We could go on and on about how fun, great, exciting, super amazing Great Books is, but what could be better than letting our students, faculty, and visitors tell you instead?
Deep discussion, debate, and critical thinking.
Hear students share what they love about the Great Books Summer Program and Great Books Online! Following our 20-year history of success, our new online program is in a class of its own, with programs for literary exploration and Writer's Workshops too.
Hear students share their first-hand stories of inspiration and growth through literary exploration at Great Books. Learn about the literary skills, confidence, and lasting friendships they leave with each summer.
A Q&A With Students
Hear alumni and first-time campers describe their favorite parts of the Great Books Summer Program. Learn why the program gives them an academic edge back in school, and how enhanced critical thinking and the skills of civil discourse positively impact their lives every day.
Great Books Writer's Workshop
Writer's Workshop is the perfect environment to spark the imagination of aspiring writers who want to hone their craft. Hear from students who worked with accomplished faculty and emerged with the ability to create new worlds, to effectively use the play and pause of time in pieces, and to develop authentic characters.
Why Choose Great Books @Oxford?
Walk in the steps of famous writers like C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien. Read Macbeth and then see it performed at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Live your literature at Great Books Oxford program.
A Student Perspective
Hear why Gina from MA, a five-year camper, says she returns to the Great Books Summer Program each year with middle and high school students from around the world.
Emma from TX, Third Year Camper
Emma from TX says coming to Great Books Summer Program was “one of the best decisions I ever made.” Learn why this three-year camper calls Great Books her “second home” and how it has helped improve both her writing and critical thinking skills.
A Teacher's Perspective
Hear our Writer's Workshop Academic Director Jonathan Volk share a typical day at our summer writing program held on the campuses of Amherst College and Stanford University.
The Learning Opportunity of a Lifetime
Hear how Great Books Summer Program expands the realm of academic thinking while connecting students with like-minded peers. Learn why first-time attendees become repeat campers who found “where they belong.”
This is learning at Great Books
Get a sneak preview inside a Great Books seminar on Chaucer. See how literary discussions empower students to see new points of view and reach insightful conclusions.
Visiting Teacher, Dr. Brett Wisniewski
Dr. Brett Wisniewski shares his enthusiastic observations after watching Great Books students engage in Shared Inquiry and a level of civil discourse “typically reserved for undergraduates.”
Meet Co-founder Dr. Stavans
Could your dreams fuel your day-to-day life? Dr. Ilan Stavans opened this discussion during his summer 2016 session, "In Dreams Begin Responsibility.” Learn about his work with and appreciation for Great Books students.
Filming by Students for Future Students
What happens when great young minds, meet Great Books? Literary discussions, the exploration of new viewpoints, and more. Watch this film created by students at the Stanford University summer program.
Prepping for Your College Experience
How do students learn a greater appreciation for thinking deeper? Watch this short film made at Amherst College by campers, who explain their drive and inspiration for smarter discourse.
Mentors Drive Learning & Living Your Truth
Meet Spencer Lenfield, one of the many Program Assistants at Great Books camps. His goal is to create a welcoming place to communicate a love of ideas. Spencer is a standout role model, as both a Harvard graduate and a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford.
See life and literature aboard the H.M. Gamage
Watch students studying maritime literature and lore while, living and learning to sail on a tall ship.
How Literature Creates Dialogue
Great Books Co-Founder Dr. Peter Temes discusses how studying literary greats, like Walt Whitman, can help students aspire to be better versions of themselves. Students learn to appreciate different perspectives and create lasting connections.
A Passion for Literary Learning
Teaching by asking questions is the key element that keeps students returning to Great Books Summer Program. Watch this short, student film to learn more about their group discussions and inspired learning.
Hear Great Books co-founder and president
Great Books co-founder and president, David Ward, answers frequently asked questions and shares his vision.
Exploring the Mystery of “Book People”
Great Books students showcase their film talents after a week-long movie elective. This memorable mockumentary explores the migration patterns, eating habits, and elusive behaviors displayed by a unique breed known as “Book People.”
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