815 Cypresswood Dr.
   Mar 19th Mon at 7pm
   Contact:Earl Bissex, 281-955-9447

Shaw:Caesar and Cleopatra
   http://www.4literature.net/George_Bernard_Shaw/Caesar_and_Cleopatra/
   Sugarland Group
   First Colony Lib,2121 Austin Pkwy
   Mar 20th Tues at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Laura Gratz
   gratzhopper(a)yahoo.com, 281-261-2841

Nietzsche: On Evil, Guilt and Power
   Westbury Group
   Westbury United Methodist Church
   5100 Willowbend
   Mar 20th Tues at 7pm
   Contact: Bob Friedman
   bobnjoy(a)iapc.net, 713-729-2255

Mill:On Liberty
   http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/text/mill/liberty/liberty.htm
   Memorial Group
   Location in process of changing.
   Please contact Bud for latest information.
   Mar 20th Tues at 7:15pm
   Contact:Bud Vine
   budvine(a)hal-pc.org, 713-334-5330

Bulgakov: Master & Margarita(ISBN: 0679760806)
   ClearLake Group
   Freeman Library -- 16602 Diana Ln
   Mar 22nd Thur at 7pm
   Contact: Robin Fewox
   robin_fewox(a)hchd.tmc.edu, 281-480-5697

Shakespeare:King Lear
   http://tech-two.mit.edu/Shakespeare/lear/index.html
   Fondren-Rice Group
   Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
   Mar 25th Sun at 3pm
   Contact:Urvine Atkinson
   urv1956(a)alumni.rice.edu, 713-665-0522

Putnam: Bowling Alone
   Looscan Library
   2510 Willowick
   Mar 28th Weds at 7:30pm
   Contact: Len Radoff, theradoffs(a)juno.com
   713-692-1952

Hawking: A Brief History of Time
   http://www.generationterrorists.com/quotes/abhotswh.html
   Explorers Group
   Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss
   7626 Westheimer
   Mar 28th Weds at 8:00 pm
   Contact: Anna Lombardo
   tacinc(a)swbell.net, 713-461-2900

==========================================================

"Almost always the creative, dedicated minority has
made the world better."
     -Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968

What is a Great Book Anyway?

What criteria should we use to select a Great Book?
Why would anyone choose to read book selections picked
by some authority?  How did it come about that the
Great Books Foundation 50th anniversary theme series
emphasizes a global perspective without gender bias?
How does Mortimer Adler unequivocably describe a great
book? Is the fact that ideas change but are always the
same reflected in Great Books? Does a Great Book have
to be antiquated? Do you agree that Great Books point
us toward an evolution of the mind?
   If you are interested in these or other issues and
questions regarding what is a Great Book, you may find
the entire essay on our web site at:
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org/whatisgreat.html

--Dorothy Ohlhaver HGBC Vice President

==================================================
  Our Web Site has Moved

  If you haven't visited our web site recently at
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org, you will be in
for a nice surprise. One feature we think the groups
will like is that each one has their own web page.
  Click on "Readings" for each of the groups in the
"Groups around Town" column and you will be able to
easily bookmark the locations.  If the contact
person would like us to change the web page name,
just let us know.  We are also prepared to post
notices, comments, and photos relevant to group
activity upon request.

--Alice Aman HGBC Board Member

=======================================================
Preliminary Report on the
Discussion Training Class

   The Discussion Training Class series has been
well attended and a great success. The third of the
series will be completed Saturday January 27th at the
Heights Library, 10:00 am.  We thank all who have
participated for such an excellent time.

--David Saletan HGBC Training Chair and Board Member
=====================================================

Inprint Reading Series Event

The 2000-2001 Margarett Root Brown Houston Reading
Series continues Tuesday, January 30, 2001 with
Michael Cunningham , 8 p.m. at the Tatham Fine Arts
Center, St. John's School. Visit the Inprint
web site at http://www.inprint-inc.org/Brown2000b.htm
for more details.

================================================
Discussion Groups for February:

Links to various sources for readings have been
included for your perusal. It is always best to
call or email the group contact person for
information about the specific text being used.

Please do not hesitate to send corrections.


Soren Kierkegaard: Either / Or
   Fannin Group - First UU Church, rm 201
   5200 Fannin (corner of Southmore)
   Feb 1st Thurs 12:00 pm - 1:30pm
   Contact: Grace Amborski<br>
   g.amborski(A)worldnet.att.net
   713-592-0629

Shakespeare: Hamlet

http://tech-two.mit.edu/Shakespeare/hamlet/index.html
   Kirby Group (previously met at Montrose Library)
   Borders Book Store- 3025 Kirby Drive (at W. Alabama)
   Feb 1st Thurs at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Betty Bell, bhbell(a)pdq.net, 713-864-5374

Aristotle:The Highest Good
   Woodlands Group - S.Montgomery County Library
   Feb 1st Thur at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Wally Pliszka, wpliszka(a)yahoo.com
   281-353-7104

Dewey: Habits and Will

http://www.alexandercenter.com/jd/johndeweyhabits.html
   Oasis Group - Foleys/Northwest Mall
   Feb 6th Tues at 1:30 pm
   Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924

Wriston, Walter: Twilight of Sovereignty
   Westbury Group
   Westbury United Methodist Church
   5100 Willowbend
   Feb 6th Tues at 7pm
   Contact: Bob Friedman, bobnjoy(a)iapc.net
   713-729-2255

Lyotard, Habermas, Rorty: Four brief essays on
   Postmodernism
   Political Philosophy Group
   Bellaire Library, 2nd floor
   5111 Jessamine
   Feb 8th Thurs at 6pm
   Contact: Kent Guida, kent.guida(a)att.net
   713-666-2158 to get copies of the essays.

Mill:On Liberty
   http://www.utm.edu/research/iep/text/mill/liberty/liberty.htm
   Northwest Group - Library
   11355 Regency Green Dr
   Cypress,TX
   Feb 10th Sat at 1:30 pm
   Contact: Cynthia Jones, cynjo(a)pdq.net
   281-379-2329

Wilder: Our Town
   Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
   Feb 10th Sat at 2:00 pm
   Contact: Mike McInerney, mmci(a)wt.net
   713-868-2443

Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
   (Chap XV,XVI)
   http://www.ccel.org/g/gibbon/decline/
   Borders Book Store Meyerland Plaza
   4660 N Braeswood
   Feb 13th Tues at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver@...
   713-436-1783

Nietzsche:The Genealogy of Morals
   http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~dee/MODERN/GENEAL.HTM
   Explorers Group - Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss
   7626 Westheimer
   Feb 14th Weds at 8:00 pm
   Contact: Anna Lombardo, tacinc(a)swbell.net
   713-461-2900

Kafka: The Metamorphosis
   http://www.vr.net/~herzogbr/kafka/meta.htm
   Country Place Group
   Country Place Carriage House, Pearland TX
   Feb 18th Sun at 3pm
   Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net
   713-436-1783

Coleridge:The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
   http://www.bartleby.com/101/549.html
   Cypress Creek Group
   Cypress Creek Library
   6815 Cypresswood Dr.
   Feb 19th Mon at 7pm
   Contact:Earl Bissex, 281-955-9447

Sophocles:Oedipus the King
   http://www.bb.com/looptestlive.cfm?bookid=675&startrow=2
   West University Group
   Senior Ctr.6104 Auden (a)Rice Blvd
   Feb 20th Tues at 12pm
   Contact:Grace Amborski,
   g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net
   713-592-0629

Mill:Utilitarianism (excerpt)
   http://www.library.adelaide.edu.au/etext/m/m645u/
   Sugarland Group
   First Colony Lib,2121 Austin Pkwy
   Feb 20th Tues at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Laura Gratz
   gratzhopper(a)yahoo.com, 281-261-2841

O’Neill:Anna Christie
   http://www.bartleby.com/230/20.html
   Westbury Group
   Westbury United Methodist Church
   5100 Willowbend
   Feb 20th Tues at 7pm
   Contact: Bob Friedman
   bobnjoy(a)iapc.net, 713-729-2255

Dewey:Habits and Will
   http://www.alexandercenter.com/jd/johndeweyhabits.html
   Memorial Group
   United Methodist Church,12955 Memorial
   Feb 20th Tues at 7:15pm
   Contact:Bud Vine
   budvine(a)hal-pc.org, 713-334-5330

Dickinson: Poetry from Happiness & Discontent
   http://www.greatbooks.org/adult/series/anny.html#happiness
   ClearLake Group
   Freeman Library 16602 Diana Ln
   Feb 22nd Thur at 7pm
   Contact: Robin Fewox
   robin_fewox(a)hchd.tmc.edu, 281-480-5697

Adams: The Education of Henry Adams</a>(excerpt)
   http://www.uwec.edu/jerzdg/orr/texts/adams_h_eha/
   Fondren-Rice Group
   Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
   Feb 25th Sun at 3pm
   Contact:Urvine Atkinson
   71207.41(a)compuserve.com, 713-665-0522

Dinesen: Sorrow-Acre
   Explorers Group
   Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss
   7626 Westheimer
   Feb 28th Weds at 8:00 pm
   Contact: Anna Lombardo
   tacinc(a)swbell.net, 713-461-2900

  Diamond: Guns, Germs, and Steel
   Looscan Library
   2510 Willowick
   Feb 28th Weds at 7:30pm
   Contact: Len Radoff theradoffs(a)juno.com
   713-692-1952

======================================
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to
entertain a thought without accepting it."
           -Aristotle

Date: Wed, 03 Jan 2001 21:27:16 GMT
From: gbdiscussion(a)greatbooks.org
Subject: Great Books Discussion, 2:1
To: "Great Books Discussion List" <gbdiscussion(a)lists.mcn.org>

A newsletter from the GREAT BOOKS FOUNDATION sent
1/3/01; 3:27:07 PM.

---
Please send us your comments at
  gbdiscussion(a)greatbooks.org.
An archive of past newsletters is available at
http://www.greatbooks.org/gbdiscussion/.

*********************************************************

   GREAT BOOKS DISCUSSION
   A newsletter about the texts, programs, and inspiration of the
   Great Books Foundation

*********************************************************

   Welcome! This e-mail newsletter is designed to support,
entertain and enlighten Great Books discussion leaders by
providing useful information and a forum for people to ask
questions and share ideas about the Great Books endeavor.

Each issue includes a question for discussion that
invites readers to explore the meaning of the texts and
discussions that comprise the core of the Great Books
experience. Readers' responses may be published in
following issues. Readers can also continue the discussion
at our Great Books Discussion forum:

   http://www.greatbooks.org/gbdiscussion/

   Thank you for sharing your time, enthusiasm and inquiry!

   Mike Wolfkiel, Editor
   -------------------

   IN THIS ISSUE:

   FOR DISCUSSION
   * Mike and Don
   * Religious texts
   * Is the great books movement racist?

   NEWS
   * The president writes

   HOT LINKS
   * About, the Human Internet
   * I Have Landed, by Stephen Jay Gould
   * A rich legacy of terror, by Simon Ward
   * Longfellow & the fate of modern poetry, by John Derbyshire
   * Not for Sissies, by John W. Dean
   * Tocqueville today, by Roger Kimball
   * Niccolo's Smile


*********************************************************

   FOR DISCUSSION

*********************************************************


   =================================
   Don and Mike: a Dialogue about the
   Mission of the Great Books Foundation
   =================================

   Mike: You know, with all the changes at the Great Books
   Foundation, I think I've lost track of what it is we're really
   doing.
   Don: Like the mission and philosophy of the Great Books
   Foundation?
   Mike: Yes, we recently developed a revised mission statement,
   and I'm not sure whether it has completely changed what we do or
   has left things basically the same.
   Don: What is the new statement?
   Mike: To help people think and share ideas.
   Don: I'd like to put the word better after "help people think."
   It sounds presumptuous to me to say we're going to help people
   think--they can do that without us--but I do believe we can help
   them think better.
   Mike: And how do we do that?
   Don: Since I believe "thinking" is essentially asking questions
   and answering them, we can help people be more thoughtful about
   what makes a good question and about how to ask different kinds
   of questions well.
   Mike: Does that give priority more to the method we use or more
   the literature to which we apply it?
   Don: The method, I think.
   Mike: You know we worked under another mission statement for
   most of the time we've been at the Foundation.
   Don: Yes it was, "to give people the opportunity to read,
   discuss, and learn from great works of literature."
   Mike: Quite different from our new one, wouldn't you say?
   Don: Well, it does mention literature directly, and that's
   always been pretty important to the Great Books Foundation.
   Mike: In fact, in the beginning providing low-cost editions of
   the Great Books was an integral part of our mission, since they
   were not readily available.
   Don: We probably should clarify for our readers, if they don't
   already know, that the Foundation doesn't promote a certain list,
   or "canon," of readings, but rather produces anything that will
   promote a certain kind of discussion. For the last couple of
   decades it's been called "shared inquiry."
   Mike: So does the method serve the great books or do the books
   simply provide material for thinking and personal development?
   Don: I'd answer by saying that the Foundation has always
   promoted a certain kind of discussion to the end that adults will
   learn about great ideas from great pieces of literature and
   develop in positive ways.
   Mike: So the books are less important than the way we talk about
   them.
   Don: I think so.


   Don Smith is a Senior Training Instructor for The Great Books
   Foundation

   You are invited to take issue with any element of this dialogue.
   Your responses will be featured in the next issue. Just reply to
   this e-mail to send in your comments. Please do not change the
   text of the subject field. You may also continue the discussion
   at the Great Books Discussion Web forum:

   http://www.greatbooks.org/gbdiscussion/

   We are considering using this dialogue format more often, both to
   raise issues and to respond to questions from the field. Please
   let us know what you think.

   ==================================
   Religious Texts
   ==================================

   In the Judeo-Christian tradition the holidays recall and
   celebrate moments when God miraculously entered into the world of
   human affairs to save and redeem his people. Perhaps then, this
   is an appropriate moment to reflect on the status of certain
   selections in the various Great Books series. While the books of
   Maccabees (the origin of Hanukah) are not represented, several
   texts from Hebrew scripture are and so is the Gospel of Mark from
   the Christian tradition.

   The questions I have fall into three camps:

   To what extent can one discuss a selection like the Gospel of
   Mark as a discrete text?
   To what extent does the discussibility of such works rely on
   their extra-textual associations?

   For either the believer or non-believer, is Shared Inquiry an
   appropriate approach to these texts?
   Is Shared Inquiry any more unjust to these texts than to those of
   the likes of Dostoevsky, Sophocles and Shakespeare?
   Is Shared Inquiry less capable or inadequate for finding meaning
   in these texts?

   Have your experiences with these "religious" texts been different
   than your experiences with other non-religious texts?

   Your responses will be featured in the next issue. Just reply to
   this e-mail to send in your comments. Please do not change the
   text of the subject field. You may also continue the discussion
   at the Great Books Discussion Web forum:

   http://www.greatbooks.org/gbdiscussion/

   =================================
   Is the Great Books Movement Racist
   =================================

   I recently saw the film _American History X_, which includes a
   loose reference to Great Books. A relatively minor scene
   flashbacks to a dinner-table exchange between the protagonist
   (Derek) and his father. At the time, Derek was a high school
   student, and had been assigned the book _Native Son_ by Richard
   Wright. Derek mentions how powerful the book and his teachers
   commentary on it have been. The father asks what the book is
   about, and Derek explains that it's written by an African
   American about the experiences of a young slave. The father rolls
   his eyes, and explains that equality is not so simple an issue,
   that _Native Son_ has replaced some other great book. He is
   suggesting that Derek's education has been impoverished. "Go
   ahead, read the book, get an "A"" says the father, "but don't buy
   into it. You gotta think for yourself."

   The scene is intended as a partial explanation of Derek's
   emerging racism, a racism so bitter that it leads Derek to
   espouse neo-Nazi principles and to brutually murder two black
   youths.

   The film's politics are so clear that one can easily infer that
   standing up for 'Great Books' is little more than an acceptable
   veneer intended to hide an insidious hatred, and that the
   rhetoric "think for yourself" amounts to propaganda intended to
   convert the innocent into racist beliefs.

   I found this rather surprising. My experience with the Great
   Books themselves and with the discussions urging me to "think for
   myself," have, on the whole, supported the values of equality and
   justice. Personally I have found them to support these values
   both more powerfully and with greater sensitivity to their depth
   and complexity than the flat-footed ideology of this particular
   film.

   But I wonder:

   To what extent is the Great Books movement associated with a
   support of racism?
   To what extent is it true that the Great Books movement supports
   and enables racism?
   Does even the Shared Inquiry approach harbor tendencies to
   racism?

   Your responses will be featured in the next issue. Just reply to
   this e-mail to send in your comments. Please do not change the
   text of the subject field. You may also continue the discussion
   at the Great Books Discussion Web forum:

   http://www.greatbooks.org/gbdiscussion/




************************************************************

   NEWS


************************************************************

   ====================
   The President writes:
   ====================

   Learning to Love Life outside of Academe

   http://www.greatbooks.org/wnew/chronicleed.html

   This article by Peter Temes appeared in The Chronicle of Higher
   Education, Monday, December 15, 2000.

   ----------------------

   Esprit de Corps Essential for Teachers

   http://www.greatbooks.org/wnew/suntimesed.html

   This article by Peter appeared as an editorial in The Chicago Sun
   Times, Monday, November 25, 2000.


************************************************************

   HOT LINKS


************************************************************


   About, the Human Internet


http://classiclit.about.com/arts/classiclit/mbody.htm

   This is the classic literature page of a huge web site. It combs
   other sites and periodicals, includes links, as well as articles,
   chat etc.

   --------------------

   I Have Landed, by Stephen Jay Gould



http://staging.amnh.org/naturalhistory/features/1200_feature.html


   In the final essay of this twenty-seven-year series, the author
   reflects on continuity from family history to the branching
   lineage of terrestrial life.

   ----------------------

   A rich legacy of terror, by Simon Ward



http://www.spectator.co.uk/bookreview.php3?table=old&section=current&issue=2000-\
12-09&id=187


   Ward's review of _The Hitchcock Murders_ by Peter Conrad.

   -----------------------

   Longfellow & the fate of modern poetry, by John Derbyshire


http://www.newcriterion.com/archive/19/dec00/longfellow.htm#top



   An interesting essay exploring the life of  Longfellow and
   opinions held of his writing.

   -----------------------

   Not for Sissies, by John W. Dean



http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2000/11/27/tocqueville/print.html


   Dean's review of Harvey Mansfield's new translation of _Democracy
   in America_ by Tocqueville.

   for another essay on Tocqueville see:

   Tocqueville today, by Roger Kimball


  http://www.newcriterion.com/archive/19/nov00/tocque.htm


   --------------------

   Minna Proctor's review of "Niccolo's Smile" by Maurizio Viroli


http://www.salon.com/books/review/2000/11/22/viroli/print.html


   Far from power mad, Machiavelli was a humane and principled man
   who never caught a break, according to a flattering new
   biography.


   the Editor: Mike Wolfkiel, M.A. Marquette University, Senior
   Training Instructor for The Great Books Foundation.
   mike.wolfkiel@...

   Don Smith, M.S. George Williams College, Senior Training
   Instructor for The Great Books Foundation.smithdc(a)ix.netcom.com

---

The Great Books Foundation (http://www.greatbooks.org)
is a nonprofit educational organization. Our mission is to
help people learn to think and share ideas through the
reading and discussion of outstanding literature--Shared
Inquiry Discussion. The Foundation provides training,
materials, and other support for participants in, leaders of, and
advocates for higher literacy. Visit our Web site to learn more
about Shared Inquiry Discussion, starting a discussion
group, leader training, books, and resources.

http://www.greatbooks.org  All rights reserved.

WEST UNIVERSITY GROUP CORRECTION

The West University Group reading selection listed in
the recent newsletter was incorrect. On January 30th
at 12:00 pm, instead of "The Federalist", they will be
reading Ecclesiastes from the Bible which is the first
selection of the standard Fifth Series text of the
Great Books Foundation.

EMAIL ADDRESS FOR LEN RADOFF

Also, the email address for Len Radoff shown in our
January newsletter was incorrect. His correct email
address is "theradoffs(a)juno.com". Len is the contact
person for the Looscan Library discussion group which
meets this month on Weds, Jan 24th at 7:30 pm.
(FYI: we're unable to use here the "at sign" in his email
address because egroups will filter it out as a result
of their privacy policy so we are using "(a)" instead.)

We apologize for any inconvenience these errors may
have caused.

GREAT BOOKS TRAINING COURSE
   FOR DISCUSSION QUALITY

Just a reminder that the Houston Great Books Council
will conduct a series of workshops on the Great Books
method on three successive Saturdays - January 13, 20
and 27.  Each session will run from 10 AM to 12:30 PM.
   The workshops are designed to enhance discussions of
Great Books and to help develop leadership skills by
learning how to formulate insightful discussion
questions.  You can find a more complete description
of these training sessions at our website at
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org.  To register call
713-728-9494 or e-mail dissale(a)att.net

   --Wally Pliszka
     HGBC President
==============================
TOTALLY NEW GROUP STARTING AT
         UNITARIAN CHURCH

We have formed a new group meeting at First Unitarian
Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin (corner of
Southmore).  We are doing the anthology series
starting with "Love and Marriage".  We are meeting
the 1st Thursday of every month in room 201 from
12 -1:30 starting Thursday, January 4th.  The first
selection is  "The Spinoza of Market Street" by Isaac
Bashevis Singer. Visit our web site to get a specific
list of the future readings in this anthology by
selecting "List of Groups" and then click on
"Readings" next to the entry for "Fannin Group".

  --Grace Amborski
     HGBC secretary
     and contact person for new Fannin Group
=================================
     ANOTHER NEW (BUT REALLY OLD)
   GROUP STARTING AT BORDERS ON KIRBY

The group that has been meeting at Montrose Library
for many years (over 10) is moving to the new Borders
Book Store at 3025 Kirby Dr.(corner of W. Alabama
and across from Whole Foods) starting on January 4th.
  The meeting time will remain the same, first Thursday
at 6:45 pm.  There are numerous reasons for the move,
probably the main one is that sometimes "change is
good". We are sorry to report that one of the long
time members of this group, John Thomas has resigned
because of ill health and won't be able to make the
move to the new location. We will miss him. Every
group needs such a "confirmed socialist" to keep
things lively!  We have created our own reading
selection list including authors such as Tolstoy,
Flannery O'Connor and Athol Fugard. Visit our web
site to get a more specific list of the readings by
selecting "List of Groups" and then click on
"Readings" next to the entry for "Kirby Group".

   --Betty Bell
     HGBC Theatre Coordinator
     and contact person for Kirby Group
================================
  GROUP ATTENDANCE COUNT SURVEY

  If you are a group contact person, you probably have
received calls or email from me asking for group
attendance counts. We hope this survey is not
intrusive in any way with your group leadership or
operation. We are doing this survey to get a more
accurate count of our membership and help us optimize
our resources, mainly regarding publicity.  The survey
has been discontinued for the holidays and will resume
in January and continue thru next September.
We would greatly appreciate your bearing with us thru
this period. Please be sure to let us know if you have
preferences concerning being reached by phone or
email.

   --Alice Aman
     HGBC Board Member
==========================
JANUARY DISCUSSION GROUPS

Links to various sources for readings have been
included for your perusal. It is always best to
call or email the group contact person for
information about the specific text being used.
Please don't hesitate to send additions
or corrections.

Thoreau: Civil Disobedience
    http://www.cs.indiana.edu/statecraft/civ.dis.html
    Oasis Group - Foleys/Northwest Mall
    Tues Jan 2nd at 1:30 pm
    Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924

Gilman:Women and Economics (selections to include):
    Potash: Prikhah's Complaint to God
    Ning Lao T'ai-t'ai:  A Daughter of Han (excerpt)
    Westbury Group - Westbury United Methodist Church,5100 Willowbend
    Tues Jan 2nd at 7pm
    Contact: Bob Friedman, bobnjoy(a)iapc.net, 713-729-2255

Gibbon: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
    http://www.bibliomania.com/2/1/62/109/frameset.html
    (Contact Anna for which chapter will be discussed by)
    Explorers Group-Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss 7626 Westheimer
    Weds Jan 3rd at 8:00 pm
    Contact: Anna Lombardo, tacinc(a)swbell.net, 713-461-2900

Singer: The Spinoza of Market Street
   Fannin Group-First UU Church,rm 201,5200 Fannin (at Southmore)
   Thur Jan 4th 12:00 pm - 1:30pm
   Contact:Grace Amborski,g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net, 713-592-0629

Tolstoy: Kreutzer Sonata
   http://www.ccel.org/t/tolstoy/kreutzer/kreutzer.txt
   Kirby Group (previously met at Montrose Library)
   Borders Book Store-2nd floor,3025 Kirby Drive(at W.Alabama)
   Thurs Jan 4th at 6:45pm
   Contact: Betty Bell, bhbell(a)pdq.net, 713-864-5374

Coleridge: Rime of the Ancient Mariner
   http://www.bartleby.com/101/549.html
   Woodlands Group - S.Montgomery County Library
   Thurs Jan 4th at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Wally Pliszka, wpliszka(a)yahoo.com,281-353-7104

Gogol: The Overcoat
    http://www.northshore.net/homepages/hope/RusOvercoat.html
    West University Group - Senior Ctr.6104 Auden @Rice Blvd
    Tue Jan 9th at 12pm
    Contact:Grace Amborski,g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net,713-592-0629

Swift: A Voyage to the Country of The Houyhnhnms
    http://www.jaffebros.com/lee/gulliver/bk4/index.html(Chap I-XII)
    Meyerland Group
    Borders Book Store,Meyerland Plaza,4660 N Braeswood
    Tue Jan 9th at 7:00 pm
    Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver,dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net,713-436-1783

Heidegger: Letter on Humanism
    selection from Basic Writings, edited by David Farrell Krell
    Political Philosophy Group
    Bellaire Library, 5111 Jessamine
    Thurs Jan 11th at 6pm
    Contact: Kent Guida, kent.guida(a)att.net,713-666-2158

Babel: The Awakening
    Great Books Training Class (not just a discussion group)
    ($10 registration fee required)
    Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd (Change from Montessori Ctr)
    Sat Jan 13th at 10:00 am
    Contact: David Saletan, dissale(a)att.net, 713-728-9494

Dewey: Habits and Will
   Northwest Group,Library,11355 Regency Green Dr,Cypress,TX
   Sat Jan 13th at 1:30 pm
   Contact: Cynthia Jones,cynjo(a)pdq.net,281-379-2329

Shakespeare: Henry VIII
   http://tech-two.mit.edu/Shakespeare/henryviii/index.html
   Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
   Sat Jan 13th at 2:00 pm
   Contact: Mike McInerney,mmci(a)wt.net, 713-868-2443

Dostoyevsky: Stavrogin's Confession
    Cypress Creek Group
    Cypress Creek Library,6815 Cypresswood Dr.
    Mon Jan 15th at 7pm
    Contact:Earl Bissex, fax::281-370-5641,voice:281-955-9447

Bible: Job (excerpt from)
    http://www.virtualholyland.com/channels/prayer/bible/Job.htm
    Sugarland Group
    First Colony Lib,2121 Austin Pkwy
    Tue Jan 16th at 7:00 pm
    Contact: Laura Gratz, gratzhopper(a)yahoo.com,281-261-2841

Barrow: The Enthropic Cosmological Principle (first chapter)
    Westbury Group
    Westbury United Methodist Church,5100 Willowbend
    Tues Jan 16th at 7pm
    Contact: Bob Friedman, bobnjoy(a)iapc.net, 713-729-2255

Machiavelli: The Prince
    Translation by Marriott available at
    http://www.constitution.org/mac/prince.txt
    Memorial Group-2nd floor,United Methodist Church,12955 Memorial
    Tues Jan 16th at 7:15pm
    Contact:Bud Vine, budvine(a)hal-pc.org, 713-334-5330

Darwin: The Descent of Man (excerpt from)
    http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/charles_darwin/descent_of_man/
    Explorers Group
    Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss 7626 Westheimer
    Weds Jan 17th at 8:00 pm
    Contact: Anna Lombardo, tacinc(a)swbell.net, 713-461-2900

Epictetus: The Manual
    http://www.geocities.com/westhollywood/heights/4617/stoic/epictetus2.html
    Training Course (second of three special training sessions - fee required)
    Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
    Sat Jan 20th at 10:00 am
    Contact: David Saletan, dissale(a)att.net, 713-728-9494

Freud: On Dreams
    Country Place Group
    Country Place Carriage House, Pearland TX
    Sun Jan 21st at 3pm
    Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net,713-436-1783

Feynman: Six Easy Pieces
   Looscan Library, 2510 Willowick
   Weds Jan 24th at 7:30pm
   Contact: Len Radoff, radoffhaus(a)juno.com,713-692-1952

Thucydides:The Melian Diaologue
    http://history.boisestate.edu/westciv/peloponn/melian.htm
    ClearLake Group
    Freeman Library,16602 Diana Ln
    Thur Jan 25th at 7pm
    Contact: Robin Fewox, robin_fewox(a)hchd.tmc.edu,281-480-5697

Kafka: The Metamorphosis
    http://www.vr.net/~herzogbr/kafka/meta.htm
    Training Course (third of three special training classes - fee required)
    Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
    Sat Jan 27th at 10:00 am
    Contact: David Saletan, dissale(a)att.net,713-728-9494

Burke: Reflections on the Revolution in France
    http://www.knuten.liu.se/~bjoch509/works/burke/reflections/reflections.html
    Fondren-Rice Group
    Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
    Sun Jan 28th at 3pm
    Contact:Urvine Atkinson, 71207.41(a)compuserve.com,713-665-0522

Hamilton, Madison: The Federalist
    http://www.law.emory.edu/FEDERAL/federalist/
    (Essays No. 1,2,10,15,51,69,70)
    West University Group
    Senior Ctr.6104 Auden @Rice Blvd
    Tue Jan 30th at 12pm
    Contact:Grace Amborski,g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net,713-592-0629

Freud: Totem and Taboo (excerpt from)
    Explorers Group
    Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss 7626 Westheimer
    Weds Jan 31st at 8:00 pm
    Contact: Anna Lombardo, tacinc(a)swbell.net,713-461-2900
  ==========================================
    Be very, very careful what you put into your head,
    because you will never, ever get it out.
     -- Thomas Cardinal Wolsey (1471-1530)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

GREAT BOOKS TRAINING COURSE FOR DISCUSSION QUALITY

The Houston Great Books Council will conduct a series
of workshops on the Great Books method on three
successive Saturdays - January 13, 20 and 27.  Each
session will run from 10 AM to 12:30 PM; The first
will be at a Montessori Center at Interstate 10 and
Bunker Hill, the remaining two at the Heights Library,
1302 Heights Blvd.  The workshops are designed to enhance
discussions of Great Books  and to help develop leadership
skills by learning how to formulate insightful discussion
questions.  You can find a more complete description of
these training sessions at our website at
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org.  To register call
713-728-9494 or e-mail dissale(a)att.net


        APRIL GREAT BOOKS RETREAT

Instead of holding an area wide meeting in April, the
Houston Great Books Council is considering holding a
retreat in Galveston for the purpose of discussing a
"Great Book."  This would be a new initiative and we
would like to determine the level of interest.  At
this point, the precise date, time, location and work
have not been selected.  If you would be interested in
participating in such a retreat please e-mail
houstongreatbooks(a)yahoo.com.

   --Wally Pliszka
     HGBC President

================================================

       DOUBLE BONUS HOLIDAY GIFT

Here's a double bonus holiday gift for Great Books
subscribers:  For a tax-deductible gift of $25 to the
Houston Great Books Council, you will receive a free
coffee mug inscribed with the Houston Great Books
Council Logo (Diogenes with lantern).  This donation,
which qualifies for a non-profit end-of-year tax
deduction, will help support the work of the Council,
including the Quality Discussion Trainings, Seminars,
Area-Wide meetings and postal delivered newsletters.
The black mug, with Diogenes encircled by a laurel leaf,
also makes an appropriate holiday gift.  Make checks
payable to HGBC and mail to D. Ohlhaver, 3015 So. Peach
Hollow, Pearland, Tx. 77584.  Let us know if you can
pick up the mug at a convenient time and place, or if you
need it mailed. (Add $2.50 for postage.)  Supplies are
limited, so get your order in soon for the holidays.

  --Dorothy Ohlhaver
    HGBC Vice-President

================================================

      DECEMBER DISCUSSION GROUPS

Links to various sources for readings have been
included for your perusal. It is always best to
call or email the group contact person for
information about the specific text being used.
Email address info is obscured here as a
result of the egroups privacy policy, but can be
obtained instead for all contact persons from our
web site at http://www.houstongreatbooks.org on
the "List of Groups" page.
   If anyone sees something (other than email addresses)
in error, please don't hesitate to let us know.


Swift: Gulliver's Travels, Book IV
   http://www.jaffebros.com/lee/gulliver/bk4/index.html
   Oasis Group
   Foleys/Northwest Mall
   Tues Dec 5th at 1:30 pm
   Contact: Anne Daniels, 713-752-2924

Shakespeare: Coriolanus
   http://tech-two.mit.edu/Shakespeare/coriolanus/index.html
   Looscan Library, 2510 Willowick
   Weds Dec 6th at 7:30pm
   Contact: Len Radoff, 713-692-1952

Musil: Moosbrugger (excerpt from)
   Museum Group
   Montrose Library, 4100 Montrose @Colquitt
   Thurs Dec 7th at 6:45pm
   Contact: Betty Bell, bhbell(a)pdq.net, 713-864-5374

Dostoyevsky: Stavrogin's Confession
   Woodlands Group
   S.Montgomery County Library
   Thurs Dec 7th at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Wally Pliszka, wpliszka(a)yahoo.com, 281-353-7104

Thoreau: Civil Disobedience
   http://www.cs.indiana.edu/statecraft/civ.dis.html
   Northwest Group,Library,11355 Regency Green Dr,
   Sat Dec 9th at 1:30 pm
   Contact: Cynthia Jones, cynjo(a)pdq.net, 281-379-2329

Bolt: A Man For All Seasons
   Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
   Sat Dec 9th at 2:00 pm
   Contact: Mike McInerney, mmci(a)wt.net, 713-868-2443

Hamilton, Madison: The Federalist
   http://www.law.emory.edu/FEDERAL/federalist/
   (Essays No. 1,2,10,15,51,69,70)
   West University Group
   Senior Ctr.6104 Auden @Rice Blvd
   Tue Dec 12th at 12pm
   Contact:Grace Amborski, g.amborski(a)worldnet.att.net, 713-592-0629

Swift: A Voyage to the Country of The Houyhnhnms
   http://www.jaffebros.com/lee/gulliver/bk4/index.html(Chap I-XII)
   Borders Book Store,Meyerland Plaza,4660 N Braeswood
   Tue Dec 12th at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net, 713-436-1783

Suetonius: The Lives of the Caesars: Caius Caligula
   http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/suetonius-caligula.html
   Westbury United Methodist Church,5100 Willowbend
   Tues Dec 12th at 7pm
   Contact: Bob Friedman, 713-729-2255

Pushkin: The Captain's Daughter and Other Stories
    http://amin929.533.net/e_intread/1_9.htm
    Explorers Group
    Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss 7626 Westheimer
    Weds Dec 13th at 8:00 pm
    Contact: Anna Lombardo, tacinc(a)swbell.net, 713-461-2900

Alasdair MacIntyre: AFTER VIRTUE
    (Because of different editions, opening
     lines as well as page numbers given)
    Ch 7, last 3 pages, starting "The notion of 'fact' with..."
    Ch 8, last 4 pages, starting "We now are at last..."
    Ch 9, last 6 pages, starting "For it was Nietzsche's.."
    all Ch 12, Ch 14, Ch 16, Ch 18
    Political Philosophy Group
    Bellaire Library, 5111 Jessamine
    Thurs Dec 14th at 6pm
    Contact: Kent Guida, kent.guida(a)att.net, 713-666-2158

Bring your own selection
    Country Place Group
    Country Place Carriage House, Pearland TX
    Sun Dec 17th at 2pm
    Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver, dsohlhaver(a)pdq.net, 713-436-1783

Dante: The Inferno
    Several translations available at
    http://www.carthage.edu/departments/english/dante/
    Fondren-Rice Group
    Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
    Sun Dec 17th at 3pm
    Contact:Urvine Atkinson, 71207.41(a)compuserve.com, 713-665-0522

Johnson: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
    Cypress Creek Group
    Cypress Creek Library, 6815 Cypresswood Dr.
    Mon Dec 18th at 7pm
    Contact:Earl Bissex, 281-955-9447

Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire Chap XV & Chap XVI
    http://www.bibliomania.com/2/1/62/109/frameset.html
    Sugarland Group
    First Colony Lib, 2121 Austin Pkwy
    Tue Dec 19th at 7:00 pm
    Contact: Laura Gratz, gratzhopper(a)yahoo.com, 281-261-2841

Selection for the Memorial Group not known at time of this mailout.
    Contact Bud for info
    Memorial Group
    United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial
    Tues Dec 19th at 7:15pm
    Contact:Bud Vine, budvine(a)hal-pc.org, 713-334-5330

Bring your own selection
    ClearLake Group
    Freeman Library,16602 Diana Ln
    Thur Dec 21st at 7pm
    Contact: Robin Fewox, robin_fewox(a)hchd.tmc.edu, 281-480-5697

Potash,Lao,T'alt'ai: Five Stories (reading three of five)
    Westbury Group
    Westbury United Methodist Church,5100 Willowbend
    No meeting Dec 26th - meet next on Tues, Jan 2, 2001 at 7pm
    Contact: Bob Friedman, 713-729-2255

Gibbon: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
    http://www.bibliomania.com/2/1/62/109/frameset.html
    Contact Anna for which chapter will be discussed by
    Explorers Group
    Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss 7626 Westheimer
    No meeting Dec 27th-meet next on Jan 3,2001 at 8:00 pm
    Contact: Anna Lombardo, tacinc(a)swbell.net, 713-461-2900


=====================================================
"When I get a little money I buy books and if any is
left over I buy food and clothes."  - Erasmus

It has been learned from Anne Daniels, leader of
the Oasis group which meets Nov 2nd, that we erroneously
reported they would be discussing Dostoyevsky: Notes from
the Underground.

Instead, they will be discussing a selection by John
Locke titled "Of Civil Government" as printed in the
Second Series, Volume 3 of The Great Books Series.

In the preamble to this selection, it states it is
from "Of Civil Government: Second Treatise", Portions
of Chapters II, III,IV, V, VII, VIII, IX, and XI.

If you have any questions about this, please contact
Anne at 713-752-2924.

Sorry, I failed to inform you, but because of the
holidays,  the Rice Fondren Great Books Group will
be meeting on Nov. 19 instead of Nov. 30.
Likewise, in December, we will be meeting on Dec. 17.

   Urvine Atkinson

HOUSTON GREAT BOOKS THEATER GROUP

The Great Books Theater Group was organized
approximately more than five years ago.  The Group
goes to one play each Spring and another each Fall.
Some of the plays they have attended are:  Uncle
Vanya, Arcadia, Durang Durang, Taming of the Shrew,
Northanger Abbey, State of the Union, Spike Heels, and
this month they attended a wonderful production of
Macbeth.

They have always attended Sunday matinees, and then
gone to a restaurant to eat together and discuss the
play, or other things.  The Group has discovered
several outstanding restaurants.  This gives them an
opportunity to see people from other Great Book units,
exchange insights of other discussion groups, and
discuss the play...both content and production.  By
going as a group, they can attend with cheaper
tickets.

The Great Books groups that are represented are
Westbury, Montrose, Country Place, Oasis, Brennan TX,
Looscan, Woodlands, tec.  There are also several
former Great Bookies who go to the Theater Group, but
are no longer in a discussion group.  This is a good
opportunity to see old friends.

When the group started, only about fifteen showed up
for the Sunday production.  Through the years, the
mailing list has expanded.  This past Spring there
were 30 who attended.  This Fall it dropped down to 20
for Macbeth for various reasons, from a heart attack
to conflicting season tickets to other theaters, etc.
Notices are sent to more than fifty people, and
several wrote to say they could not go this time, but
"Please do not take me off the mailing list."

          Betty H. Bell
          Theater Coordinator
          bhbell@...
          713-864-5374
================================================
Links to various sources for readings have been
included for your perusal. It is always best to
call or email the group contact person for
information about the specific text being used.

Group leaders, members and/or contact persons -
please do not hesitate to send additions or
corrections to information posted below.

Discussion Groups (that we know of) for November:

Bible: Book of Isaiah
   Explorers Group
   Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss 7626 Westheimer
   Weds Nov 1st at 7:30pm
   Contact:Anna Lombardo,tacinc@...,713-461-2900

Wideman: Philadelphia Fire
   Museum Group
   Montrose Library, 4100 Montrose @Colquitt
   Thurs Nov 2nd at 6:45pm
   Contact: Betty Bell,bhbell@...,713-864-5374

Johnson: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
   Woodlands Group
   S.Montgomery County Library
   Thurs Nov 2nd at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Wally Pliszka,wpliszka@...,281-353-7104

Dostoyevsky: Notes from the Underground
   http://www.kiosek.com/dostoevsky/library/underground.txt
   Oasis Group
   Foleys/Northwest Mall
   Tues Nov 7th at 1:30 pm
   Contact: Anne Daniels,713-752-2924

Whitehead: The Aims of Education
   Heights Library,1302 Heights Blvd
   Sat Nov 11 at 2:00 pm
   Contact: Mike McInerney,mmci@...,713-868-2443

Swift: Gulliver's Travels Book IV
   Northwest Group,Library,11355 Regency Green Dr,
   Sat Nov 11th at 1:30 pm
   Contact: Cynthia Jones,cynjo@...,281-379-2329

Moliere: The Misanthrope
   http://www.bibliomania.com/Drama/Moliere/Plays/ch3act01.html
   Sugarland,First Colony Lib,2121 Austin Pkwy
   Tue Nov 14th at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Laura Gratz,gratzhopper@...,281-261-2841

Moliere: The Misanthrope (not a typo, two groups discussing this)
   http://www.bibliomania.com/Drama/Moliere/Plays/ch3act01.html
   Borders Book Store,Meyerland Plaza,4660 N Braeswood
   Tue Nov 14th at 7:00 pm
   Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver,dohlhaver@...,713-436-1783

Pushkin: Queen of Spades
   http://www.prolex.net/Pushkin/oeuvre/prose/PIK_DAM/Pik_dame.htm
   Westbury United Methodist Church,5100 Willowbend
   Tues Nov 14th at 7pm
   Contact: Bob Friedman,713-729-2255

Sun-Tzu: The Art of War
   Explorers Group
   Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss 7626 Westheimer
   Weds Nov 15th at 7:30pm
   Contact: Anna Lombardo,tacinc@...,713-461-2900

MacIntyre: After Virtue (Chap. 4,5,6)
   (call Kent for copies of reading)
   Pol Philosophy, Bellaire Library, 5111 Jessamine
   Thurs Nov 16th at 6pm
   Contact: Kent Guida,kent.guida@...,713-666-2158

Von Rezzori: Troth
   Clear Lake Group
   Freeman Library,16602 Diana Ln
   Thur Nov 16th at 7pm
   Contact: Robin Fewox,robin_fewox@...,281-480-5697

Sophocles: Oedipus Rex
   Translation by Plumptre available at
   http://www.bb.com/looptestlive.cfm?bookid=675&startrow=2
   Country Place Carriage House, Pearland TX
   Sun Nov 19th at 2pm
   Contact: Dorothy Ohlhaver,dohlhaver@...,713-436-1783

Musil: Moosbrugger
   Cypress Creek Library,6815 Cypresswood Dr.
   Mon Nov 20th at 7pm
   Contact:Earl Bissex,281-955-9447

Shakespeare: The Tempest
   http://tech-two.mit.edu/Shakespeare/tempest/index.html
   West University,Senior Ctr.6104 Auden @Rice Blvd
   Tue Nov 21st at 12pm
   Contact:Grace Amborski,g.amborski@...,713-592-0629

Machiavelli: The Prince (discussion cont'd)
   Translation by Marriott available at
   http://www.constitution.org/mac/prince.txt
   United Methodist Church,12955 Memorial
   Tues Nov 21st at 7:15pm
   Contact:Bud Vine,budvine@...,713-334-5330

No discussion for November at
   Looscan Library, 2510 Willowick
   normally 4th Weds of month at 7:30pm
   Contact:Len Radoff,713-692-1952

Chase: Harvard and the Making of the Unabomber
   (from Atlantic Monthly Magazine)
   http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2000/06/chase.htm
   Tues Nov 28th at 7:00 pm
   Westbury United Methodist Church 5100 Willowbend
   Contact:Bob Friedman,713-729-2255

Shakespeare: Julius Caesar
   http://tech-two.mit.edu/Shakespeare/julius_caesar/full.html
   Explorers Group
   Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss 7626 Westheimer
   Weds Nov 29th at 7:30pm
   Contact: Anna Lombardo,tacinc@...,713-461-2900

Nietzsche: Thus Spoke Zarathustra
   Fondren/Rice,Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
   Sun Nov 30th at 3pm
   Contact:Urvine Atkinson,71207.41@...,713-665-0522

November electronic newsletter for Houston Great
  Books is coming soon.

  The count of subscribers on the HoustonGreatBooks
  egroups list is now at 99. For those of you who are
  unaware, subscribers on this list make up all the
  email addresses we could find for the existing 17
  groups as well as other email addresses that we've
  learned about as representing people interested
  in Houston Great Books discussion groups.

  Our intent is to make this list for the public as
  well as dues paying members of Houston Great Books.
  We hope to send at regular intervals, an updated list
  of the meeting times, locations and reading
  descriptions for all 17 groups. A  few editorials
  and other notices will also be included now and then.
  FYI -- It isn't currently in our plans to eliminate
  distribution of the hard-copy semi-annual Houston
  Great Books newsletter, known as "The Wayfarer" to
  dues-paying members and to libraries.

  We are trying to figure out how to best communicate
  but also how to prevent flooding subscribers with
  email to such an extent they might feel the need to
  unsubscribe.  Our egroups learning curve is still in
  progress so please excuse our errors in allowing some
  messages to slip thru to this "big list" that were
  intended to be re-directed to individuals.

  It is not our intent to infringe on any processes
  that the group leaders might already have in place.

  Opinions are welcome though we are reserving
  the right to filter mail sent to the list (for now
  anyway). For those who might want to communicate off
  line - email can be sent to the president, Wally
  Pliszka at wpliszka@... or to any of the other
  board members whose email addresses are listed in the
  Newsletter section on our web site at
  http://www.houstongreatbooks.org.

  For those comments/questions that are
  non-philosophical or web-egroups user
  administration type problems, please send to
  houstongreatbooks@....

    --Alice Aman
     (self-appointed web-list curator for
       HoustonGreatBooks)

If it wouldn't be a problem, add me to your mailing list.  Going forward, we
may be able to accomodate this sort of communication of the listserver or
website.

Regards,
Wally Pliszka
----- Original Message -----
From: "Laura Gratz" <gratzhopper@...>
To: <houstongreatbooks@egroups.com>
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2000 9:58 PM
Subject: Re: [HoustonGreatBooks] Sugar Land Group


> i forgot to ask before: i usually send an e-mail to our group members a
> few days before we meet as a reminder & to let them know which room
> we'll be in; would you like to be added to the list?
>
> laura
>
>
> --- "Thad T. Hutcheson" <thad@...> wrote:
> > ok, let me know what i'm to read!
> >
> > Thad Hutcheson
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Laura Gratz" <gratzhopper@...>
> > To: <houstongreatbooks@egroups.com>
> > Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2000 7:52 PM
> > Subject: [HoustonGreatBooks] Sugar Land Group
> >
> >
> > > The meeting time for the Sugar Land group is 7-8:30.  Everything
> > else
> > > about us is correct.  We will be meeting a week early next month
> > (Nov.
> > > 14th not the 21st) to accomodate everyone's Thanksgiving plans.
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> > > Laura
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________
> > > Do You Yahoo!?
> > > Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf!  It's FREE.
> > > http://im.yahoo.com/
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > > houstongreatbooks-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> =====
> Laura Gratz
> gratzhopper@...
> (281) 261-2841
>
>

i forgot to ask before: i usually send an e-mail to our group members a
few days before we meet as a reminder & to let them know which room
we'll be in; would you like to be added to the list?

laura


--- "Thad T. Hutcheson" <thad@...> wrote:
> ok, let me know what i'm to read!
>
> Thad Hutcheson
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Laura Gratz" <gratzhopper@...>
> To: <houstongreatbooks@egroups.com>
> Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2000 7:52 PM
> Subject: [HoustonGreatBooks] Sugar Land Group
>
>
> > The meeting time for the Sugar Land group is 7-8:30.  Everything
> else
> > about us is correct.  We will be meeting a week early next month
> (Nov.
> > 14th not the 21st) to accomodate everyone's Thanksgiving plans.
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Laura
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf!  It's FREE.
> > http://im.yahoo.com/
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > houstongreatbooks-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>


=====
Laura Gratz
gratzhopper@...
(281) 261-2841



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf!  It's FREE.
http://im.yahoo.com/

Moliere: The Misanthrope...it's the entire work, so any version will do

laura
--- "Thad T. Hutcheson" <thad@...> wrote:
> ok, let me know what i'm to read!
>
> Thad Hutcheson
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Laura Gratz" <gratzhopper@...>
> To: <houstongreatbooks@egroups.com>
> Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2000 7:52 PM
> Subject: [HoustonGreatBooks] Sugar Land Group
>
>
> > The meeting time for the Sugar Land group is 7-8:30.  Everything
> else
> > about us is correct.  We will be meeting a week early next month
> (Nov.
> > 14th not the 21st) to accomodate everyone's Thanksgiving plans.
> > Thanks.
> >
> > Laura
> >
> > __________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf!  It's FREE.
> > http://im.yahoo.com/
> >
> >
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > houstongreatbooks-unsubscribe@egroups.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf!  It's FREE.
http://im.yahoo.com/

ok, let me know what i'm to read!

Thad Hutcheson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Laura Gratz" <gratzhopper@...>
To: <houstongreatbooks@egroups.com>
Sent: Saturday, October 21, 2000 7:52 PM
Subject: [HoustonGreatBooks] Sugar Land Group


> The meeting time for the Sugar Land group is 7-8:30.  Everything else
> about us is correct.  We will be meeting a week early next month (Nov.
> 14th not the 21st) to accomodate everyone's Thanksgiving plans.
> Thanks.
>
> Laura
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf!  It's FREE.
> http://im.yahoo.com/
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> houstongreatbooks-unsubscribe@egroups.com
>
>
>
>

The meeting time for the Sugar Land group is 7-8:30.  Everything else
about us is correct.  We will be meeting a week early next month (Nov.
14th not the 21st) to accomodate everyone's Thanksgiving plans.
Thanks.

Laura

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Messenger - Talk while you surf!  It's FREE.
http://im.yahoo.com/

Hi ,

This is a great lay-out and I'm glad you started doing this! I did notice
one discrepancy you probably would like to know about.  The Clear Lake group
will meet this month on Oct 26th not Oct 19th!  I'm sorry I didn't get back
with you sooner regarding this, but I have been out of town.

Regards.
Robin Fewox

-----Original Message-----
From: reader@... [mailto:reader@...]
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 1:43 PM
To: houstongreatbooks@...
Subject: [HoustonGreatBooks] This Month


  Great Books Foundation Comes to Houston
  (Or, the Mountain Comes to Mohammed)

Are Americans really ready to abandon their
acquisitiveness in favor  of more spiritual or
altruistic pursuits?  That was the mood at the
Robinson-Westchase library last Tuesday evening
where some 20 participants attended one of the five
Houston area discussions of  Alexis de Tocqueville's
1831 essay entitled "Why Americans are Often so
Restless in the Midst of their Prosperity" sponsored
by the Great Books Foundation.

Attendance was similar at most of the other sessions
and the quality and level of participation inspiring.
The participants represented a wide cross-section of
the Houston community including a number of  recent
immigrants.  Since Tocqueville was French, there was
special interest generated among Houston's French
community.

Tuesday's discussions were followed by a panel
discussion held at Rice University on Wednesday evening.
Participants in the panel were faculty members from Rice
and the University of Houston.  The panel discussion was
moderated by Dr. Peter Temes, the president of the Great
Books Foundation headquartered in Chicago.  The panel
remarked upon America's diversity and its efforts to
achieve equality.

If this sort of discussion sounds appealing to you,
they occur monthly at 17 locations throughout the
Houston area.  Click on our website at
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org to learn more.

===================================================
Most of you are already aware of the Great Books
theatre event being organized by Betty Bell. The
deadline is Oct 16th for reservations for the Oct
22nd showing of MacBeth at Actors Theatre. If
you will call Betty at 713-864-5374 and let her know
you want to participate, arrangements can still be made.
======================================================

Group leaders, members and/or contact persons -
please do not hesitate to send addition or corrections
to information posted below.

Discussion Groups for remainder of October:

Nietzsche: On Evil, Guilt, and Power
   Cypress Creek Library 6815 Cypresswood Dr.
   Mon Oct 16 at 7pm
   Contact: 281-955-9447
Machiavelli: The Prince
   United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial
   Tues Oct 17 at 7:15pm
   Contact: 713-334-5330
Weber: The Spirit of Capitalism
   Sugarland,First Colony Lib,2121 Austin Pkwy
   Tues Oct 17th at 7:30 pm
   Contact: 281-261-2841
Thurow: The Future of Capitalism
   Westbury United Methodist Church 5100 Willowbend
   Tues Oct 17 at 7pm
   Contact: 713-729-2255
Homer: The Iliad
   Explorers Grp
   Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss 7626 Westheimer
   Weds Oct 18th at 7:30pm
   Contact: 713-461-2900
Tolstoy: After the Ball
   Freeman Library 16602 Diana Ln
   Thur Oct 19th at 7pm
   Contact: 281-480-5697
Kurzwell: Age of Spiritual Machines
   Looscan Library, 2510 Willowick
   Wed Oct 25th at 7:30pm
   Contact:  713-692-1952
Croly:from Agressive Democracy and Woodrow Wilson:
   Bellaire Library, 5111 Jessamine
   Thur Oct 26th at 6:00pm
   Contact: 713-666-2158
Hume: Of Personal Identity
   Fondren/Rice,Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
   Sun Oct 29th at 3pm
   Contact: 713-665-0522
Diderot: Rameau's Nephew
   West University-SR. Center 6104 Auden @Rice Blvd.
   Tue Oct 31 at 12pm
   Conctact: 713-592-0629




To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
houstongreatbooks-unsubscribe@egroups.com

Great Books Foundation Comes to Houston
  (Or, the Mountain Comes to Mohammed)

Are Americans really ready to abandon their
acquisitiveness in favor  of more spiritual or
altruistic pursuits?  That was the mood at the
Robinson-Westchase library last Tuesday evening
where some 20 participants attended one of the five
Houston area discussions of  Alexis de Tocqueville's
1831 essay entitled "Why Americans are Often so
Restless in the Midst of their Prosperity" sponsored
by the Great Books Foundation.

Attendance was similar at most of the other sessions
and the quality and level of participation inspiring.
The participants represented a wide cross-section of
the Houston community including a number of  recent
immigrants.  Since Tocqueville was French, there was
special interest generated among Houston's French
community.

Tuesday's discussions were followed by a panel
discussion held at Rice University on Wednesday evening.
Participants in the panel were faculty members from Rice
and the University of Houston.  The panel discussion was
moderated by Dr. Peter Temes, the president of the Great
Books Foundation headquartered in Chicago.  The panel
remarked upon America's diversity and its efforts to
achieve equality.

If this sort of discussion sounds appealing to you,
they occur monthly at 17 locations throughout the
Houston area.  Click on our website at
http://www.houstongreatbooks.org to learn more.

===================================================
Most of you are already aware of the Great Books
theatre event being organized by Betty Bell. The
deadline is Oct 16th for reservations for the Oct
22nd showing of MacBeth at Actors Theatre. If
you will call Betty at 713-864-5374 and let her know
you want to participate, arrangements can still be made.
======================================================

Group leaders, members and/or contact persons -
please do not hesitate to send addition or corrections
to information posted below.

Discussion Groups for remainder of October:

Nietzsche: On Evil, Guilt, and Power
   Cypress Creek Library 6815 Cypresswood Dr.
   Mon Oct 16 at 7pm
   Contact: 281-955-9447
Machiavelli: The Prince
   United Methodist Church, 12955 Memorial
   Tues Oct 17 at 7:15pm
   Contact: 713-334-5330
Weber: The Spirit of Capitalism
   Sugarland,First Colony Lib,2121 Austin Pkwy
   Tues Oct 17th at 7:30 pm
   Contact: 281-261-2841
Thurow: The Future of Capitalism
   Westbury United Methodist Church 5100 Willowbend
   Tues Oct 17 at 7pm
   Contact: 713-729-2255
Homer: The Iliad
   Explorers Grp
   Barnes & Noble Westheimer/Voss 7626 Westheimer
   Weds Oct 18th at 7:30pm
   Contact: 713-461-2900
Tolstoy: After the Ball
   Freeman Library 16602 Diana Ln
   Thur Oct 19th at 7pm
   Contact: 281-480-5697
Kurzwell: Age of Spiritual Machines
   Looscan Library, 2510 Willowick
   Wed Oct 25th at 7:30pm
   Contact:  713-692-1952
Croly:from Agressive Democracy and Woodrow Wilson:
   Bellaire Library, 5111 Jessamine
   Thur Oct 26th at 6:00pm
   Contact: 713-666-2158
Hume: Of Personal Identity
   Fondren/Rice,Rice Univ,Sewall Hall-Rm 352A
   Sun Oct 29th at 3pm
   Contact: 713-665-0522
Diderot: Rameau's Nephew
   West University-SR. Center 6104 Auden @Rice Blvd.
   Tue Oct 31 at 12pm
   Conctact: 713-592-0629