Calendar of Events
Click on event title for information.
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Long Novel Weekend
August 22-23, 2009
Great Books in Wine Country
October 3, 2009
Poetry Weekend
November 7-8, 2009
San Francisco Mini-Retreat
February 2010
Asilomar Weekend
April 16-18, 2010
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We wish you and your loved ones a safe and joyous Independence Day weekend.
The above is forwarded from the Center for the Study of the Great Ideas. If, perchance, you do not have a copy to review of the document for which this day is honored, click here.
June 2009
Dear Great Books Supporter,
The Spring-Summer 2009 issue of Reading Matters, in full color, is now available on our website or click here for direct access.
Included in this E-Newsletter:
- A couple reviews of Vanity Fair coming up at the Long Novel Weekend.
- A new discussion group in San Francisco.
- A new GBSF lending team at Kiva.
- Leader training recap and how to get the Shared Inquiry Handbook.
- Picnic, discussion and annual meeting recap.
If you know someone who might be interested in receiving this E-Newsletter, just click on the "Forward email" link at the bottom of this page. Enter your friend's name and email address and we will send him or her a copy.
Now you can refer your friends to our website and they can sign up there also. Your friends need only enter their email address in the yellow box on the website and click "GO".
There are a number of links (click here or on blue letters with underline) available for more information. You may have to double click depending on your email program. You can reach our website by clicking on "More about us" in the Quick Links box or by clicking on the GBSF logo at the top of this page.
We
are continuing the Great Books discussions founded by Robert Hutchins
and Mortimer Adler of the University of Chicago in 1947. Great Books Counci of San Francisco (serving
Northern California) is a volunteer organization of motivated readers.
We coordinate over 40 existing groups, provide leader training and
sponsor literary events in scenic locations.
We have not finalized all details for our Great Books in Wine Country mini-retreat so we will have information in the next issue of this E-Newsletter.
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Long Novel Weekend
August 22-23, 2009
 This year we will discuss Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero by William Makepeace Thackeray, a humorous satire first published in serial form in 1847-48 about early nineteenth century English society. Considered a literary treasure by critics even before the last part of the serial was published, the novel can be viewed as a dark portrayal of human nature. Thackeray saw people as mostly "abominably foolish and selfish". While the title says a great deal about the characters, the book is meant to be entertaining and instructive.
From an old review---
" . . . .Vanity Fair, though it does not include the whole extent of Thackeray's genius, is the most vigorous exhibition of its leading characteristics. In freshness of feeling, elasticity of movement, and unity of aim, it is favorably distinguished from its successors, which too often give the impression of being composed of successive accumulations of incidents and persons, that drift into the story on no principle of artistic selection and combination. The style, while it has the raciness of individual peculiarity and the careless case of familiar gossip, is as clear, pure, and flexible as if its sentences had been subjected to repeated revision, and every pebble which obstructed its lucid and limpid flow had been laboriously removed. . . . . Yet the fascination of the book is indisputable, and it is due to a variety of causes besides its mere exhibition of the worldly side of life. Among these, the perfect intellectual honesty of the writer, the sad or satirical sincerity with which he gives in his evidence against human nature, is the most prominent. With all his lightness of manner, he is essentially a witness under oath, and testifies only to what he is confident he knows. Perhaps this quality, rare not only in novel writing, but in all writing, would not compensate for the limitation of his perceptions and the repulsiveness of much that he perceives, were it not for the peculiar charm of his representation."
---Edwin Percy Whipple, The Atlantic Monthly, May 1865.
A more contemporary review---
"I once read that "Vanity Fair" had been classified as one of the "most boring classics" by a group of English professors, who hopefully have all been fired, as they can NOT have had any appreciation for the incisive use of the English language, the witty skewering of Victorian society, the rollicking plot, or the unforgettable characters. Becky Sharpe isn't likeable -- but in the end, you have to admire her insatiability and efficiency. Amelia and Dobbin live out the stereotypical storybook romance -- but Thackeray dares to show how the story usually ends. This is one of the few books that had me consistently laughing aloud; virtually every page has a stinging comment or revealing moment that catches the attention. Although it's a "classic" (think leather-bound dusty volumes with edifying quotes from the latin), this is as vital, insightful, and "modern" a novel as you could hope to read."
---Amy Vincent, 1999.
We will read and discuss the Norton Critical Edition of Vanity Fair (ISBN 0-393-96595-3). Please purchase only that edition from your bookseller.
The Location:
Walker Creek Ranch. Located in rural Marin County near Peta-
luma, is an ideal spot to spend a weekend discussing a great
novel and enjoying the companionship of old and new friends.
The Weekend:
Plan to arrive at around 9:00 AM Saturday. There will be three discussions of Vanity Fair, four fine meals, entertainment and a
party on Saturday evening and free time for exploring or relax-
ing. You will leave Walker Creek Ranch after lunch on Sunday.
The Cost: $160.00. Check our website or for a flier and registration form click here. For more information, contact: Louise DiMattio, Coordinator, ladimat@aol.com or 415-587-0398.
Frog Pond at Walker Creek Ranch
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New GB Discussion Group in San Francisco
First Meeting: Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Clifford Louie, who has been involved with Great Books for the past three years, is forming a new Great Books discussion group at the Richmond Branch Library in San Francisco. We at the Great Books Council of San Francisco are fully supporting Cliff's efforts and we will have some experienced Great Books leaders helping out for the first few meetings. He has seven people already committed to attend and extends an open invitation to all in the bay area, especially San Francisco and Marin County. The Library is near the Presidio and easy to get to. Current plans are to meet on the second Tuesday of each month. Please notify Cliff if you wish to attend at clifford.louie@sbcglobal.net or by phone at 415-750-1786. The Declaration of Independence will be the work discussed at the first meeting. Click here for a copy if you don't have one.Date: Tuesday, August 11, 2009.Time: 6 - 8 p.m.Place: Richmond Branch Library Location: 351 - 9th Ave. (between Geary Blvd. and Clement St.) |
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GBSF Lending Team at Kiva
The Grameen Bank Project started micro-lending services to the rural poor in Bangladesh in the 1970's. In 2006, Grameen Bank and its founder Muhammad Yunus shared the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to create economic and social development through micro-credit, which serves to advance democracy and human rights. Kiva.org is an organization, headquartered in San Francisco, that has expanded on the original idea of micro-lending by offering credit to small entrepreneurs worldwide, especially in developing countries. The executive committee of the Great Books Council of San Francisco voted to form a lending team along with the more than 7,000 other lending teams at Kiva. Our team is now set up on the Kiva website. When you lend through Kiva, usually $25, your funds are combined with other lenders to fund a loan to a specific borrower whose history and reason for the loan and a picture are available at all times. When the borrower makes a payment or repays the loan the money is credited to your account to be redeemed by you or to lend to someone else. I will have further information in future issues of this E-Newsletter. You do not have to make a loan to join our team. Click here to go to our team page or search under "community' on the Kiva website for great books. On our page, click on the JOIN NOW button at the upper right. Just enter your name, email, and a password and click on the Sign Up button at the bottom of the page. You can then click on the LEND button at the top of the page to choose a borrower and make a loan if you wish. Be sure when you make a loan that it is listed as a loan from our team. It is worthwhile to browse through the Kiva website. I will have more info later. |
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Leader Training Recap by Mary Wood
May 2, 2009
Experiential learning was the theme of Leader Training held at Rossmoor May 2 with demonstration sessions in the morning and participant leading in the afternoon. The 15 attendees came from as far away as Ventura and Nevada City. Half were experienced leaders and half new to leading Great Books, although some were experienced in other fields. Mary Wood organized the event, and Barbara McConnell, Brent Browning, and Mary led it.
In the morning, Barbara lead a demonstration session of a short story. Half of the 15 seminar attendees group observed and half participated. Then the groups switched off and Mary led a poem discussion. The goal was to demonstrate different styles of leading and dealing with problem participants, but everyone got so involved in the discussion they forgot to be troublemakers! Mary is "taking under consideration" the comment that her style was described as "somewhat intimidating."
As a homework assignment, participants had written interpretive and evaluative questions for the demonstration session readings. The panel read these aloud and analyzed them. The questions were so great that Barbara and Mary both wished that they had had them before the demonstration. Question analysis was supplemented with a presentation by Brent on reading for questions. A panel discussion on problem participants and a party completed the day.
The Shared Inquiry Handbook is available from the Great Books Foundation. This handbook is availabel with the downloadable "How to Start a Great Books Discussion Group"" for free. Also, ten copies of the handbook are available, along with other helpful literature, with the "Great Books Starter Pack" at $24.95.
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GBSF Annual Picnic Recap
June 14, 2009
At the annual picnic meeting this June, I was struck by the wonderfulness and power of the gift we give to each other when we offer our undivided attention to the selected readings and to what each of us makes of these readings.
I am continually surprised and delighted by the variety, depth, and humor of our multible interpretations, but what seemed the most remarkable on this sparkly fresh but shiver-inducing Sunday afternoon in the park was the rarity and specialness of hearing deep reflection from an assortment of strangers.
My own dear family, as much as I love and admire them rarely say anything more profound than "turn up the tv" or "pass the salt," so a profound gratitude is due our Great Books members who read and ponder and gather together to share enquiry--cosmic applause ensuing. -----Wallis Leslie
I could not agree more with Wallis' observations on the quality of our discussions. Wallis also wrote an excellent piece, Tragedy, Suffering and the Secret Cause, on Sophocles' Antigone, which we discussed at Asilomar this year, for Reading Matters. At the picnic this year, H. G. Wells' The Time Machine, a short ninety pages long, provided an abundance of ideas for discussion. What does it mean to be highly evolved or advanced? Must we struggle in life to avoid becoming little more than contented cattle? What is the role of technology and those who produce and maintain it in society? What of the "widening gulf" between the working poor and the rich? There were many more ideas/questions than I can list here. We had three discussion groups this year and all reports indicated excellent, involved conversations.
Working Hard in the Shade
Oh, yes! I almost forgot. We had a picnic and annual business meeting of the Great Books Council of San Francisco. Picnic weather was a little cool and breezy in the hills above Berkeley and fewer desserts and more salads were available than last year. Kathleen Conneely did her usual excellent job coordinating
everything with Brent Browning as grillmaster and essential help from Tom and Jan Vargo. Brent was kept busy with the large grill comlpetely covered at times with chicken, steak, hot dogs, sausages, and buns and garlic bread toasting. Discussion leaders were Wallis Leslie, Louise Morgan, Jim Hall, and Mary Wood as alternate. Kay White, outgoing President of the Council, conducted the short business meeting and election of officers. Nominations were opened and the voting resulted in your new officers: President, Jim Hall; Vice-president, Susana Conde; Treasurer, Roy Harvey; Secretary, Rick White. Many thanks are due to Kay White for her outstanding leadership over the last two years.
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Adler and Van Doren on How to Read a Book
Thanks to the diligent sleuthing of a Sedona, Arizona, archivist, a
series of classic conversations about the art of reading, between the
late philosopher Mortimer J. Adler and his acolyte Charles Van Doren,
are once again available on video from Encyclopaedia Britannica and the
Center for the Study of The Great Ideas.
The discussions between the two public intellectuals, produced by
Britannica in the 1970s, were lost for many years until they were
rediscovered recently by Ken Dzugan, archivist for the Center. They're
now available on a single DVD and may be ordered online at http://www.thegreatideas.org/HowToReadABook.htm.
This address also contains a short video sample of the DVD.
The DVD is also available locally through Jim Hall. Just reply to this E-Newsletter and I will get the information to you about how to order. The DVD is also available at our events.
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Some Useful Great Books Links
GBSF is affiliated with the Great Books Foundation which was started in 1947 by Robert Hutchins and Mortimer Adler and produces most of the reading material used by Great Books discussion groups around the country. Their website provides a wealth of information and a list to find groups in your area or how to start a discussion group if one is not available near you. GBF also publishes Junior Great Books for use in schools or at home for K-12 students.
Symposium Great Books Institute discussion schedule for July classes: 1) Gabriel Garcia Marquez: Short Stories - Three Wednesday evenings starting July 1st 2) Mary Wollstonecraft: Vindication of the Rights of Men and Women - Four Monday evenings starting July 6th 3) Camus: The Rebel - Four Tuesday evenings starting July 7th 4) The Icelandic Sagas - Three Saturday mornings starting July 11th 5) Plato and Sophocles: The Lysis and Philoctetes - Three Thursday evenings starting July 16th 6) The Bible: The Book of Job - Two Wednesday evenings starting July 22nd. Check their website for dates and times. Some of these discussions are full. 325 Hayes St., San Francisco, CA 94102 415-437-4000.
Center for the Study of the Great Ideas, founded by Mortimer Adler and Max Weismann, exists to help citizens understand why philosophy is everybody's business and to promulgate the insights and ideals embedded in Dr. Adler's lifelong intellectual work in the fields of Philosophy, Liberal Education, Ethics and Politics. This is a comprehensive website with something for everybody interested in Great Books and Great Ideas.
Classical Pursuits offers learning vacations around the world with location appropriate Great Books discussions as well as Toronto Pursuits, July 12-17, 2009. Travel destinations in 2009 include: Ecuador, Venice, Savannah, Russia, Corfu, Philadelphia. Ann Kirkland also produces one of the best e-newsletters available.
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Thank you for your interest in Great Books. Is there something you would like to know that we can add? This is your e-newsletter, so let us know.
Be sure to forward this email to your friends who might be interested in Great Books. Just click on Forward email at the bottom left.
Sincerely,
Jim Hall
Great Books Council of San Francisco |
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